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Steeled Pansy Gardens 
PORTLAND, OREGON 
‘BUD” 
E. J. JUNIOR” 
Howdy Folks! Forty-three years have rolled by since we grew our 
first bed of pansies, and all these years “Nothing but pansies!” If you 
had followed thru on a specialized industry for that many years or nearly 
that many years how could you explain it? 
Would it be because you thought it might bring you a decent living, 
or would it be because you were fired with an enthusiasm that would 
permit no other human being to excel you in your calling! 
To my mind it is this inspiration to render a real service to all 
humanity that furnishes the driving power which has produced all the 
grandeur and magnificence and all the beautiful and useful things of this world. So I would say to you as a com¬ 
mercial grower: Have a hobby! It will not only bring amazing results, but under its influence every other thing 
you grow will be better—all the way from a forest tree down to a Shasta daisy, or a pansy. 
Sometimes, my friends will say, “Well, Dad, when do you retire?” “Not a chance now. Still going strong. 
But when I do, I hope it will be in the pansy fields with my shoes on.” 
By the way, I hope you have met our sons, E. J. Jr. and “Bud” (Donald). See picture. 
You know, in most families, “Dad” thinks he is the fountain of wisdom, and while I am not shouting this 
information from the top of the tallest tree, every once in a while something tells me that these boys have found 
out some things about pansies and the technique of producing pansies that I never knew. I wonder! 
E. J. Jr. at our ranch has charge of our production. A globe-trotter—an international authority on flower seed 
production said to me: “Mr. Steele, never in all the world have I seen as fine care and cultivation of plants such 
as you have in your fields.” 
And now, what is Donald’s job? Some job! To produce better pansies this year than last year, with Dad butting 
in. He is continuing his studies in plant breeding such as: dominant and recessive types—constant and variable— 
Mutations, Improvement by artificial crossing, Improvement by selection. The creation of new types and strains. 
The study of improvement in: 1, size; 2, form; 3, color; 4, substance; 5, earliness; 6, compactness of plant; 7, food 
values; 8, seed production. Of course we all know all organic life sprang from the same source, whether it be plant 
or animal. 
Likewise the improvement of all species of plants or animals must proceed along the same lines. Therefore the 
glorious orchid, the beautiful rose, the lovely carnation and the super pansy are all the result of many lifetimes of 
human endeavor. It is also just as true of the greyhound, those grand horses and prize cattle. And now we have 
the radio, the airplane, the streamline automobile and railway train. Coming television and who knows what else. 
So it is that if we have the ambition, if we are fired with an enthusiasm that cannot be denied, then there can 
be no such word as “fail” in our careers. 
But we all overlook details, don’t we? Here’s one on me. On our home grounds we had four huge camelia 
plants. They were doing badly. I called in a landscape man. “These doggone camelias bloom in the winter instead 
of the springtime—what’s the matter?” “Nothing much—you’re only starving them to death!” “What shall I do?” 
“Haul away all soil down a spade length three feet away from the plants and replace with fresh soil, and top dress 
with barnyard fertilizer a full 6 inches deep.” This was two years ago. Boy, you should see ’em now back on their 
spring blooming schedule! 
You and I, and our children and our children’s children need a pleasant environment—a home—plenty of 
food, and all the other necessaries of life, and believe you me so do your plants and all the living creatures around 
you that are your friends. My lady visitor asks, “Shall I feed my pansies?” “Lady, they are fond of Porter House 
steak, even as you and I.” 
In closing let me answer this question: Why the variation in prices? Jumbo pansies do not yield one-half the seed 
per acre that other varieties do, and require more attention, care and cultivation, but they are unbeatable. And now, 
in behalf of our boys, myself and the family . . . Cheerio! and may we have the pleasure of meeting you in our gar¬ 
dens. If you can’t visit us, send for a trial packet and satisfy yourself. 
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