Julv 31, 1915 



HORTI CULTURE 



133 



AMERICAN SWEET PEA SOCIETY. 



Report of the Sweet Pea Trial Grounds, 

 by Prof. A. C. Beal. 



During the past year we were able 

 to resume our trials with the winter- 

 flowering sweet peas. Althoush we did 

 not come into possession of the neces- 

 sary greenhouse space in time to sow 

 them for the early crop, we were able 

 to plant during October and therefore 

 had an excellent crop of flowers dur- 

 ing midwinter and spring. In fact, last 

 year's crop was the best we have ever 

 had. 



A large collection of varieties were 

 received from Mr. Zvolanek and a few 

 varieties from other seedsmen. Some 

 of the older varieties were grown for 

 comparison, and altogether there were 

 sixty "varieties in the collection. 

 Among the newer sorts the following 

 are very promising: 



Bridal Veil. A large to very large, 

 much-waved white flower. 



King of England. A large waved 

 flower, of a bright glowing crimson 

 color. In our experience this variety 

 is the best red for greenhouse culture. 



Rev. Fathek Kellt. A large to 

 very large, much-waved lavender flow- 

 er. Some of the standards show tints 

 of mauve-rose, but change to the same 

 color as the wings. The exact color 

 is not given in the "Repertoire des 

 Coleurs" being less red than 18S (1) 

 and less blue than 201 (1). 



Belgiax Hero. A large waved flow- 

 er with the standard salmon-carmine 

 and wings purple-rose. This would be 

 called by the trade an orange-pink. 

 "When grown in late spring or sum- 

 mer this variety, unless shaded, shows 

 the blackened veins common to flow- 

 ers of this color; but in winter this 

 variety was free from this defect. 

 When well grown it is a fine variety. 



Morning Star. A very large much- 

 waved flower with the standard bright 

 mauve-rose and wings violet-rose. 

 These are the approximate colors, as 

 the real colors lie between the two 

 and the flower is more nearly a self 

 than is indicated. 



Mrs. Calvert. A large waved deep 

 pink flower. The standards are raauve- 

 roso and the wings pale lilac-rose. A 

 beautiful flower. 



Polar Light. A large waved flower; 

 standard lilac-rose, wings darker. 



Waved Chri.stmas Pink. Appears 

 to be a decided improvement on the 

 widely-grown Christmas Pink. 



The above are the best of the collec- 

 tion for commercial culture, but there 

 are others of considerable promise 

 which we have not space to describe 

 as Paciflc, Montenegrian, President 

 Wilson and Polar Bear. 



The above varieties were free from 

 rogues, and all the varieties indicate 

 a very great advance in the winter- 

 flowering section. 



Of the varieties received from other 

 growers, Selma Swenson is a large to 

 very large waved, pale lilac-rose with 

 light violet-rose wings. 



This season in the open ground we 

 have seventy varieties of comparative- 

 ly recent introduction, and aliout an 

 equal number of the oldest varieties. 



The latter we are growing to sei un- 

 seed so that we may keep them for 

 a few years. It Is probable that the 

 plants at Cornell are the only existing 

 plants of some of these old varieties 

 which are so interesting to those of 

 us who wish to note the progress in 

 the evolution of sweet peas. These, 

 of course, were sown in the open 

 ground. 



The new varieties referred to were 

 not received until the latter part of 

 March, probably because of the war, 

 and were sown in pots at once. Had 

 we been able to forecast April condi- 

 tions this year, we should have sown 

 them in the open because when we did 

 transplant we had a dry period which 

 tended to check the plants. 



They are now beginning to bloom, 

 although the amount of growth is less 

 than usual. It is too early to estimate 

 the real worth of these varieties. What 

 I shall say, therefore, is only tentative 

 and subject to revision. At present 

 we consider: 



Stark's Giant Buff. This with us 

 is the largest waved variety of its 

 class. 



Duchess of Portland (Dobbie, 

 1915). A very large cream-pink. 



Alfred (Dobbie, 1915). A good sized 

 clear pale lavender. 



Blue Picotee (Dobbie). Appears to 

 surpass all other blue Picotees. 



Robert Sydenham. The first flowers 

 of this have proved a disappointment 

 to us for it burns. We have had very 

 unusual weather in that we have had 

 frequent heavy rains alternated with 

 bright sun. Possibly settled weather 

 would result in better flowers, al- 

 though the fault is not an uncommon 

 one among the varieties of this color 

 section. 



Stark's Soft Salmon. Is a pretty 

 thing, but we wish to see more of It. 

 King White. Is the leading exhibi- 

 tion white, and Wedgewood appears 

 likely to supplant the other waved 

 blues. 



