January  29,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
99 
A  National  Pansy  and  Viola  Sociely. 
We  have  National  Societies  for  Carnations,  Clirysantlieinums, 
Dahlias,  Sweet  Peas,  and  Roses;  why  not  a  National  Pansy  and 
Viola  Show  in  England  ?  There:  can  be  little  doubt,  I  think,  that 
of  late  years  much  progress  has  been  made  by  professional  and 
amateur  growers  in  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  Pansies 
and  Violas.  More  especially  is  this  observable  among  the  latter, 
which  are  becoming  exceedingly  popular.  They  have  made  such 
rapid  strides  in  size,  form,  substance,  and  other  good  qualities 
that  I  believe  the  time  is  now  ripe  for  an  endeavour  on  the  part 
of  growers  in  England  to  form  a  society  which  shall  have  the  power 
to  re-olassify,  lay  down  new  properties  suitable  to  the  present 
age,  award  certificates  of  merit  to  varieties  submitted  for 
Paullinia  thalictrifolia. 
W'hile  many  are  craving  for  novelties,  better  plants  than  they 
can  hope  to  produce  (in  many  instances,  at  least)  are  lying  by 
neglected.  Such,  we  tliink,  is  very  largely  the  case  with  the 
Paullinias,  and  P.  thalictrifolia  in  particular.  Our  illustration  of 
a  plant  depicts  it  as  a  specimen  pot  subject,  whereas  the  species 
is  really  a  good  climbing  plant,  suitable  for,  and  very  ornamental 
on,  pillars  or  upright  supports  in  warm  stoves. 
The  plant  is  easily  pi’opagated  by  means  of  cuttings,  and 
grows  with  fair  vigour  in  a  compost  such  as  suits  Asparagus 
Sprengeri,  or  Lygodiums,  and  similar  plants.  P.  thalictrifolia 
is  a  Brazilian  plant,  and  has  a  variet.y  with  foliage  suffused 
Paullinia  thalictrifolia. 
adjudication,  and  to  organise  a  national  show.  I  shall  be  glad  to 
receive  communications  from  any  gentlemen,  professional  or 
amateur,  who  would  kindly  co-operate  in  such  a  movement  by 
sending  me  their  views  on  the  subject,  and  the  extent  of  support 
I  might  expect  from  them,  prior  to  calling  a  meeting  to  go  more 
fully  into  the  matter. — A.  S.  Tkeacher,  Viola  Specialist,  Leicester 
Road,  New  Barnet,  Herts. 
[Our  correspondent  has  made  a  suggestion  which  we  would 
extend  to  include  along  with  Pansies  and  Violas  those  sweet  and 
most  delightful  flowers,  the  Violets,  which  are,  of  course,  varieties 
of  Viola  odorata.  We  venture  to  predict  that  our  own  sugges¬ 
tions  to  liave  Violet  classes  on  the  exhibition  schedules  of  the 
horticultural  societies  will  in  a  few  years  be  all  but  universally 
adopted ;  and  if  a  National  Pansy  and  Viola  Society  cannot  be 
separatel.v  established,  could  it  not  become  linked  with  the 
National  Primula  and  Auricula  Society,  whose  management  could 
hold  a  summer  shoAV  for  the  Pansies? — En.] 
silvery  grey,  named  argentea.  The  flowers  are  inconspicuous, 
of  a  pinkish  colour,  and  borne  in  autumn. 
In  the  early  seventies,  when  foliage  plants  were  keenly 
sought  for,  this  pliuit  was  widely  distributed.  “It  used  to  be 
trained,”  says  L.  H.  Bailey,  “  to  a  trellis  for  exhibition,  or  grown 
on  the  pillars  and  rafters  of  hothouses.  It  is  now  a  rare  but 
choice  plant  for  clothing  the  tops  of  unsightly  tubs  in  which 
Palms  are  growing.  It  is  excellent,  also,  for  vases,  and  stands 
the  sun  well.  The  young  leaves  have  a  pretty  bronze  tint,  unless 
they  are  shaded  too  much.  If  the  tops  are  pinched,  the  young 
plants  will  branch  out  and  make  handsome  specimens  in  4in  or 
Sin  pots. 
The  genus  comprises  about  eighty  species,  mostly  tropical 
American.  The  name  Paullinia  is  probably  after  Simon  Paulli, 
1008 — 1680,  professor  of  anatomy,  surgery,  and  botany  at  Copen¬ 
hagen. 
