PANSIES and PANSIES 
You hear this question asked: ‘‘Will not the ordinary garden 
variety of pansy, grow large and beautiful if well cultivated, and 
highly fertilized?”’ 
This question is best answered by asking another question—If 
you curry and feed a Shetland pony plenty of oats, will he make 
a Clydesdale horse weighing a ton? 
The American people are lovers of huge pansies, but the orig- 
inal type of pansy was about the size of a ten cent piece, and it 
goes without saying that, to double that size several times over, 
as well as creating new colors and improving existing hues, was no 
easy task. Especially so, when we all Know that the natural ten- 
dency of pansies is to breed back to the primitive forms and the 
original colors. 
If we will appreciate the fact that every fine flower or plant we 
see represents probably years of labor, expense, not to mention 
worry, and disappointments, then we shall no longer wonder why 
there is such a difference in pansies. 
Mastodon Pansies of the ‘‘Nineties’’ 
Living in a large city and growing blooming plants for the 
retail trade, it was the practice of pansy lovers to visit our gardens 
and make their own selections. Naturally, they expressed their 
opinions, freely criticising this one as ‘“‘common,’’ that one—a 
“Johnny Jump Up’’—too small—you couldn’t give it to me, etc.,”’ 
you know. But, selecting others, and now and then praising cer- 
tain ones. 
A habit was soon formed of noting these praise-worthy types, 
and, of course, these extra good ones were scarce, and for fear we 
would not have enough next year, in the seed we bought, we began 
staking the very plants they wanted most for our own use, and 
that was the beginning of Mastodon panies. Thereafter, it was a 
fixed and invariable rule never to part with a seed plant at any 
price. 
From criticisms and the various opinions of hundreds of pansy 
fans it was discovered that their verdict was unanimous for large 
size, a special liking for reds, yellows, and fancy or bizarre types, 
running mostly to the lighter shades. There was an almost uni- 
versal demand for a wide range of colors. ‘‘Can you fill an order 
for 100—no two alike, etc.?’’ 
4 
“The man who offers nothing but price 
usually has nothing but price to offer.” 
pei pare 
