PANSIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 792, 12 October 1929, Page 32

PANSIES

PLANT THEM NOV/ Pansies, iike most flowers, require a reasonable amount of care and , cultivation in order to produce the ! best results, and if the following few | hints are observed satisfactory re- : suits should be obtained: 1 In the first place, plant good seedlings; this does not mean being strong ! and healthy only, but, what is most important, the seedlings should be raised from the very best strains. If pansies can be planted in beds |or borders by themselves, that is in j mass formation, better results can be j obtained than if they are dotted about ! the garden, because special attention can be given, not to themselves only, but also to soil preparation. Lime the ground a week or so ahead, a.nd then, if possible to obtain it, old cow manure should be well ' incorporated in the soil, but otherwise well-decayed stable manure is I the? best, substitute. On no account : use fresh manure in any form. An • alternative plan is to feed the plants wjien coming into flower with liquid i manure, and continue the treatment right through the flowering period. While old-time pansies require a little shade during part of the day, the constitution of present-day strains makes this condition almost negligible, and they will now stand almost continuous sunshine until well into the summer months. A good supply of water is essential. Pansies should never be allowed to get dry, and an overhead watering at night* is of great benefit during the warm months of the year. Another important operation is to keep the soil well worked between the plants; it conserves moisture and encourages root action. Old carnation plants that are just coming into bloom should have lime dusted on the leaves and around about them. If parsley seed is immersed in hot water for an hour before sowing it j will germinate much quicker. Another way is to sow it in an inch-deep furrow and pour hot water over it.