VIOLAS AND PANSIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 98, 16 July 1927, Page 26

VIOLAS AND PANSIES

FOR BEDDING AND BORDERS If children had a vote on what they considered the favourite flower, I think the pansy would win. Pansies and their brothers, violas, are easily raised from seed and can be sown during July and August in seed pans and boxes. The plants are also now available for those who cannot produce their own from seed. When one considers the fine strains which are now offered, the only wonder is that they are not grown by everybody. A lot of people do not understand the difference between pansies and violas. Violas are a cross between the old garden pansy and the small violet shaped viola caxnuta or tufted pansy. Real pansies are of a coarser growth. Then violas are much larger flowers invariably blotched, margined and striped with different shades. Violas make a splendid show when bedded out in their separate colours. Yellow, white and blue are the main shades. If planted now they will flower in the early spring and continue blooming for months. Pansies thrive best in rich

soil; the better the soil the larger the blooms. To receive a continuous supply of flowers ample watering- will be required through the warm months, and every week the old flowers should be picked off to allow the buds to fully mature. Plant about sin. apart in \v£ll-worked soil.