May 25, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
423 
The extra prize for the best flamed flower ia the whole Show wa® 
given to Mr. Bentley for Sir J. Paxton, and the extra prize for the bes^ 
feathered flower was given to Mr. Jones for Bertha. 
SHOW PANSIES AND MR. PETER LYLE. 
The Pansy is essentially a Scottish flower, at once the most popular 
with first-rate florists and the most generally grown by the ordinary 
floral amateurs, from John o’ Groats to Maidenkirk. The Show Pansy is 
a cross between our native Viola tricolor and V. cornuta. The raiser is 
unknown, as also is the date ; but we may assume from various incidental 
circumstances that the fortunate man was from the neighbourhood of 
Paisley in Renfrewshire, and the period about the year 1823, Singularly 
enough, this is also the year when Mr. Peter Lyle was born, who, more 
than any other Pansy grower, has developed the flower by raising some 
of the very best sorts we yet possess, while from his youth he has kept 
true to the love of his heart, and is even now as keen and successful a 
grower of the flower as ever he was, as the grand beds he had to show 
last summer testified. While many districts in Scotland are associated 
w th Pansy growing, such as Campsie, Newmilns, Vale of Leven, and 
others, Paisley has been the headquarters, and Kilbarchan, five miles 
west of the county town, has been noted for the enthusiasm of its 
florists, and may be counted as second in eminence. 
When Mr. Lyle was but a lad his zeal for gardening manifested 
i'self in real hard work. So anxious was he to get his father’s garden 
dug that he has done it three times in one spring ere the right time 
came, with just “ the sid ” of weather to justify the sowing of seeds. 
The Pansy growers from whom Mr. Lyle caught “the fever” were 
Wm. Campbell, Duncan Cairney, James Dick, James Gilmore and John 
TiOve, the last named being figured in the Journal of Hortienilttire, 
October 1st, 1891. 
Raising seedlings was the great hobby of the time, and when Mr. 
Lyle was twenty-five years of age, he went to his first show in 
Kilbarchan in 1818. Before that date shows had been attended in 
Paisley, and a few friends met there from time to time in the evenings 
to discuss new blooms, and Mr. Lyle had to walk home in the dark the 
five miles to Kilbarchan, To him this was no hardship, as he has ever 
been wonderfully quick of foot, and his fine constitution and wiry frame 
are even yet remarkably evident. In the year 1850, or thereby, a great 
show of Pansies and other flowers took place in Falkirk, but Mr. Lyle 
did not attend it, travelling thirty miles was not so expeditiously per¬ 
formed then as now. An old friend of my own, however, attended that 
show, Mr. James Peddie, gardener to John Gordon, Esq., of Aikenhead, 
Cathcart. As a gardener and keen florist the West of Scotland had no 
ot’uer to equal him, and his taste in Pansies was perfect. Mr. Peddie’s 
first competition in Pansies was at Falkirk, and when he staged his 
blooms all eyes turned on the young fair-haired gardener and his stand 
of flowers. The Secretary, the late Mr. Charles Jeffrey, at once was struck 
with the stand and complimented the exhibitor thereon, saying “ he 
was sure no finer lot would be shown, and that this would be adjudged 
first.” It was so, and from that day the real Scottish taste for Pansies 
may date, as thereafter the flower was a leading feature everywhere. I 
cannot name the blooms which were shown at Falkirk, but the follow¬ 
ing were the varieties most in vogue about that time—viz., yellow grounds 
—Duke of Norfolk, Robert Burns, Gilbert Burns, Sir Charles Napier ; 
white grounds. Miss Talbot, Lizzie, British Queen, Mountain of Snow ; 
yellow seifs. Wonderful and Climax. 
In Glasgow on 9th September, 1852, in George’s Square, set out in 
tents, the tug of war came which decided the Pansy championship, and 
a full report was inserted in the Glasgow Herald. Here Mr. Lyle met 
Mr. Peddie, and was awarded the first prize in gardeners’ and amateurs’ 
classes for twenty-four blooms in each. A friend informed Mr. Peddie 
that he was surpassed by a man who had only 9 yards of a garden. This 
was true, yet could not be believed ; so a gentleman was sent out to 
Kilbarchan to prospect, and on his return declared that the fact was so, 
and further that from the same plants in that small garden Mr. Lyle 
could stage forty-eight blooms any day, which would defy Scotland to 
beat them. It will be historically interesting to name the blooms as well 
as to show the source of our present stock as exhibited at Glasgow Show 
in 1852. The gardeners’ class were : White grounds, France Cycole, 
Lady Mackenzie, Aurora, Royal Visit. White seifs .—Princess Royal, 
Jerome, Queen of England, Marchioness of Breadalbane. Dark seifs .— 
Rainbow, Duke of Perth, Norah, Maggie Lyle, Othello, Marchioness of 
Lothian. Yellow grounds .—Duke of Norfolk, Pizarro, Polyphemus, 
Juventa, Supreme. There were two seedlings and Elegant, Sir Wm. 
