AND 
GARDEN GUIDE. 
NEW SHOW PANSIES. 
{With Coloured Illustration of Five Varieties.) 
E avail ourselves this month of the opportunity of pre- 
senting illustrations of five new show pansies, selected 
from the seed-bed of Mr. Hooper, Widcomb Hill, Bath, 
who is now one of the principal raisers and trade 
growers of these showy flowers. In introducing these 
beautiful varieties to the notice of our readers, we have no desire to 
unduly extol the merits of the p..nsy, or to recommend its cultiva- 
tion in preference to many other flowers. But it may be said with 
safety that pansies are especially deserving the attention of those 
amateurs who have gardens of limited dimensions, and who do not 
possess the convenience of a heated atmosphere. A large collection 
can be grown in a frame or pit of moderate size, and the plants are 
hardy enough to withstand the eflects of a severe winter, with no 
further protection than that afforded by a covering of long litter or 
mats over the glass. Damp is the greatest enemy to pansies ; and 
if the soil is not kept too wet, and the foliage is maintained in a 
moderately dry state, there is not much danger of their suffering 
from frost. In favourable localities they may be wintered safely in 
the open beds, provided the winter is not very severe ; but the risks 
are so great, that it is not prudent to attempt to winter a good col- 
lection without affording some protection. 
The names and descriptions of the varieties here portrayed are 
as follows : — 
No. 1. Shirley Hibherd . — Dark self, rich cobalt blue, shading to 
deep purple; eye yellow; very large and massive, and of grand 
form. 
No. 2. Golden Queen of JEngland . — Yellow self ; deep golden 
yellow, with maroon blotch on the lower petals, aud small blotch on 
side petals ; large, of fine form, and well finished. 
No. 3. Mrs. Felton . — White self, with dense blotches of deep 
purple ; very large, and superbly finished ; fine and attractive. 
No. Bichard Dean . — Yellow ground ; rich yellow, belted with 
January. 1 
