April 2S, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
343 
are suitable, and those persons who admire them have aright to indulge 
in this form of decoration. To some persons the work of preparing de¬ 
signs is easy, while others find it difficult. As a rule the simplest figures 
are the most effective when planted. Mr. Graham sends the design 
(fig. 54) from Hampton Court. The ends are suitable for a round bed, 
and the whole capable of extension to any desired length for a long bed 
or border. He suggests the following method of planting, though 
modifications can be made according to taste and plants at disposal. 
1, Echeveriaand Sedum ; 2, Herniaria glabra ; 3, Alternanthera amcena ; 
4, Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum ; 5, Leucophyton 
Browni ; 6, any bright Alternanthera; 7, a small specimen plant; 8, Her- 
niana or Mentha ; 9, Alternanthera aurea ; 10, a bright Alternanthera ; 
11, specimen Palm with carpet groundwork. 
EEVIEW OF BOOK. 
The Pansy; and How to Grow and Show it. By James Sihkins. 
Birmingham : Cornish Brothers; London : Simpkin, Marshall, and 
Co. 
We have glanced through the small volume before us with a con¬ 
siderable amount of pleasure. It is in our view meritorious in several 
respects—style, matter, ornamentation, and useful teaching on the 
flower to which it is devoted. We agree with the author that it is not 
necessary to offer any excuse for the publication of the book, and for 
the same reason—that there is no work entirely devoted to the Pansy in 
England. 
The volume consists of 112 pages, four beautiful coloured plates, 
showing the earlier varieties and subsequent improvements, also in¬ 
structive engravings. The historical notes occupy fifteen pages, and 
were contributed by Mr. William Dean of Solihull, one of the oldest 
and best authorities, said to be the originator of the name of “ Fancy 
Pansy,” and the first English improver of the type that now occupies 
such a high position as a garden and florists’ flower. We are told that 
the late Mr. John Salter grew “ curious striped and blotched flowers”’ 
at Versailles, from which seed was saved and sown in England in 184B, 
the seedlings being exhibited before the Royal Horticultural Society, and 
laughed at by florists as “ French rubbish.” They were, however, called 
Belgian Pansies by Mr. Salter, and it seems they were entered as 11 Fancy 
Pansies ” in his catalogue of 1853, or a few years before Mr. Dean com¬ 
menced raising new varieties. The four depicted in the work—Mrs. 
Dean, Her Majesty, His Majesty, and Harlequin—show how great was 
his success, and we think they entitle him to the “ place of honour as 
the father of the modern Fancy Pansy.” Mr. Dean credits Mr. John 
Laing, now of Forest Hill, with being the first Scottish florist who took 
the modern Fancy Pansy in hand, though he gives Mr. John Downie 
great praise for subsequent improvements. 
Mr. Thompson, who was gardener to Lord Gambier at Iver, near 
Uxbridge, is described, as we think he is generally admitted, as the 
originator of the present race of “ Show ” or English Pansies. Lord 
Gambier collected some plants in the fields about 1812, and gave them 
to his gardener to cultivate. From these, varieties much superior to the 
originals were raised, and in a few years varietal names were given. 
About the same time it appears improved forms were raised in a 
garden near Walton-on-Thames. The well-remembered names of Hogg, 
Brown, Young, Mountjoy, Henderson, Lee, Turner, and others, are 
associated as leading raisers and cultivators in the south ; and 
in the north those of Downie, Laird & Laing, White, Paul, Han- 
dasyde, and Dickson are mentioned ; but we think at least one other 
old Pansy raiser ought to have been placed on the roll of fame in the 
work before us—Mr. Archibald Gorrie. 
Mr. Gorrie died in July 1857, and from an article in the Cottage 
Gardener of that year, in which his work, both as a writer and raiser of 
flowers and fruit, is recounted, we take the following paragraph: — 
“ It is a fact not generally known that it was he who first brought the 
Pansy, the wild little Love-in-Idleness, to rank among florists’ flowers. 
It was he who first broke the strain and launched it on its way to what 
it has now become. We have seen it somewhere stated that the Pansy 
was first brought into notice by “ a Scotch florist,” but we trust that 
all good florists will henceforth learn to associate with their favourite 
flower the name of Archibald Gorrie. More than thirty years ago it 
was wit h the greatest difficulty and in the face of strong opposition 
that Mr. Gorrie succeeded in getting it introduced as a florist’s flower 
into the schedule of the Perthshire Horticultural Society, where, for 
the first time, it made its appearance under the name of “Violet^” 
and, as a small tribute to his memory, we trust some of our most 
eminent florists will find a seedling good enough and sufficiently 
distinct and permanent in its character to bear his name.” 
We do not remember whether the suggestion was carried out r 
though a flower might have been thought “ perfect ” at the time and 
named after the Scottish Pansy pioneer, but long since superseded. 
Be that as it may, we venture to hope when another edition of Mr. 
Simkins’ work is called for, as we trust it may be, that Mr. Archi¬ 
bald Gorrie will be placed amongst the worthies in its pages. 
We have only thus far referred to what may be termed Mr. Dean's 
part of this interesting book. Mr. Simkins’ writings extend over 
about ninety pages, and are not only plain and practical where woiking 
details are called for, but most readable. Indeed passages, in the 
introduction especially, possess a charm that lures the reader on, and 
we feel sure that our readers will not pass this extract. Referring to 
the Pansy our author says :— 
“Not so long ago its ancestors were merely waifs, mere wildlings, 
springing and blossoming in the leafy woods and shady hedgerows ; or 
wherever else the winds and the birds listed : nobodies, every one of 
them, unknowing of the glorious future ; yet in those little wayside 
flowers, as in how many wayside flowers of our own species, lay the 
germs of that which to-day takes as its right the loving consideration 
of thousands; lay the germs of that beauty of colour and form which 
our Pansies now combine with the virtues simplicity, modesty and 
hardihood, inherited from their vagabond progenitors. What wonder 
then we are won by it, and find a place for it in our affections, as well 
as in our gardens. What wonder if we believe that the power to 
lighten our cares and carry ease to our hearts still lies in this lowly, 
yet lovely flower. He who has planted it, and watched it in sunshine 
and in storm, who has noticed its beauty at its best, and its courage and 
cheerfulness when cruel influences combine to do it barm, will not won¬ 
der at all. To him it is heartsease indeed ; yea, more, it is an unrhymed 
poem, which melts into his nature, and makes him better than it found 
him. Not that the Pansy abrogates to itself the power alone to do this : 
the Rose and the Violet, the Wallflower and the Pink, all sweet and 
beautiful, will make our lives so too, if we but regard them as we 
should. If that which is great and noble elicits our admiration and 
reverence, that which is lowly, so it be beautiful also, may win from 
us esteem.” 
The subsequent pages convey substantial information, which only 
a successful cultivator could impart, and if the instructions were 
generally followed fewer persons would fail in growing the flowers 
which most admire who see them when presented in their fullest 
beauty. If the work can be sold for half a crown, we think it would 
sell if advertised by the publishers, and give satisfaction to those who 
are interested in the flowers on which it treats, and who may desire 
to raise new as well as increase old varieties, and grow them well. 
