12 
THE FLORIST. 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE PANSY. 
BY MR. TURNER, CHALVEY, NEAR WINDSOR. 
Few plants are held in more general estimation than the Heartsease. 
Of easy culture, hardy, and blooming nearly all the year round, it is 
to be found alike in the cottager’s and in the nobleman’s garden, 
where, from the diversity of its beautiful colours and its charming 
form, it equally ornaments the quiet corner or the bed appropriated 
to its cultivation. At the floricultural exhibition it is a looked-for 
favourite; and those who have been in the habit of attending the 
metropolitan and provincial shows cannot but have been struck with 
the great advance made in the last few years in the form, substance, 
and distinctness of the new varieties. Nor has the improvement 
effected been made in the flower only : great improvements have 
taken place in the mode of cultivation. The intention of these 
papers is, to place before the amateur the benefit of our experience 
in the growth of this little pet; promising the readers of The Florist 
that we have no nostrums to recommend, but a few simple rules 
easily carried into practice, the adoption of which will be attended 
with success. The treatment of plants for exhibition, and of those 
for the flower-beds, requires but little variation; the only difference 
being, that the former need a little more stimulating with manure, 
and the young shoots cutting back, so as to allow the strong leaders 
to receive the whole vigour of the plant, and by this means to in¬ 
crease the size of the blooms. For both purposes the plants must 
be renewed annually, either by cuttings, layers, or parting the root, 
or they will soon degenerate in size and colour. Of the different 
varieties we shall speak in due course, adding a descriptive list, and 
explaining the merits and faults of the flower in the amateur’s esti¬ 
mation.* 
PRACTICE FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. 
There will be but little to do in the first of these months, if those 
plants for early blooming are well-established in beds, and those for 
pot culture protected in cold frames. The beds, if not already done, 
should be gone over without delay ; peg down all loose long branches, 
and cover them with light fine soil, leaving the point of the shoot 
and foliage above the surface. It will be equally advantageous to 
place a little similar soil round those plants of upright growth. This 
will steady them in bad weather, and help to secure the plants 
against frosty winds, which often prove destructive ; and to complete 
their security, place a small glass or flower-pot over each plant during 
such weather, and on frosty nights, removing them as soon and as 
often as the weather will permit. 
Those in frames must be looked over often. Clean them of dead 
leaves, and stir the surface of the soil; give as much air as possible 
on all favourable occasions, and keep them moderately dry. 
Those intended for blooming in pots under glass should be re- 
* Woodcuts illustrating these points will be furnished in a future Number. 
