Viola tricolor.

"This is one of the English florist's flowers, and spirited contests for prizes are yearly witnessed - in this country but little attention has been paid it; though its increasing beauty by the production of new varieties is claiming our regard. Those of us whose idea of a Heart's Ease is confined to the pretty little flower of former days, have but an imperfect conception of the size, figure and brilliancy to which the Viola tricolor has attained. For an interesting article on its culture see the " London Horticultural Magazine".

Varieties

These are increased in number annually, but the following are established in public favour.

Brown's Attila.

----------- Countess of Ork.aey.

----------- Curion.

Cook's Attila.

----------Alicia.

----------Black Bess.

----------Mulberry Superb.

Prince Albert.

----------Ringleader.

----------Triumph.

Davies' Miss Nugent. Foster's Man of Kent. King's Exquisite.

-------- Princess Royal.

-------- Sulphura Elegans.

Kitley's Bathonia. Lane's Sir John Sebright. Lidgard's Jewess. Major's Bridegroom.

---------- Beauty of Knosthorpe.

---------- Princess Royal.

Maule's Princess Royal. Pearson's Agnes.

------------- Black Prince.

------------- De Buch.

------------- Magraith.

------------- Milton.

------------- Sobieski.

Scholfield's Surprise. Silverlock's Prince Albert.

----------------Prince of Wales.

Thompson's Attila.

----------------Beauty of Bucks.

-------------- Coronna. ----------------Cream.

---------------- Cyclops.

----------------Desirable.

---------------- Duchess of Richmond.

---------------- Hamlet.

----------------Jewess Superb.

---------------- Launcelot.

----------------Miss Stainforth.

----------------Nymph.

---------------- Prince Albert.

----------------Princess Royal.

----------------Regulator.

---------------- Raphael.

-------------- Rufus. ----------------Ultraflora.

------------------ Venus.

----------------Warrior.

Characteristics Of Excellence

" The first and most essential quality is its form, which will be found in the greatest perfection in that flower round which if a circle be drawn each petal will exactly touch the circle, not projecting beyond it, nor stopping short of it. The petals should be large and broad, because in that case the indentations must be shallow where the outline of one petal meets another. Of a firm texture, flat, even at the edge, and free from notches. The eye must be clean and well defined, the colours should be rich and vivid, and the markings must have a clear edge. A uniform tint as a ground colour is much esteemed; but the variations and combination of colour are so numerous and beautiful, that no precise rules can be formed to govern this point." - Gard. Chron.

Soil used by the best Pansey growers round Manchester, is the surface soil of an old pasture and partially decomposed cow-dung, about one part of the latter to two of the former.