LECTURES ON PANSIES AND VIOLAS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 21, 23 November 1910, Page 42

LECTURES ON PANSIES AND VIOLAS.

MR. CUTHBERTSONS PAPER. It is now more than 30 years since 1 joined the firm of Dobbie and Co. Mr. James Dobbie was then in full vigour, and was noted, among other things, for pansies. I remember several times trying to induce him to grow violas, but he would have none of them. They are only “bad pansies,” was his oft-repeated remark: “leave them to Grieve and Baxter.” In that you see the old florists’ condition of mind. To them, form or outline and clear, distinct markings were everything. From 1860 to 1880 the old English or show pansy was gradually being perfected, and the fine varieties then in existence have not since been surpassed. But. even 30 years ago, the show pansy was being hard pressed by the fancy or Belgian pansy, which is so well known to-day. I do not know whether it is because I have a hankering after old things or not, hut I think the fancy pansies of the ’eighties were as fine and distinct in their markings as any we have to-day. We have certainly increased the size, and 1 am sure we grow them better, but the quality is not better, or I am much mistaken. Pansies can be grown in two ways — from cuttings or from seed. Let me speak first about growing named sorts. Speaking generally, they will not give satisfaction in dry,sunny situation. The wild types love the shelter of a hedge bank, and he who imitates Nature’s conditions will succeed best. The morning or late afternoon sun will do good ; the full glare of the sun from 11 to 3 o'clock will make named pansies unhappy. Select, then, a position in the garden where the plants will enjoy themselves, and you will be amply repaid. Prepare the ground in autumn by deep cultivation, enriching liberally with halfdecomposed cow dung, if it can be had. Fork over the surface. Plant the plants from the cold frames with as much soil adhering to the roots as possible, and, with careful tending to watering and other details, splendid flowers will be had during most of the summer. To obtain fine, strong plants for spring planting, cuttings shi.uld be inserted in cold frames in a shady position, and named varieties should certainly be allowed to winter in frames.

THE RAISING OF PANSIES FROM SEED. This is, perhaps, the best way for those who wish for a good display, as seedlings are always hardier than plants from cuttings, and they can be planted out with safety in most places in autumn, thus ensuring a longer period of blooming. Results will depend much on the quality, of seed sown, and everyone should make sure of obtaining a high-grade article. Two years ago I saw several large beds of pansies in the garden of Mr. Walsh, the schoolmaster, of Birch, in Essex. I never saw stronger, healthier pansy plants in my life. They were seedlings, which Mr. Walsh told me he sowed in boxes placed under a north wall the year previous, transplanted into a bed facing west early- in August, and finally planted where they were to flower at the end of September. Before planting out, several had thrown flowers, but these were picked off, and I think this is one of the secrets of getting seedling plants like pansies, pentstemons, antirrhinums, etc., to winter outside—to rigidly prevent them blooming. They then make every effort themselves to survive to carry out their life's work. Mr. Walsh had no loss at all during the winter. At Easter they were in

full bloom, and such blooms—hundreds and hundreds—well over three inches in diameter, capital flowers most of them. VIOLAS. One of the gardening sensations of last century was the spring bedding at Cliveden carried out by Mr. John Fleming. Violas were largely used. They were, of course, much nearer to the wild types in habit of growth and form of flower than our modern violas. These latter are the creations of a host of raisers, nearly all of whom I have known personally during the last 30 years. I do not to-day propose to speak of exhibition violas. If I were addressing an audience in the industrial centres of the North or in Scotland, they would not thank me unless I told them which violas produced the biggest blooms and made up into the best exhibition sprays. But I wish to speak of the hardiest, the earliest to bloom, and the most floriferous. Three years ago I started to carry out an experiment in Essex to discover which varieties possessed these merits. I collected from the leading growers all the varieties they recommended for autumn planting, and in October 1 planted them in an open field in Essex. It must serve to-day to tell you which have survived satisfactorily over the three intervening

winters without the slightest protection of any kind, and have grown into splendid clumps 12 to 18 inches in diameter. I consider the survival satisfactory if 75 per cent or over have lived. The following varieties have stood that test: — Whites. —Peace, Seagull, Pencaitland, Christiana, White Beauty (very late). Cream.—Sylvia. Yellows. —Klondyke, Grievii, Mrs E. A. Cade. Shades of Blue.—Royal Scott, Blue Duchess Lilacina, Florizel, Wm. Neil. Purple.—Jubilee, Edina (very late). Fancy.—Blue Cloud, Mrs. Chichester. Fifty to 75 per cent of some remarkably fine sorts have survived, and these include favourites such as Snowflake, Redbraes Yellow, Walter Welsh, Wm. Lockwood, Iliffe, Primrose Dame, Arch. Grant, Mauve Queen, Maggie Mott, Blue Rock. Lady Marjorie, Bridal Morn, Councillor Waters. —“Gardeners’ Chronicle.”