HORTICULTURE 



July 1, 1916 



SWEET PEA SHOW AT SAN FRANCISCO 



The second annual Sweet Pea Ex- 

 hibition of the San Francisco Branct- 

 of the American Sweet Pea Society 

 was held in the Concert Room of the 

 Palace Hotel, on June 9th and 10th. 

 The exhibition was larger than the 

 previous year's, and the superior qual- 

 ity of the sweet peas throughout, was 

 remarked on by all who had seen the 

 previous exhibition. The gardeners 

 and amateurs have conie to realize 

 that the cordon system is the best 

 method of growing Spencer sweet peas 

 for exhibition, and some of the vases 

 shown showed wonderful culture and 

 great intelligence on the part of the 

 growers in the care of their plants. 



The entries were much more numer- 

 ous and the hall was filled to over- 

 flowing. The attendance was a little 

 disappointing on the opening day, but 

 on the second day the show was 

 visited by crowds. It is too bad that 

 the finances of the society would not 

 permit of more extensive publicity, but 

 when it is realized that the entire ex- 

 penses of the San Francisco show falls 

 on a few of the local growers and 

 seedsmen it can be realized why more 

 could not be done along tliese lines. 



Sweet pea enthusiasm has struck 

 the San Francisco neighborhood and it 

 is hoped that the show can be made 

 an annual affair. Unfortunately the 

 detail work falls on the shoulders of a 

 few who are the least able to give the 

 time at this season of the year. It is 

 hoped that some arrangement can be 

 made in the future whereby tlie duties 

 can be distributed so that there will 

 be no danger of the Assistant Secre- 

 tary giving up his position. The 

 judges were Eric James, president of 

 the Pacific Coast Horticultural So- 

 ciety, and John McLaren, supt. of 

 Golden Gate Park. The decorative 

 classes were judged by Mr. Sanborn, 

 Jr., of Oakland, in conjunction with 

 Miss Evelyn McLean, of San Fran- 

 cisco. 



Prize Winners. 



Vase of Fiery Crnss. prizes ilouated hv 

 W. Atlee Burpee & Co. 1st, John W. Ait- 

 ken, garil. to Chas. W. Haas, Menlo Park ; 

 2n(l. S. M. .Spalding, gard. David W. Slade. 



Six vases Spencer, prize donated by W. 

 Atlee Burpee & Co. ],st. Jolin W. Aitken, 

 with magnitirpnt vases of r'nnatance Hin- 

 ton. ^frs, Hiiirti T)iclcsun. (^;ip1. Travers; 



c. I'. Morse & Co.'s Exhiiiit at San Francisco Exhibition American Sweet Pea Society. 



L'nil. Mrs. Louis Stern. Menlo Park, gard. 

 David Bassett, with Hne exumples of Wedg- 

 wood, Doris Usher and Scarlet Emperor. 



Twelve varieties Spencer, prizes presented 

 b.v C. C. Morse it: Co. 1st, John W. Aitken. 

 Tliis was one of the linest lots in the show, 

 the outside vase being Royal Purple; 2nd, 

 Frank C. Thompson, San Francisco; 3rd, 

 ICiiMic Ralston. San Jose. 



Kl\e vases Spencer, prize donated by the 

 llalluwell .Seed Co., Emile Ralston, San 

 Jose. 



Nine vases Spencer, prize donated by 

 Waldo Rohnert. 1st, John W. Aitken. Mr. 

 Aitken in this x'hiss showed some wonder- 

 fully tine colors, the vase of Barbara win- 

 ning the prize for the best vase in the 

 show. The quality of the blossoms in the 

 lirst prize vase was quite remarkable and 

 wcuild have done credit to some of the old- 

 est e.xliibitors in England ; 2nd. Mrs. Louis 

 Stern. The length oi^ stem here was truly 

 reniai'kal)le. The outstanding vase was 

 "The Squire." 



Thre<' vases Spencer, prizes donated by 

 Braslan Seed Growers Co., Inc. This proved 

 to be the most popular class in the exhibi- 

 tion, there being no less than twenty en- 

 tries. 1st. John W. Aitken; 2nd, Mrs. Louis 

 Stern. The vase of Illuminator in this ex- 

 hibit was superb and was awarded 2nd 

 prize as the second best vase in the show. 



Vase Elfrida I'earson, prize presented bv 

 L. D. Waller Seed Co.. George Nunn. Menlo 

 I'ark. gard. to Sigmund Stern. 



.\ny Red Spencer, prizes presented by W. 

 Atlee Burpee & Co. Ist. Mrs. Louis Stern, 

 variety shown "The Squire"; 2nd, S. M. 

 Spalding, Menlo Park, gard. David W. 

 Slade. 



Any Lavender Sweet Pea. prizes donated 

 by W. Atlee Burpee & Co. 1st. S. M. Spald- 

 ing, variety shown. "Asta ohn"; 2nd, Da- 

 vid Patterson. Menlo P.-trk. 



Exhibit of W. Atlei- I'.urpe,- .(.. Co, at San Francisco American Sweet Pea Society. 



Vase of mixed Spencers, prizes donated 

 by C. C. Morse & Co. 1st, Mrs. Geo. Mc- 

 Lean, San Francisco; 2ud, Philip Werner, 

 San Francisco. 



Most tastefully arranged vase of Spen- 

 cers, open to ladies only. Fourteen vases 

 shown, Mrs. R. 11. Grey, Piedmont, with a 

 charming comljination of New Miriam 

 Leaver and Blue Picotee, with an odd spray 

 of White Spencer. 



Bride's bouquet and Ladies' corsage bou- 

 quet. Ist, Art Floral Co., San Francisco. 

 White Spencer were used for the bride's 

 bouquet and New Miriam Beaver for the 

 corsage bouquet. The judges had no easy 

 time in this class, as most creditable ex- 

 hibits were made by the Francis Floral 

 Co. and MacRorie & McLaren Co. The lat- 

 ter company also made a very attractive 

 display of floral pieces designed in sweet 

 peas. 



The co-operation of the florists was 

 much appreciated by the management 

 of the show. The trade rallied to the 

 support of the management and there 

 were no fewer than four large repre- 

 sentative collections and this added 

 tremeuduously to the body of the ex- 

 hibition. 



C. C. Morse & Co. put up about 200 

 square feet, comprising leading Spen- 

 cer varieties, with a large number of 

 their choice seedlings from their noted 

 workshop. Three large uprights com- 

 prised the main background of the ex- 

 hibit, the varieties used being New 

 Miriam Beaver, Scintillator and Henry 

 Ohn. Scintillator is one of this firm's 

 novelties for 1916-1917 and is a brilli- 

 ant salmon orange, striped on cream 

 ground and is particularly beautiful in 

 the sunlight or under artificial light. 

 Culebra, is a mauve, striped on white 

 sround, but is a truly duplexed flower, 

 Henry Ohn is a jjink on cream, also 

 duplexed, and is among the most prom- 

 ising novelties for future years. The 

 new Sun-proof Scarlet will be wel- 

 comed by all growers. 



W. Atlee Burpee & Co.. Philadelphia, 

 I'a., sent a splendid display from their 

 Lompoc Seed Farm. The center was 

 <H cupied with a cross, made up of the 

 well-known variety Fiery Cross. The 

 wliole exhibit was very tastefully set 

 ii;i. Included were some of this firm's 

 new Early Flowering Spencers, and 

 Die following were given awards of 

 iiiprit: — Fordhook Pink and White; 



