I was just tucking some more pansies into large pot when I noticed a lovely yellow one growing in the ground nearby, from last year's pansies that went to seed!
The surprise of finding it made it even more charming.
Upshot of all that is I dusted off a draft on pansy history that had been sitting around waiting to be finished.
I couldn't find many illustrations of the pansies named which is why I had shelved it. But, he was a good man and deserves being remembered.
"...among amateurs no name stands higher than that of Peter Lyle of Kilbarchan."
The great popularity of the pansy, which reminds me a little bit of Tulip Mania, is extraordinary. This article from Journal of Horticulture and Practical Gardening
is looking back on the earlier years and acknowledging Peter Lyle's place in pansy history.
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The Pansy is essentially a Scottish flower, at once the most popular with first-rate florists and the most generally grown by the ordinary floral amateurs, from John O'Groats to Maidenkirk.
The Show Pansy is a cross between our native Viola tricolor and V. cornuta. The raiser is unknown, as also is the date; but we may assume from various incidental circumstances that the fortunate man was from the neighbourhood of Paisley in Renfrewshire, and the period about the year 1823.
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| Medical Botany1832 |
Singularly enough, this is also the year when Mr. Peter Lyle was born, who, more than any other Pansy grower, has developed the flower by raising some of the very best sorts we yet possess, while from his youth he has kept true to the love of his heart, and is even now as keen and successful a grower of the flower as ever he was, as the grand beds he had to show last summer testified.
While many districts in Scotland are associated with Pansy growing, such as Campsie, Newmilns, Vale of Leven, and others, Paisley has been the headquarters, and Kilbarchan, five miles west of the county town, has been noted for the enthusiasm of its florists, and may be counted as second in eminence.
When Mr. Lyle was but a lad his zeal for gardening manifested itself in real hard work. So anxious was he to get his father's garden dug that he has done it three times in one spring ere the right time come, with just "the sid" of weather to justify the sowing of seeds. The Pansy growers from whom Mr. Lyle caught "the fever" were Wm. Campbell, Duncan Cairney, James Dick, James Gilmore and John Love, the last named being figured in the Journal of Horticulture, October 1st, 1891. (John Love was also from Kilbarchan. He was fond of pinks.)
Raising seedlings was the great hobby of the time, and when Mr. Lyle was twenty-five years of age, he went to his first show in Kilbarchan in 1848. Before that date shows had been attended in Paisley, and a few friends met there from time to time in the evenings to discuss new blooms, and Mr. Lyle had to walk home in the dark the five miles to Kilbarchan. To him this was no hardship, as he has ever been wonderfully quick of foot, and his fine constitution and wiry frame are even yet remarkably evident. In the year 1850, or thereby, a great show of Pansies and other flowers took place in Falkirk, but Mr. Lyle did not attend it, traveling thirty miles was not so expeditiously performed then as now.
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| Kilbarchan, where Peter Lyle lived. I decided to add pictures for anything I was interested in even if it is a bit odd for this article. :-) |
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| 1883 -Henri Fantin-Latour |
An old friend of my own, however, attended that show, Mr. James Peddie, gardener to John Gordon, Esq., of Aikenhead, Cathcart. As a gardener and keen florist the West of Scotland had no other to equal him, and his taste in Pansies was perfect. Mr. Peddie's first competition in Pansies was at Falkirk, and when he staged his blooms all eyes turned on the young fair-haired gardener and his stand of flowers. The Secretary, the late Mr. Charles Jeffrey, at once was struck with the stand and complimented the exhibitor thereon, saying "he was sure no finer lot would be shown, and that this would be adjudged first."
It was so, and from that day the real Scottish taste for Pansies may date, as thereafter the flower was a leading feature everywhere. I cannot name the blooms which were shown at Falkirk, but the following were the varieties most in vogue about that time—viz.,
In Glasgow on 9th September, 1852, in George's Square, set out in tents, the tug of war came which decided the Pansy championship, and a full report was inserted in the Glasgow Herald.
Here Mr. Lyle met Mr. Peddie, and was awarded the first prize in gardeners' and amateurs' classes for twenty-four blooms in each. A friend informed Mr. Peddie that he was surpassed by a man who had only 9 yards of a garden. This was true, yet could not be believed; so a gentleman was sent out to Kilbarchan to prospect, and on his return declared that the fact was so, and further that from the same plants in that small garden Mr. Lyle could stage forty-eight blooms any day, which would defy Scotland to beat them.
