January 26, 1908 



HORTICULTURE 



95 



Cyclamens in England 



Tlie accoiiipanyiiig illustration shows one of the cycla- 

 men houses at the Eoyal Gardens, Sandringham, and 

 was taken exactly thirteen months after the seed was 

 sown. The cyclamen being a great favorite with King 

 Edward and Qneen Alexandra quite a' large number of 

 plants have to be grown each year, and the high quality 

 which is maintained year after year, reflects great credit 

 upon Mr. Cook, tlie able superintendent of this noted 

 establishment. The Sandringham strain of cyclamen 

 is now well-known in England, Mr. Cook having made 

 these plants a specialty for many years, and devoted a 

 great deal of time and labor in bringing the strain to its 

 present high state of perfection. The methods which 

 he followed are most interesting. A few years ago he 

 collected from various sources the best seed which he 

 could possibly obtain. Not being satisfied with the 

 varieties which then existed, he took in hand regular 

 and systematic fertilization of the finest, having in 

 view richness and substance in the flower, symmetry 

 and length in the stem, and glossy marbled foliage. 

 The results obtained I may say, have quite exceeded his 

 expectations. Personally, I liave never seen a finer 

 lot of plants, and I am certain that he possesses at the 

 present time a strain which cannot be equalled 

 in Britain. Surely this system of ]irivate selec- 

 tion is well worthy of emulation by growers on this 

 side of the Atlantic. 



"^inm. 



North Easton. Mass. 



British Horticulture 



SWEliT TEA T RIALS 



The National Sweet Pea Society has arranged to 

 have another series of trials of new varieties at the 

 University College Gardens, Beading, this year. Last 

 year's trials proved very successful, demonstrating the 



practical value of this side of the Society's work. The 

 chief objects of the trials are to enable the committee to 

 have an op))ortunity of inspecting the new varieties 

 growing under similar conditions. Jt is intended to 

 grant awards of merit or first-class certificates to those 

 varieties in the trials deserving these awards. A glance 

 at the seedsmen's lists reveals the fact that there are too 

 many varieties listed, and the multiplication of novel- 

 ties (inly serves to confuse growers when a selection is 

 made. The decision of the committee to only grant 

 awards after the novelties have been included in the 

 Irials is well advised. It will prevent needless duplica- 

 tion besides allowing tlie committee to ascertain whether 

 a variety is properly fixed. There have been disap- 

 pointments in the past when a certificated new-comer 

 was found to be totally unreliable. When it is found 

 that the certificates have been awarded after a full and 

 careful trial, such as that which can be relied upon at 

 Eeading, their value will be enhanced in the estimation 

 of growers. 



SOME NEW VARIETIES 



Amongst the many new varieties which are being sent 

 out this year the now favorite Spencer type, with a 

 wavy form, appears to ]iredominate. St. George, which 

 is described as of a brilliant carmine-scarlet tint, of the 

 Spencer type, received the silver medal for the best new 

 variety in 1907 at the National Sweet Pea Society's 

 show, besides a first-class certificate. It also received 

 an award of merit from the Royal Horticultural So- 

 ciety last summer. Princess Victoria, which was so 

 much admired, when exhibited last summer, is a delight- 

 ful shade of soft pink somewhat similar to Mrs. Hard- 

 castle Sykes. . It received an award of merit from the 

 National Society and from the Eoyal Horticultural So- 

 ciety. The Marquis is a manve Spencer, and has also 

 received an award of merit from the National Society. 

 Norah Unwin is a decided advance on Gladys Unwin or 

 Frank Dolby. The pure white flowers are of fine form 

 and substance, and it is likely to prove a strong rival to 

 Dorothy Eckford. Other new aspirants for fame are: 

 Lord Nelson, navy blue; Evelyn Hemus, pale creamy 

 with carmine edge; Clara Curtis, a cream Spencer; 

 Eosie Adams, rosy mauve; Silas Cole, named after the 

 raiser of Countess Spencer, of a darker shade than the 

 former variety; Pride of Althorp, lavender blue; Lord 

 Althorp, an improved Helen Lewis ; and Miss Deliii 

 Spencer, rose pink. 



NEW- SINGLE FLOWERED C]IRYSANTHEMUMS 



Amateurs are recognizing to a larger extent the 

 value of this section of chrysanthemums. The follow- 

 ing is a list of new varieties which are being sent out: 

 Lady Mayoress Savers, yellow; Pink Felicity, bright 

 ];)ink : Felicity, ivory-white, large, prominent yellow 

 disc: A'ictoria, yellow: F. W. Smith, rose-pink; 

 Jlrs. C. Eadclyffe, rosy-carmine, with a clear 

 white ring next the disc; Exquisite, crushed-straw- 

 berry; Blanche, white; William Grix, canary yellow; 

 Euliy. late, ruby-crimson ; Mrs. N. F. Barnes, yellow, 

 flushed bronzy red; Mrs. Robert Armitage, terra-cotta; 

 ^Irs. H. A. Wittv, bright mauve, with a narrow zone 

 of white next to disc; Maisie Lyon, deep rose. 



A NEW WINTER WASH 



Some good results have been obtained with a new 

 winter wash known as VI fluid. Mr. Walter E. Col- 

 lings, head of the Department of Economic Zoology in 



