Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1877 — Pansies. [ARTICLE]

Pansies.

The old-lashioned heartsease or pansy has, of late years become so improved in size, variety of color, delicacy of tints and curious coloring, that they have got to be much sought after by all classes. Indeed, the ease with which they may be propagated has enabled florists to sell them so cheap as to be within the reach of every lover of flowers. As cheap, however, as they are sold in cities, they are not thereby available to those who live far removed from urban life; and cheaply as they may be bought of florists, they may be raised ■till cheaper from seed. , . It is true, named varieties originally selected from seedlings, cantot be hats except from florists, who, from hundreds of plants select a few which they consider worthy of propagation from cuttings; still, the amateur may do the same with choice seedlings, and thus propagate them indefinitely. All that i» necessary is to fill a pan half full of sharp sand, wet It thoroughly, stick in the cuttings pretty thick—the thicker the better so they do not touch—cover the whole with a light of glass, and keep the sand thoroughly

moist, tolerably w» at a temperature ot about 60 denies Fahrenheit—and shaded, and root nicely. When they have nukriu ro ots half an inch in length, put Jfhein in a rich, light, friable soil, say Qltfe-quarter sharp sand, one-half good (UCnien soil and one-quarter thorrotted leaf mold, well sifted together: or, if intended for the border, place them there directly, water at the roots, draw dry earth over the watering, and shade them for a few days. But it is Of raising them from seed that we wish more particularly to speak now. The seed should be sown immediately—the middle of August is preferable—on a rich, well-drained border: water and silt over them one-quarter Inch of friable soil. If the soil is not rich, it must be made so, and if sandy, well-rotted cow manure should be added to make the soil pretty firm. As soon as the plants have made three or four leaves, transplant to tan or twelve inches apart, leaving enough in the oilginal bed, to stand this distance from each other. Ah soon as the winter sets in cover with an inch of leaf mold, and over all a good mulch of coarse litter. In the spring remove the cover of mulch, and the plants will spring through the leaf mold, and bloom throughout the season. In September cut them down to within one and a half inches or two inches of the ground, and treat them as in the previous fall, saving cuttings of choice varieties for propagating, if you like. By buying choice seed you may get many fine varieties. A watering of dilute liquid m&uure water, occasionally during summer, will increase the bloom wonderfully. If you cannot sow this summer, then prepare a rough frame early in the spring, say the middle of March, to be covered with glass. This is called a cold frame, since no manure is used for bottom heat. In the bed so prepared, sow the seeds pretty thin, in drills four inches apart, and transplant as before directed. Thus you may get bloom about the last of June or first of July, and thenceforward through the season. In wiuter protect as directed above, and you will have a mass of blossoms that will give the greatest satisfaction. The same plan may be pursued with scented violets. We have received no more satisfaction all summer than from a bed of pansies and violets so treated, unless it may have been from a bed of monthly roses, that were heeled in last fall in a cold frame, protected from hard frost and transplanted to the border this spring. Jf we only come to appreciate how little trouble it is to have flowers of the easiergrown sorts, we will then come also to appreciate their beauty more and more. No homestead should be without these most lovely of God’s vegetable gifts to man.— Prairie Farmer.