Who does not love a pansy? They are easily raised by seed and layers.
The seeds should be planted in March for summer culture, and in October
for winter use. The pansy requires a rich soil.
The finest bed of English pansies we ever saw were planted in the fall,
in a bed of rich soil. Before the winter snows the plants were covered
lightly with manure and straw through the winter. In the spring the
manure was carefully raked off, and the plants dug around with a garden
fork. They bloomed early in spring; and, as we looked upon them by the
morning light, their bright faces seemed to say “Good morning!” These
lovely flowers look like happy children.
Many persons in our country call the pansy, violet; but the gardener
only calls the sweet double blue and white violet by that name. And
this sweet violet hides its head modestly under its leaves, and is the
flower the poet speaks of,--
“Meek and lowly, hiding ’neath its leaves of green.”
The bright-faced pansy does not hide its head; it looks you in the
face as fearless as a sinless child. These violets are in great demand
from their delicious perfume. These plants require shade and moisture.
The best varieties are the “double blue Neapolitan” Setsenbran, single
blue, very prolific. King of Violets, very large blue. Double white
Neapolitan; this does not bloom freely. Sweet-scented Geraniums,
Heliotrope, Lantanas, Lemon Verbena, &c., are all easily propagated
from slips. The three first require often watering with guano water,
and with this treatment will fully repay all care.