It was so, and from that day the real Scottish taste for Pansies may date, as thereafter the flower was a leading feature everywhere. I cannot name the blooms which were shown at Falkirk, but the following were the varieties most in vogue about that time—viz.,
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| The only one of the above mentioned I could find. *sigh* |
- yellow grounds — Duke of Norfolk, Robert Burns, Gilbert Burns, Sir Charles Napier;
- white grounds, Miss Talbot, Lizzie, British
Queen, Mountain of Snow; - yellow selfs, Wonderful and Climax.
In Glasgow on 9th September, 1852, in George's Square, set out in tents, the tug of war came which decided the Pansy championship, and a full report was inserted in the Glasgow Herald.
Here Mr. Lyle met Mr. Peddie, and was awarded the first prize in gardeners' and amateurs' classes for twenty-four blooms in each. A friend informed Mr. Peddie that he was surpassed by a man who had only 9 yards of a garden. This was true, yet could not be believed; so a gentleman was sent out to Kilbarchan to prospect, and on his return declared that the fact was so, and further that from the same plants in that small garden Mr. Lyle could stage forty-eight blooms any day, which would defy Scotland to beat them.
It will be historically interesting to name the blooms as well as to show the source of our present stock as exhibited at Glasgow Show in 1852. The gardeners' class were:
White grounds:
- France Cycole,
- Lady Mackenzie,
- Aurora,
- Royal Visit.
White selfs:
- Princess Royal,
- Jerome,
- Queen of England,
- Marchioness of Breadalbane.
Forgive me, but I just had to look up the Marchioness of Breadalbane. I found this evocative quote in a Google snippet - "...Marquis of Breadalbane came forward, when her Majesty cordially took his hand, and alighted from the carriage, followed by Prince Albert. Her Majesty was received by the Marchioness of Breadalbane, whom she ...". I didn't look harder or further.
Dark selfs:
- Rainbow,
- Duke of Perth,
- Norah,
- Maggie Lyle,
- Othello,
- Marchioness of Lothian.
Yellow grounds:
- Duke of Norfolk,
- Pizarro,
- Polyphemus,
- Juventa,
- Supreme.
There were two seedlings and Elegant, Sir Wm. Rae, and Lucy Neale.
In the amateurs' class they were somewhat the same, varied by Gulnare, Napoleon, Princess Louisa, and Robert Burns.
It is well to note that while to-day we have not one of these victorious varieties, we have some with similar names, as Robert Burns, which is still grown, but not the flower then exhibited.
Again, there have been two distinct "Royal Visits" to commemorate Her Majesty's coming to Glasgow.
From this date a universal taste for Pansies took possession of our florists. High prices were paid for a small quantity of rare seed, and very soon the increase in fine flowers became notable, while the standard of excellence was gradually raised for form, colour, texture, belting, blotch, and last, but not least, the eye. These six points must be met in a bloom, each point being nearly perfect, or, if one is deficient, the flower is condemned. Size may be counted the seventh point; as, however well up the Pansy may be otherwise, if it is less than 1 1/2 inch in diameter it is not well grown.
Mr. Lyle's success continued, as he was a frequent prizewinner, notwithstanding the extended ranks of competitors. Then his seedlings were famous, only the real beauties being sent out by him. Of many sorts raised, he often gave those away which friends admired, and his name as raiser was never linked with them at all, while the gems were eagerly sought after, and high prices given for them.
For instance, for two, named Capt. Spiers and Emily Lyle, the late Wm. Paul gave him £7; then for a beautiful one named Maggie Lyle he received £3 10s. from Messrs. Begg & Paul, who brought it out; while for twenty cuttings of one or two promising seedlings he would be paid £1. Nurserymen gladly add to their collections in this way, as amateurs usually concentrate their energies on one class of flowers, and the result is, as with Mr. Lyle, very special successes.
A few of the most famous Show Pansies, raised by various florists, are as follows :
Of dark selfs some were really fine, and if Rev. H. H. D'Ombrain could be rediscovered today it would be yet prized. This one endured for more years than any other.
Irene was introduced by Mr. Middlemass, and was very fine.
The Black Douglas, and W. B. Spiers and Gem followed—the last a beauty, but small, though as a judge said, it was " guid, guid !"
