Pansy Culture

Pansies are old and popular favorites, they embrace varieties with

variously-colored flowers, from almost jet black, to pure white and

yellow. They are easily grown from seed. The general custom is to sow

Pansy seed in the fall, but we are in favor of spring sowing. We have

tried sowing seed at both seasons, and find that plants grown from

spring-sown seed bloom more freely throughout the hot months of summer,

while plants raised by fall sowing become exhausted, and cease flowering

much sooner. Seed sown in March, in light, rich soil, will make fine

blooming plants the same season. Pansies are hardy, if they have good

protection with a litter of leaves or straw, or any light covering,

which should be removed very early in the spring, or as soon as danger

of heavy frosts is over. Plants remaining in ground through the winter,

if proper care is given them, will bloom very early in the spring, as

soon as the frost is out of the ground. We have even seen the frail

blossoms peeping up through the snow, but the plants become exhausted

and cease flowering before mid-summer. It is possible to have them bloom

throughout the entire winter by taking up old plants from the open

ground in October, and carefully planting them in a tight, cold frame in

a sheltered location, covering the frame with glazed sash. This is often

done by florists whose trade demands the flowers at that season of the

year, and especially early in spring. Treated thus, they flower

abundantly. The same can be done with Violets. Pansies require a partial

shade and a good, rich, loamy soil, and an occasional watering through

the dry season will help them.