CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
It is a very satisfactory plan to make several sowings of 
seed, so the Pansies will be at their best at different times. 
In most climates best results are obtained by planting 
Pansy seed in late July, August or early September for 
early spring blooms. 
If seed is planted in October, it is safer not to trans- 
plant the seedlings until spring, for in most climates they 
will not have time to become well established before the 
freezing weather sets in. 
Spring Planting is desirable in climates too severe for 
the safe wintering over of plants. These should bloom pro- 
fusely all summer, but will produce their largest blooms in 
the fall or during a cool rainy spell in summer if there 
should be one. : 
Prepare seed-boxes or flats for the seed, using good soil, 
slightly fertilized. If available, mix 1/3 leaf mold or peat 
moss with the soil. Sift the soil for the top half inch and 
use no fertilizer in that. Sow the seed thinly, broadcast- 
ing it. Sift just enough soil over the seed to BARELY 
cover it. Sift a thin layer of peat moss over this to help 
retain the moisture. Firm the soil by pressing with a flat 
board before sprinkling. Cover with a cloth or lath frame 
until the seed has germinated well. Sprinkle twice a day 
or often enough so that the seed NEVER dries out. Seed 
should germinate in from seven to fourteen days, depend- 
ing upon conditions. 
The seed beds should be protected during heavy storms 
or the tiny seedlings will be beaten down and perhaps 
ruined. More people fail to get good germination through 
sowing their seed too deep or letting it dry out than any 
other causes, so especial care should be taken in regard to 
that. But damping’ off may result if kept too moist, so it is 
better to sprinkle often rather than a great deal at a time. 
The shading with some kind of frame is also important be- 
cause then they will not dry out so fast and there isn’t so 
much danger of neglecting to sprinkle often enough. 
Transplant when the seedlings have four or more leaves 
if weather conditions are favorable. Better let them be- 
come a little crowded than to transplant during a hot dry 
spell. Fall seedlings should be planted out in the open 
where they will get plenty of sunshine and where they will 
remain for spring blooming: unless the winter is apt to be 
extremely severe. In such places they may need the pro- 
tection of a cold frame but Pansies will stand even some 
zero weather if protected by straw or peat moss placed 
around the plants. Pansies that weather it through the 
winter out in the open will make the sturdiest plants and 
produce the largest, finest blooms in the early spring. 
Pansies that are transplanted in the spring for summer blooming 
do well on the east side of some building where they will get the 
morning sun but not the hot afternoon sun. The north side gives 
pansies too much shade for good results. 
Plants that are being grown for spring sales, may be set about six 
or eight inches apart in the row and the rows may be about fifteen 
or more inches apart, depending upon what method of cultivation is 
used. If plants are to remain all summer, they should be set about 
fifteen inches apart in the row. 
Pansies want rich soil. Well rotted cow fertilizer seems to be the 
best for pansies, although rabbit, chicken, sheep and horse manures 
are good as well as bone-meal and other commercial fertilizers. It is 
a good plan to enrich the soil well, several months before time to 
transplant the seedlings. 
In cultivating, leave the bed flat. Some people have a tendency to 
cultivate, raking the soil away from the plant so that each plant is 
left sitting on a little mound and this is apt to leave the side roots 
exposed. Rake the soil toward the plants; not away from them. Always 
cultivate the next day after irrigating, leaving the soil loose. This 
dust mulch helps to conserve the moisture, and it is not necessary to 
irrigate so often. 
MRS. MERTON G. ELLIS 
CANBY (Closed on Sundays) OREGON 

