1S71. ] 
THE PANSY. 
161 
form late in summer at the base of the stems. A good position for them 
is on the north side of a thick hedge, or where they can be somewhat protected 
from the scorching rays of the sun; the north side of a high wall is, however, 
not a good place for them, as I have proved more than once. They should be 
inserted in some light sandy material, with or without the protection of a hand- 
light ; they will strike out roots more readily under glass, but if proper cuttings 
are taken few of them will fail to make plants. After they are well established 
they should be placed in the position in which it is intended they should flower. 
They are most effective if planted in beds, four rows in a bed ; the distance 
should be a foot apart each way. When planting, place half a shovelful of the 
following compost round the roots of each plant:—Two parts turfy loam, one 
part leaf-mould, and one part rotted cow-manure, with a little sand added ; this 
should be pressed firmly round the roots, and the plants should be tied each to 
a small stick to prevent it from being broken off close to the ground. If the 
plants are lying on the ground, the worms, which are plentiful in Pansy beds, 
drag them into their holes. It is well to pay close attention to them, especially in 
wet weather, as slugs are very fond of both the leaves and flowers. 
I like to have the plants of a considerable size before winter, so that an early 
bloom may be obtained, as, especially in the South, the flowers are better and of 
longer duration early in the season. The arid, scorching weather we often 
have in May soon tells upon the plants. About the beginning of May the beds 
should be dressed with rotted manure, which will have a very beneficial influence ; 
and if the weather is dry, a good watering will wash the nourishment down to 
the roots. By repeated dressings of manure, by thinning and pegging the shoots 
down, they will flower freely all the summer, only the quality of the flowers will 
deteriorate much in hot weather, and it is always well to bear in mind that flowers 
of much the best quality will be obtained from young plants. 
The Pansy is also a very interesting subject for pot-culture. For this pur¬ 
pose, some of the best plants should be potted off into 3-in. pots, and plunged 
in a cold frame quite close to the glass ; in fine weather, the glass lights should 
be removed altogether, which will be the means of keeping the plants short- 
jointed and health}’-. When they are well established, shift them into a pot one 
size larger. A frequent renewal of the soil is what the Pansy requires. Eight- 
inch pots will be suitable to flower them in ; and the compost which should be 
used for potting is the same as has been recommended for placing round the 
roots of the plants. After potting them into their flowering pots, the shoots 
should be pegged down to the surface of the mould, continuing to p eg the shoots 
down until a sufficient number of them are obtained to form a close compact 
specimen, when they should be regularly trained out, tying the shoots to short 
sticks, with the longest ones in the centre of the plant. During the whole of the 
growing and flowering period, the plants should be kept close to the glass. I 
prefer to raise them on inverted flower-pots, as this allows the air to circulate 
