December 25, 1909 



HORTICULTURE 



915 



Trans-Atlantic Notes 



SOME UNCOMMON EOSES 



The cultivation of roses in pots has diminished some- 

 what, but it still forms an important branch of the 

 florists' work and can now show a revival, in the in- 

 creased attention paid to pot roses. The plants are more 

 useful to the private gardener who possesses a limited 

 space for his plants ; and they are portable, a matter that 

 is unthinkable with plants grown on benches without 

 pots. At one time pot culture was a paying business, 

 but since imported blooms have become cheap, only 

 such varieties as grow and bloom well in pots are now 

 grown. The raisers of new varieties have brought into 

 commerce some of great excellence, the forcing of which 

 maty begin in October, if the previous culture has been 

 of the right kind. Forcing in the earlier stages must be 

 very slow and then by the end of December fine flowers 

 are obtainable. Naturally, most of the varieties chosen 

 should be the popular favorites in regard to color and 

 shape; and the florist should choose such as do not 

 readily drop their petals when sent to a distance. Of 

 varieties not plentiful in gardens at the present time 

 mention may be made of Elsie von Schwichow, a H. T. 

 which is really a new Caroline Testout in habit and 

 other properties except that the bud is longer and the 

 color a different one — red carmine. It is mildly fra- 

 grant. The flower is good for every purpose, and may be 

 forced early much more willingly than C. Testout. 

 TJeichskanzler, H. T. an extraordinarily large flower of 

 a rose tint with a silvery glimmer, in form full, and with 

 the fragrance, of La France, is suitable for every pur- 

 pose, retaining its shape to the last, and is always long- 

 stemmed. The plant succeeds in middling heavy soil, 

 and is 8 days in advance of all other H. T. Whether 

 this variety is identical with Otto von Bismarck which 

 some persons assert it is, remains to be proved. Mrs. 

 E. G. Hill, H. T. is a flower of alabaster white and 

 blush — a rare color, a pretty bud, full form and good 

 fragrance ; an excellent variety for cutting, requiring 

 stiff rich soil. Mrs. Aaron Ward, H. T. a magnificent 

 yellow flower of moderate size, deliciously fragrant, 

 graceful shape, very enduring and for this reason it 

 bears traveling without loss of petals. An excellent 

 variety for forcing. Mad. P. Varin Bernier, T., light 

 yellow, partially double with a strong fragrance. Fine 

 large buds. The flowers if cut should be in the bud 

 stage. The rose makes a fine subject for pot culture. 



PERPETUAL FI.OWEEING CARNATION SOCIETY 



The Horticultural Hall, Westminster, in which an ex- 

 hibition of winter flowering carnations was held on 

 Wednesday, December 8, was made very gay with these 

 charming flowers. There appeared to be considerable 

 improvement in the quality of the flowers, and a few 

 new colors were seen. American carnations introduced 

 since 1907 had a class to themselves, namely one of 

 three vases with 13 blooms in each; and the first prize — 

 a challenge cup — presented by the American Carnation 

 Society was awarded to Bell & Sheldon, Castel Nursery, 

 Guernsey, Pink Delight, May Day and Winona being 

 among the varieties shown. First prize for a group of 

 12 varieties was taken by C. F. Waters of Deanlands, 

 Balcombe, who staged very choice flowers of Eose Dore, 

 Mrs. C. Knopf, Euby, Mrs. M. A. Patten, Mikado, and 

 others. In the color classes first for 25 white was taken 

 by W. H. Lancashire, with Perfection; first for 25 sal- 

 mpn fell to W. H. Lancashire for Eose Dore ; Bell & 

 Sheldon were first in cerise with Afterglow. Carnation 

 Mary Vilden shown by Blackmore & Langdon, received 



an award of merit. A considerable number of carna- 

 tions growing in pots formed an interesting feature of 

 the show. 



London, Eng. 



Sweet Pea Notes 



The trials and troubles of all sweet pea growers for 

 1909, wiU soon be forgotten, but at the same time many 

 will be greatly benelited by the experience gained and 

 a littk- retrospect will, perhaps, be acceptable to all in- 

 tending growers for 1010. 



The sowing period was anything but favorable, cold 

 and wet land working disastrously against earlv sown 

 seed, especially the white varieties, many blanks oc- 

 curring because of the seeds' rotting. 



With this difficult}' over another and more serious 

 stumbling block to the production of good sweet peas 

 had to be contented with. I refer to the demon 

 Drought, which perhaps is the most serious enemy the 

 grower has to face Weeks of scorching sun retarded 

 the growth of the halum, reducing the length of stem 

 and greatly shortening tlie blooming period. 



This condition must impress upon all the real neces- 

 sity of deep and thorough cultivation, accompanied 

 by their sowing and facilities for giving the plants a 

 periodical drenching (to the roots) with weak liquid 

 manure ■\\ater. 



A? to the best varieties to come through the trying 

 season none did better here than Frank Dolby, which 

 \vithout doubt is the finest lavender up to date, its strong 

 constitution, largo blooms and long stems making it a 

 most desirable variety. Coming to white, none pleases 

 better than Nora Unwin. Grown side by side with that 

 standard variety, Dorothy Eckford, a decided improve- 

 ment is noticeable. 



For the first time, here, T'rimrose Spencer came true 

 to color, growing strongly on stout, long stems, with 

 large blooms, stamping it as a variety which has come 

 to stay. 



Helen Lewis is still one of the best of its color and 

 it can be highly recommended for its sturdy habit and 

 long stem. 



The bright, large, clear pink of the Countess of 

 Spencer characterizes it as still head and shoulders 

 above any other of the vSpencer varieties which are 

 becoming as prolific on the market as the introducer 

 (W. Atlee Burpee) is becoming famous on both sides 

 of the water. We are looking forward with no little 

 expectancy to see how these new varieties pan out in the 

 coming season. Again we cannot overlook the merits 

 of the two leading scarlets, viz. Queen Alexandra 

 and Lving Edward, which have been subjected to 

 thorough trial and are still gaining in popularity as the 

 best scarlet varieties up to date. 



I cannot conclude these short notes without a word 

 of praist to the new variety introduced last year — Apple 

 Blossom — which is surely one of the best doers, with 

 enormous blooms on giant stems. It is worthy of a 

 trial by every grower. 



I hope to supplement these notes nearer the next 

 Bowing period. 



s=AW M-^fK 



Westerly, E. I. 



