Cultural Dinectious 
It is a very satisfactory plan to make several sowings 
of seeds, 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, broad- 
casting 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 sprinkiing. 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 likely to be extremely severe. In such 
places they may need the protection 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 culti- 
vation 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 fer- 
tilizers. 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 likely to leave the side 
roots exposed. Rake the soil toward the plants; not away from them. 
Always cultivate after each irrigation as soon as the soil is in good 
workable condition. The 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 
