The Portland daily press., 1881-07-07
"Pansies for Thoughts"
Providence journal.


There are few plants in which the effects of
cultivation and selection are so marked as in
the common pansy, the Viola tricolor of sci
ence. In its wild state, and, indeed, as we
find it in old gardens, it is SMALL parti-col-
ored violet, not always particularly pretty
Careful treatment as to soil and judicious Grad
ication of the smaller and less beautiful forms
year after year, selecting seed from the most
vigorous specimens, have worked wonders,
until now we have the innumerable varieties
which gladden. the hearts alike of rich and
poor. One can hardly go any where nova.
days where he will not see the hearts-ease or
pansy. The latter name is corruption from
the French "pensee" or thought though why
in the language of flowers this mod
est violet should come to have such
significance, is past finding out. In fact,
the sentiments attaching to flowers often seem
forced and fanciful even to the riotously imag-
NATIVE; it is impossible even to guess their ORR
gin. Speaking of old gardens, few years ago
we visited Salem in midsummer. Next the
quaint old house in which we sojourned was
the abandoned garden of rich estate. Wholly
neglected in the absence of its owner, all sorts
OF plants, both weeds and exotics had sprung
up simultaneously. Here could be seen the
golden stars Of coreopsis the white and crimson
tents of holyhocks, with Grant bees en-
camped therein; the tropical bloom of yucca,
misty sprays of red and white spireas; blue
columbines, larkspurs, monkshood and no end
of pansies. Perhaps Alice Pyncheon had her.
self gathered pansies in this garden. Nothing
&c in So1n Wy
long and deeply as we wandereh through the
tangle, thinking of gable-roofed houses, witch.
craft, the famo3s White murder, snd many
local incidents. The rlants grew with a rank
luxuriance, which under cultivation thew
might not have attained. To US the confusion
was more charming than the set beds of foil
age plants one now sees everywhere very prim
very harmonious, but certainly not natural. We
are so pre-Raphaelite as to admire Nature
She weaves her mats much as do the Persians.
without much apparent thought of the re-
suit. She does not ask whether such and such
colors will blend or contrast. but simply puts
them together. Should we attempt to imitate
either the oriental or the Good Mother. the
chances are that we might have to record a
conspicuous failure. There is perhaps a sub-
tie design under Kaleidoscope effect
The colors exhibited by pansies are most
extraordinary. Some are as near black as
flowers can be- The richest Tyrian purples
are common with clear yellows, intense yioiets.
lavenders, tender dove-colors rich maroons
and browns. On the lower petal, which, in
the violets is followed behind into nectar
bearing spur, there can usually be SEEN when
the collar is not too dark to observe them. the
so-called guiding lines to which SprengeI
about 1898, called the attention of botanists'
He claimed for them a significance which sci
ence has OF late reaftirmed, maintaining that
they serve as SO many clues or lines of direc-
ton to assist insects in. finding the honey. In
sects, 1t is now known, have an acute percen-
ton of color, and will strike at once for the
snowy lip OF these and other conspicuous flow
ers. In securing nectar, which is their own
affair, they also help the flowers, as they iney-
itably bear the pollen to different individuals
attached to their bodies mature abhors too
close inter-breeding," and even functionally
perfect flowers must often be crossed with 9th .
ers of the same species.
A morbid fancy often detects a erinnino
deaths head IN the flower OF pansy. Those
with gentler Thoughts" see pretty faces in
them, looking out from the daintiest of bon
nets. 1t is certain that they often have a most
coquettish appearance, and absolutely seem to
smile. For window-gardens or for hanging
. baskets they are Incompatible. If color has
any educational effect, and who can deny
this? surely tiny parterre of these flowers
constantly before ones eyes must refresh and
elevate the soul.
In our garden We have this year been great
ly annoyed by the persistent attacks of the So
called ''cut-worm", (Agrotis) the larva of a
kind of moth. Day after day we find the nan
sizes shipped off, or the heart of the buds eaten
out. Suspecting slugs, we diligently watched
for these without result. One day digging
about the plants, we upturned two greasy look
ing worms of dirty lead color. and the mis-
chief was explained. These follows, whose
deeds are evil, do their work in the night
The only sure way of preventing their ravages
is, according to Harris, to dig them out of the
ground with ones fingers. III the day time
they burrow in the earth and will be- found