765 
ocroBBR 11.1913. the GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 
TUFTED PANSIES. 
Despite the many vicksitiides through 
which gardening has passed during the last 
decade or two, tufted j^ansies have ever re¬ 
ceived recognition as being among the most 
meritorious of garden plants. They com¬ 
bine the tufted habit and hardy nature of 
the alpine viola with the rich and varied 
colouring of the pansy, and it is the union 
of these qualities that make them so de¬ 
sirable in the garden. They succeed 
under varied conditiouis, and on a great 
variety of soils. Of the latter, those rich 
in humus, and having a high percentage 
of calcareous matter, produce the best and 
most lasting results with tufted pansies, 
while soils deficient in these substances 
should have ah edequate supply introduced 
before planting, and the ground should 
be deeply trenched wherever practicable. 
The humid atmosphere of the northern 
counties fosters the development of the 
tufted pansy to a remarkable degree, conse- 
qiiently it is there that it appears promi¬ 
nent in every scheme of garden decoration, 
and from this source many varieties of out¬ 
standing merit have emanated. In the 
southern counties, with drier air and more 
powerful sun, it is often diflficult to main¬ 
tain such a high level with tufted pansies 
during the summer months. They are sur- 
face-rooting subjects, and the roots form 
a perfect network of fine fibres that soon 
exhausts the soil, so that during the hottest 
periods it is essential to supply some rich 
surface dressing, augmented by supplies of 
water, both clear and in the form of liquid 
manure. It is also of assistance to the plants 
if all spent flowers are removed at an early 
stage, as the strain of seed bearing mili¬ 
tates against their flowering. 
Provided the soil is brought into proper 
oundition tufted pansies will practically 
succeed in any position, except under dense 
shade; planting may be carried out at al- 
most any season, if ordinary care is taken 
to tollow up with mulching and watering 
k 1 * ^ weather. The months that give the 
1 Faults in planting violas are October 
and March. The former guarantees an 
early spring display, and the latter gives 
™ilar results during the summer months, 
fiiwi are readily propagated by 
seeds, cuttincrs nr- 
or division. The latter 
excellent results in ordinary garden 
ration, the flowers are most numerous, 
largest size. Such a 
rn^hod entails little expense in time or 
and Outtings give the strongest plants 
They are dually in- 
-^ried in July ^r October. The earliest 
fort stock for planting in October 
while cuttings inserted 
placed in their per- 
and V March. This, 
when XI always practised 
from tuft required true. Seeds 
mav bl ^ pansies germinate freely, and 
the growmg 
ground * Tu trames or m the open 
™nsiderahl resulting plants vary to a 
‘Bcreasft ■“ ®,*^®®re6, so that this method of 
raisino-«t* ^luu>st entirely adopts for the 
lo+x- ® new varieties. T'b^ ran Ira nf tbia 
are dwarf habit, and close, dense growth, so 
that when in flower the plants present a 
close caiq^et of colour. The practice of 
planting tufted pansies as an undergrowth 
to roses is one of the most effeidive ari*ange. 
ments that has lately sprung into promi- 
nence. Not only does it solve the problem 
of the bare soil that detracts from the 
roses, but the soft contrasts of colour that 
are readily found are instinct with fresh 
beauty when associated with roses, an<l, 
incidentally, it illustrates that art whereby 
the most commonplaoe garden may readily 
attain to the foremost rank, ami results 
we formerly approaclRnl with diffitleiice now 
receive full measure of unstinted admira¬ 
tion. 
occMionally added to by 
Tuftsporting to a different shade, 
ing 6itb« distinguished by hav- 
IW finely-pen- 
^yless V radiate from the centre, or 
these lines are 
smart an l ^^/^rrner have a particularly 
^^hfhiti^ appearance on the 
most ^ the latter are 
garden decoration. 
^**©melv tufted pansy are ex- 
r all hut the hardiest 
garden decoration, 
tures of scarcely less importance 
AUBERGINES- 
The varietal forms of Solanum inelon- 
gena provide variously shapcnl ami vari¬ 
ously colour<*d fruits, and coiist*quently 
there are numerous popular names, such as 
Kgg Plant, Aul)ergine, Jews Apple, Mad 
Apple, and Brinjal. the latter being a title 
very <x)inmonly u.^tHl in tlie East ; wliile at 
home and on the Continent, e.sp<H*ialIy in 
Eranco ami vSpain, Aubergine is the most 
common appellation. 
So far aubergines are not very well 
known or undersUMMl in this country as 
articles of <liet, hut when their eultuVe is 
bettor understocHl, and a taste for them 
has bi'en acquirtxl, they may prove scarcely 
AUBERGINE PURPLE TOKIO. 
One of the finely-fruited aubergines shown by Mr. G. Cradduck at the R.H.S. meeting, 
September 2^i. 
A good selection of bedding violas in¬ 
clude : Ardwell Gem, primrose; Ariel, 
lavender; Bullion, yellow; Blue Cloud, 
white ground, suffused blue; Blue Bell, vio¬ 
let; George Palmer, golden yellow; Jubi¬ 
lee dark blue; J. B. Riding, deep mauve ; 
Glencoe, mahogany; Isolde, yellow; King¬ 
cup, deep yellow; Kitty Bell, lavender; 
Lady of the Snows, white; Marchioness, 
cream self; Mrs. Allsop, hi uish-mauve; 
Royal Scot, blue; Mrs. Swettenham, rich 
lavender ; William Hill, rose ; W. H. Wood- 
gate soft lavender; and White Empress, 
white. Thos. Smith. 
Coombe Court Gardens. 
less iK>pular than the allied tomato. x\s 
an autumn vegetable the aubergine makes 
a very inter^tiiig and pleasing change 
from the ordinary kinds. 
Unless specially early crops are needed, 
the best time to sow se^s is during March 
or Apnl.' Thin sowdng in pots or pans, in 
moderate heat, is a good plan—ind^, 
early treatment follows upon the lines 
usually laid down for tomatoes--hut the 
great point is to secure sturdy, stout 
growth. For the seedlings 60-size<i pots 
will suffice; and good loam, leaf-soil, and 
sand will provide a suitable compost. 
Larger pots must be subsequently used 
