PANSIES FROM SEED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 8 (Supplement)

PANSIES FROM SEED

CARE IN SOWING The day has gone when pansy seed was something in the nature of a speculation and the best of modern strains are little if anything inferior to named varieties, both in colour and markings. The habit of most of them has changed for the better. Many years of vigorous culling have produced a pansy with infinitely greater merits as a bedding plant than many of the older exhibition sorts. Good quality strains do not produce seed abundantly, and as a result pansy seed is, comparatively speaking, expensive.

Do not be tempted, if requiring good pansies, to purchase cheap seed of mediocre strains. The difference in quality of tlio plants and flowers themselves is many times greater than the trille added to the initial outlay. This principle applies not only to pansies but other tlower and vegetable seeds. Good strains have much time, labour and money expended on them, to ensure good quality and also a good percentage of germination, and therefore the cost is higher than mediocre strains in which the same meticulous care has not been taken. Not only is it an annoyance to-the grower to find little or no germination, but there is the loss of time in having to sow again, which may perhaps result in missing the season altogether. The Excelsior, Empress and Covent Garden strains of pansies arc three examples which conform closely to exhibitors' ideals of the fancy variety and produce enormous flowers, Engelmann's and Roggli's giants are also good both in size and markings. The last-named is one of the Continental types which has found favour, in addition to the mixed strains there are quite a few named varieties, which can be relied upon to conie true to colour. The main point to be watched in the actual sowing is the old maxim " sow thinly." Just how much harm can bo caused by thick sowing, with the inevitable result of overcrowded seedlings, is a point seldom appreciated. Even a day or two of overcrowding can injure the constitution of the plants, and once they are allowed to become drawn and weakened there is little indeed which can be done to restore their energies. Pansies are precocious bloomers and will generally develop at least one flower while the plant is still little more than a tuft of leaves. These early flowers should always be nipped out, giving the plants a chance to develop size and strength. Once they have started blooming in earnest see that they do not waste their energies in the production of seed pods. Removing spent flowers may seem a tedious task but unless it is carried out, blooming will come to an end, and it is difficult to induce a fresh start.

GROWING FLAG IRIS DRY WARM BED The different types of iris are so varied in habitat and in constitution that no one system of culture can be adopted for them, but with the common Iris germanica it is scarcely possible to plant them in a too dry or warm position. They will thrive in road scrapings on the top of an old stone wall fully exposed to the sunshine and will bloom profusely. Most of the strong-growing kinds thrive in any garden soil, but in many cases, after a time the clumps will become too crowded and refuse to flower. The work of separating may be taken in hand now. The clumps

have to be lifted and divided, and in replanting the root stock or rhizome is scarcely covered with soil, and if lime is deficient in the soil a little should be added. The Algerian Iris stylosa often requires to be judiciously starved to make it flower, and as it does this in winter and early spring, it requires a sheltered position. If t'..o plants arc inclined to become too leafy, it is a good plan to cut the leaves in half at this time of year, this may lead to an increased number of flowers. The addition of a quantity of sharp, gritty sand among the rhizomes is also beneficial. In its native habitat, Iris stylosa grows on stony hillsides and screes where it is exposed to the full sunshine. GUARD AGAINST PESTS A correspondent sends the following method of keeping slaters and other ground pests from destroying seedlings in boxes: Use a paint made by boiling castor oil and rosin togethor, and then paint a ring of this round the seedboxes. Alum may be added if desired as an additional precaution against slugs.