THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
5 
do not let them suffer for want of that element afcorwards. Until 
the young roots begin to strike into the new soil, some means 
should be adopted in bright weather for shading the plants from the 
sun. About September they will be ready for taking up and potting. 
Pot Culture. — This is my principal way of growing pansies, 
even when I require cut flowers for exhibition. By this system, with 
ordinary attention, there is very little danger of losing any plants, 
for a proper control as regards moisture can be had over the roots at 
all times. We prepare a lot of three-inch pots by putting a good 
drainage in the bottom, and seeing that they are perfectly clean. 
When these are ready and the soil mixed, which should consist of 
three parts good turiy loam and one part decayed cow-dung and 
leaf-mould in equal quantities, lift the young plants with a nice little 
ball, and pot them at once. Prom the potting-shed take them to a 
frame, where they are to remain through the winter. Pansies are 
impatient of being kept in a close and stagnant atmosphere ; and to 
avoid this, have a ventilator about six inches wide throughout the 
entire length of the frame, both back and front, fixed immediately 
under the framework which supports the sashes. By the aid of 
these a continual circulation of air can be maintained without the 
risk of the soil in the pots becoming too wet during heavy rains, or 
when the plants are in bloom of the flowers being knocked. Keep 
the ventilators rather close for a few days after the plants are first 
taken up, and then plenty of air should be admitted at all times, 
excepting during very boisterous or frosty weather. 
With proper care, the pots will be full of roots in February, 
which is the time for transferring them to their blooming pots. 
Use five or six inch, according to the strength of the respective 
plants, but the last is the principal size employed here ; the com- 
post being the same as that used at the first potting. When they 
are nicely established, the sashes can be drawn off altogether in 
favourable weather. 
Watering. — Although the pansy luxuriates in a cool, moist 
position, the pldnts must not be over-watered at any time, but have 
sufficient and no more. Avoid the use of liquid manure ; they do 
better without it, and my belief is that the cause of many plants 
dying off can be attributed to the use of powerful stimulants. 
Culture in Beds. — Turn the plants out of the three-inch pots 
early in the spring, in the same kind of bed as that recommended 
for the young plants when first struck. And if the flowers are 
required for exhibition, screen them from the sun, and give water if 
the weather should happen to be dry. 
Jamiary 
