118 
ance for a week or so. In a short time, however, they 
are in glorious bloom again;—the flowers almost as 
numerous as the stars in the sky. Thirty or forty 
blooms at one time on a single plant are not at all un¬ 
usual ; and we have counted over one hundred seed-pods 
forming at one time on a plant. 
Seed forms fast during the summer and through 
September or longer. I like to go over all my beds at 
least twice a week. Waiting till the pods burst open 
causes much seed to be scattered and lost. Just a little 
before they burst open they point upward; and that is 
the time to gather them. The pod should be picked with 
the entire stem attached. The food in the stem will 
ripen good plump seeds. If picked without the stem, the 
seeds will shrivel. This accounts for the poor germina¬ 
tion of many seeds on the market. 
If one plans to sell the seed locally a very good way 
is to make a display in some big department store or at 
flower shows; arranging vases and platters of the dif¬ 
ferent varieties. It is very attractive and the stores 
are glad to allow space for them. 
It is surprising how interested everyone is in pansies. 
Sometimes I think it is the most popular flower there is, 
for it seems universal that everyone loves pansies. They 
are less ostentatious than gladioli but loved neverthe¬ 
less. Our Portland climate is highly favorable for grow¬ 
ing both these flowers and we are wonderfully rewarded 
in our efforts toward producing flowers of the highest 
degree of perfection. And yet even these beautiful 
flowers are not quite the finest for we have three little 
people lately strayed from the heavenly realms which 
to us are the most wonderful flowers in our gardens 
“wherein shall live only the world’s best.” 
