PANSIES AND VIOLAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

PANSIES AND VIOLAS.

TIME TO BED OUT. Hood healthy pansies and violas established in plant trays and bedded out this month in rich, well-drained soil, come into flowering in October and last for a considerable time, tho violas continuing well into the summer. In the caso of pansies it is essential to plant only the best large-flowered strains to produce tho richest and most beautiful colours. Pansies aro treated as an nuals with us. as tho hot, dry summers are unfavourable and as plants from selected strains of seed reproduce such a splendid variety of colours and aro of

such robust and healthy constitution tho old plants are not worth keeping over. Pansies show to best advantage in round beds slightly raised in the centres and near the edge o! Iho summer bordor.

The true old-fashioned violas produce dainty starry flowers in great abundance, and are almost essentially employed for garden edgings, although they are also used in tho rock garden. The colours include various shades of mauve, purple, rich rose-pink and pure white. Mom recent additions to violas include large flowers in golden yellows, puro whites and manv fancy shades making it difficult to discriminate between the pansy and the viola. Uotli require similar treatment. Reproducing true to colour from seeds, manv of the varieties are utilised for colour schemes in ornamental bedding.

SOWING TOMATO SEED

VALUE OF HOT-BEDS. Tomatoes required for early planting, if not already .sown, slioitlcl Ik: sown at once, for although well-grown plants arc procurable frniii most of tlio .seedsmen, where special varieties arc required, it is always safer to procure the seed and raise the varieties wanted. 'ihe seed is best to be sown in shallow boxes or pans, and placed in a green-house, or other warm situation. Fill the boxes to within an inch of I he, top, with good fine soil, and press to a smooth, level surface, so that the seed will be evenly distributed. Lightly cover the seed with line soil, then cover Ihe box or pan with glass and shade with paper until there are signs of germination, when the shade should be removed. The glass, too, should be lifted to admit air and to prevent the plants becoming drawn arid weak. As soon as Iho plants have made three or four of their lough leaves, pride out into boxes allowing a space of about 3in. bet ween each plant, so that when ready for transplanting they can be lifted with a good ball of soil attached to the roots. When material is easily procurable a small hot bed is preferable for raising these and other tender plants required' for early planting. A reasonable thickness of stable rnanuro and leaves made up into a hot-bed will retain the heat for a much lunger period than stable manure alone, and will be equally useful for raising seedlings or Ihe striking of tender cuttings. For early-raised cucumbers and other tender plants a certain amount of bottom heat, is essential.