Brooklands' Queen, Sincerity, Dob- 

 bie's Orange, Spitfire and others may 

 prove desirable. 



We hope that conditions may be bet- 

 ter this fall and that we can receive 

 seeds earlier next year for outdoor 

 growing. 



In closing let me urge the members 

 of this society to use their influence 

 to get varieties for the trial grounds. 

 This fall we shall have better facili- 

 ties for testing winter-flowering sweet 

 peas than we have ever had before. 

 We shall have a new modern house 

 forty feet wide at our disposal, and 

 the tests will be made under commer- 

 cial conditions as we plan to use the 

 house and crop as an obpect lesson 

 in growing winter-flowering sweet 

 peas. It we can secure all the varieties 

 now in the trade for trial with our 

 present notes, we can later issue an- 

 other pulilication bringing the subject 

 up-to-date. 



The Cleveland Flower Show commit- 

 tee report the A. L. Randall Company 

 of Chicago have taken prominent 

 space, also J. Neidinger of Philadelphia 

 and that they have many inquiries 

 from other live dealers and manufac- 

 turers. 



AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY 



The executive committee of the 

 American Rose Society met at the of- 

 fice of President S. S. Pennock, Phila- 

 delphia, on Tuesday, July 20. The ap- 

 pointment of Emil Buettner, Park 

 Ridge, 111., and John H. Dunlop, Rich- 

 mond Hill, Ontario, as judges for the 

 rose exhibits at the Cleveland Flower 

 Show to be held in the Coliseum in 

 Cleveland from November 10 to 15, 

 was confirmed. Robert Scott & Sons 

 of Sharon Hill, Pa., offer a special 

 prize of $25 at this show. 



The Hartford Rose Garden Commit- 

 tee, consisting of John F. Huss, Wal- 

 lace R. Pierson and Alex. Cumming. 

 Jr., report: 



On tlie 25tli of June the new roses of the 

 test g.irden at Elizabeth Paris, Uartford, 

 Conn., were closely examined and silver 

 medals were awarded as follows : 



Conard & Jones Co., West Grove, Pa.— 

 Ciimliing American Pillar. Scored 8o 

 points. Highly recommended as pillar rose. 



A. N. Pierson, Inc.. Cromwell, Conn. — 

 Killarney Queen. Scored 85 points. Rec- 

 ommended as a grand bedding rose. 



Hoopes, Bro. & Thomas Co., West Ches- 

 ter Pa.— Purity, Hybrid Wichuriana. Scored 

 87 'points. A splendid grower that is rec- 

 ommended for every collection and garden. 



Hoopes, Bro. & Thomas Co., West Ches- 

 ter Pa.— Climbing American Beauty. Scored 

 87 points. \ grand profuse bloomer de- 

 serving to be recommended for every gar- 

 den. 



Hugh DiclJSon, Ltd., Belfast, Ireland.— 

 Lady Pirrie. Scored .S5 points. Eecom- 

 mcii'iled as a splendid bedding rose. 



Edward Kress, 2506 North Ave., Balti- 

 more, Md.— Registered as Defiance. Scored 

 85 points. Highly recommended as a most 

 excellent bedding rose. 



There have been added a number of new 

 varieties of American origin this spring 

 which will be watched with great interest 

 in tlie future, and more are promised for 

 the planting in coming fail. Mueli interest 

 li'is been especially devoted to this test 

 garden by the lovers of roses, and the g.ar- 

 den has been unusually well visited tnis 



''''john F. Huss. Wallace R. Pierson, Alex. 

 Cumming. Jr., Committee. 



The National Flower Show to come 

 off in Philadelphia next spring is gain- 

 ing a good <leal of attention and in- 

 terest from the rose growers around 

 Philadelphia. 



The Waban Rose Conservatories pre- 

 sented for registration two new roses, 

 as follows: 



Mrs. Bayard Thayer— A sport from 

 .Mrs. Charles Russell. Flower is large 

 and full. Color outside of petals deep 

 rose, inside clear silver pink. Foliage 

 lar,ge and very dark green, perfectly 

 flat, has no tendency to curl as is 

 sometimes the case with Mrs. Charles 



"O ** GCf^l 1 



.Mrs. Moorfield Storey — A seedling. 

 General McArthur X Joey Hill. A 

 laruc full rose with heavy dark foli- 

 age. Color shell pink deeper towards 

 the center, tip of petals deep rose. 



There were directed to he accepted 

 and published in accordance with the 

 rules of the American Rose Society. 



The Cleveland Rose Show was dis- 

 cu!-sed and the desirability of holding 

 a meeting in that city during the 

 show was advocated, and a motion 

 made to that effect was carried. 



Benjamin Ha.mmono. Sec'y. 



Beacon, X. Y. 



