Observations from - 
A PANSY BREEDERS 
NOTEBOOK 
Reviewing more than half a century of work with Pansies one 
begins to realize how much and how little has been accomplished. 
Great strides and improvements have been made but there are 
many still desirable projects for the future. I have been privileged 
to personally see and take part in a greater span of this work, 
Cc. W. HARROLD 
probably, than any now living grower who has specialized in it. It 
is possible that this experience affords a background for some 
observations that may be of interest and possibly some value, 
Watching, year after year, the comments, ques- 
tions and problems of thousands of professional 
and home gardeners, it is forcibly demonstrated | in 
a great many cases, that much misunderstanding 
about Pansies prevails. Here are some of the most 
common - 
THE MYTH OF THE “ONE BEST” 
In spite of the often made claim that some one 
variety is the only ‘‘best’’ variety or strain and 
universally applicable, I have found no _ single 
variety or strain that will prove best in all situa- 
tions or in the hands of every grower. It would be 
much simpler if this were true. We could reduce 
our breeding and growing efforts a great deal 
were it possible to produce such a variety. It not 
being true, however, has lead us to try and develop 
a variety that would meet any cultural situation, 
color preference, market preference or the desire 
of most any grower in a practical manner - a 
variety selection that can become a co-related part 
of America’s most complete line of Pansies. In 
most cases the descriptions on the following pages 
will give you enough information on each variety 
so you may determine which best meets your need 
and if not we shall be glad to advise you if we 
know your requirements. 
THE MYTH OF EARLINESS 
Possibly half a dozen varieties are advertised 
as being the ‘‘earliest’’ flowering. It is obvious, 
of course, that all can not be and it is also 
obvious that to a great degree ‘‘earliness’’ is 
controlled very much by the culture given and the 
time of planting. It is true that a few varieties 
will bloom in a shorter number of days from time 
of planting. It is also true that a different planting 
and cultural schedule may bring a more salable 
variety into the market just as early with greater 
profit to you. In some cases the breeding to short- 
en the time between planting and blooming date 
has reduced the color range, size and _ habital 
THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE 
BLENDING STOCK that goes 
into a single Harrold’s Pedi- 
greed mixture. Each individual 
lot has come from a_ separate 
harvest picking or separate cul- 
tures giving assurance that a 
more uniform formnla mixture 
will result. We know of no other 
similar production schedule so 
widely varied and so well adapt- 
ed to the maintenance of quality 
and stability. 
characteristics of once popular varieties. The mere 
claim of earliness can not be accepted as an 
unquestioned merit. In my work I have endeavored 
to develop strains with a minimum practical matur- 
ity span without detracting from the value and 
quality of the product. 
THE MYTH OF “FRESH CROP SEEDS” 
Every year we receive many orders specifying 
new crop seeds. Whenever we can do so without 
unreasonably destroying our color formulas we try 
and comply with this request. We are fortunate 
in that we do have a cultural situation that permits 
this on the Harrold’s Pedigreed originations to an 
extensive degree. On other varieties we are in the 
same position, in many cases, that all suppliers 
are in. Namely, the harvesting of these seeds sim- 
ply is not early enough to meet American major 
planting dates. Some imports are not delivered 
until December to January. 
In the routine of things, new crop seeds are 
not an essential and in most cases no advantage 
unless the customer wishes to store the seeds for 
several months rather than planting them at once 
on arrival. All seeds do better if the natural 
curing time and methods are considered and much 
hastening of this can only lead to damage to the 
product. 
Pansies will volunteer very easily under com- 
pletely natural conditions and using this as an 
illustration, you can better understand this process. 
Seeds that scatter from the plants in May, June, 
July and August usually lay on the surface of the 
dry soil and sprout readily with the first fall rains. 
Growth under these conditions is rapid and a 
sturdy plant results. You have probably noted too, 
that Pansies, like all perennials, grow much easier 
and faster when nights begin to cool. 
Now contrast this with the insistance for new 
crop seeds which are harvested in June, rushed 
into the ground in July under artificial culture and 