Rae, and Lucy Neale. In the amateurs’ class they were somewhat the 
same, varied by Gulnare, Napoleon, Princess Louisa, and Robert Burns, 
it is well to note that wdiile to-day we have not one of these victorious 
varieties, we have some with similar names, as Robert Burns, which is 
still grown, but not the flower then exhibited. Again, there have been 
two distinct “ Royal Visits ” to commemorate Her Majesty’s coming to 
Glasgow. 
From this date a universal taste for Pansies took possession of our 
florists. High prices were paid for a small quantity of rare seed, and very 
soon the increase in fine flowers became notable, while the standard of 
excellence was gradually raised for form, colour, texture, belting, blotch, 
and last, but not least, the eye. These six points must be met in a 
bloom, each point being nearly perfect, or, if one is deficient, the flower 
is condemned. Size may be counted the seventh point ; as, however well 
up the Pansy may be otherwise, if it is less than 1J inch in diameter it 
is not well giowr. ^ 
Mr. Lyle’s success continued, as he was a frequent prizewinner, not¬ 
withstanding the extended ranks of competitors. Then his seedlings 
were famous, only the real beauties being sent out by him. Of many 
sorts raised, he often gave those away which friends admired, and his 
name as raiser was never linked with them at all, while the gems were 
eagerly sought after, and high prices given for them. For instance, for 
two, named Capt. Spiers and Emily Lyle, the late Wm. Paul gave 
him £7 ; then for a beautiful one named Maggie Lyle he received 
£3 10s. from Messrs. Begg & Paul, who brought it out; while for twenty 
cuttings of one or two promising seedlings he would be paid £1. 
Nurserymen gladly add to their collections in this way, as amateurs 
usually concentrate their energies on one class of flowers, and the result 
is, as with Mr. Lyle, very special successes. A few of the most famous 
Show Pansies, raised by various florists, are as follows :—Countess of 
Roslin, Hugh Austin, Lavinia, Lady Lucy Dundas, Miss E. Cochrane, 
The Countess of Strathmore, and Flower of the Day. Of dark seifs some 
were really fine, and if Rev. H. H. D’Ombrain could be rediscovered to¬ 
day it would be yet prized. This one endured for more years than any 
other. Irene was introduced by Mr. Middlemass, and was very fine. 
The Black Douglas, and W. B. Spiers and Gem followed—the last a 
beauty, but small, though as a judge said, it was “ guid, guid 1 ” The 
late Thos. Hastie, of Strathaven, raised one long esteemed by growers. 
FIG. 76.— MR. PETER LYLE. 
called James Dalzell, and which we still grow. Later Luna, and then 
Alexr. Watt, and David Malcolm brings the tale down to recent years. 
A white ground (Jane Grieve) was, however, the greatest wonder 
perhaps of any Show Pansy ever introduced. 
The method of culture pursued by Mr. Lyle may be of service to 
many lovers of his favourite flower. The cuttings are taken in September 
and set in cold frames in good soil and a little sand, lightly watered, and 
closed and shaded for a week or so, and air gradually admitted after¬ 
wards. During winter the frame is not kept rigidly closed, but raised a 
little to allow air to enter and escape in all ordinary weather, but closed 
in extreme frost. It is damp which destroys the Pansy. In March, if 
any fly appears, a little softsoap dissolved in water is syringed on the 
young plants and the pest destroyed. This is repeated before planting 
out. In April the plants are set out, in soil new to them, as if planted 
again in the previous year’s bed disease sets in. None but well-decayed 
manure is used, and this is dug in during the previous autumn. The 
soil is moderately rich and open ; heavy clay soil will not do. After 
rains, when the earth is sodden, stir it freely between the plants with 
a hand-fork. This admits air, and the Pansy, though fond of moisture, 
cannot endure it to be stagnant. Until the plants grow and look 
robust, pluck off all the flower buds that show. When liquid manure 
is given it must be very weak, and in dry weather the plants must not 
be allowed to flag. As to the much talked of disease, healthy plants to 
start with are the best preventive ; while new soil, in which Pansies 
have not been previously grown, will almost certainly keep back the 
invader. 
Mr. Lyle’s garden faces the south, and has been in cultivation for 
150 years. Since he entered it, in 1861, it has only been trenched 
twice. Not a weed is to be seen, and though narrow it is long. In 
trade a joiner, he has always been employed at home, and therefore 
well placed to give his flowers regular care. Now, when nearing three¬ 
score years and ten, he finds enjoyment and exercise sufficient for his 
abounding vitality in his garden. His foot is still light and buoyant, 