The late Thos. Hastie, of Strathaven, raised one long esteemed by growers, called James Dalzell, and which we still grow. Later Luna, and then Alexr. Watt, and David Malcolm brings the tale down to recent years.
A white ground (Jane Grieve) was, however, the greatest wonder perhaps of any Show Pansy ever introduced.
The method of culture pursued by Mr. Lyle may be of service to many lovers of his favourite flower. The cuttings are taken in September and set in cold frames in good soil and a little sand, lightly watered, and closed and shaded for a week or so, and air gradually admitted afterwards.
It is well to note that while to-day we have not one of these victorious varieties, we have some with similar names, as Robert Burns, which is still grown, but not the flower then exhibited.
From this date a universal taste for Pansies took possession of our florists. High prices were paid for a small quantity of rare seed, and very soon the increase in fine flowers became notable, while the standard of excellence was gradually raised for form, colour, texture, belting, blotch, and last, but not least, the eye. These six points must be met in a bloom, each point being nearly perfect, or, if one is deficient, the flower is condemned. Size may be counted the seventh point; as, however well up the Pansy may be otherwise, if it is less than 1 1/2 inch in diameter it is not well grown.
Mr. Lyle's success continued, as he was a frequent prizewinner, notwithstanding the extended ranks of competitors. Then his seedlings were famous, only the real beauties being sent out by him. Of many sorts raised, he often gave those away which friends admired, and his name as raiser was never linked with them at all, while the gems were eagerly sought after, and high prices given for them.
...among amateurs no name stands higher than that of Peter Lyle of Kilbarchan.
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| (He seems a jolly man!) |
- Countess of Roslin,
- Hugh Austin,
- Lavinia,
- Lady Lucy Dundas,
- Miss E. Cochrane,
- The Countess of Strathmore
- Flower of the Day.
Of dark selfs some were really fine, and if Rev. H. H. D'Ombrain could be rediscovered today it would be yet prized. This one endured for more years than any other.
Irene was introduced by Mr. Middlemass, and was very fine.
The Black Douglas, and W. B. Spiers and Gem followed—the last a beauty, but small, though as a judge said, it was " guid, guid !"
The late Thos. Hastie, of Strathaven, raised one long esteemed by growers, called James Dalzell, and which we still grow. Later Luna, and then Alexr. Watt, and David Malcolm brings the tale down to recent years.
A white ground (Jane Grieve) was, however, the greatest wonder perhaps of any Show Pansy ever introduced.
During winter the frame is not kept rigidly closed, but raised a little to allow air to enter and escape in all ordinary weather, but closed in extreme frost. It is damp which destroys the Pansy.
In March, if any fly appears, a little softsoap dissolved in water is syringed on the young plants and the pest destroyed. This is repeated before planting out. In April the plants are set out, in soil new to them, as if planted again in the previous year's bed disease sets in. None but well-decayed manure is used, and this is dug in during the previous autumn. The soil is moderately rich and open; heavy clay soil will not do.
After rains, when the earth is sodden, stir it freely between the plants with a hand-fork. This admits air, and the Pansy, though fond of moisture, cannot endure it to be stagnant. Until the plants grow and look robust, pluck off all the flower buds that show.When liquid manure is given it must be very weak, and in dry weather the plants must not be allowed to flag. As to the much talked of disease, healthy plants to start with are the best preventive; while new soil, in which Pansies have not been previously grown, will almost certainly keep back the invader.
His children are away from home, one only having opportunity to develop the paternal taste for flowers. His wife and he dwell in their own property, and are comfortable and free from worldly care. In March Mr. Lyle will grow Pansies in seed boxes, prick out the seedlings in April into his empty frame, and plant in open ground in June, and be as happy in September over his seedlings, with many friends, as if toil and hardship had never been nigh him all his days. New sorts will be added to the long list he has raised, let us trust even superior to Mauve Queen, Mrs. Jno. Bolton, Marquis of Lorne, Mrs. Gladstone, Mrs. Arthur, and the rest of his floral achievements, the praises of which we see in all the Pansy catalogues.
Many have worked in the same field with him, but to Mr. Lyle is due, more than to any other single person, the honour of having raised the Show Pansy to the perfection it has now reached. —Alexander Sweet.
Many have worked in the same field with him, but to Mr. Lyle is due, more than to any other single person, the honour of having raised the Show Pansy to the perfection it has now reached. —Alexander Sweet.
