July 29, 1916 



HOETICULTUKE 



139 



and this will be followed by a general 

 meeting, extending from 2 to 4 P. M. 

 It is lioped to have a demonstration of 

 packing apples and explanation of the 

 new Maryland Apple Grading and 

 Packing Law that went into effect 

 July 1st, 1916. 



A most helpful and pleasant outing 

 is promised all who attend. The 

 Committee of citizens and growers of 

 Hancock extend a cordial invitation 

 to all. Hancock will celebrate its 

 Home-Coming Week during that time, 

 and great preparations are being made 

 to accommodate the visitors. Han- 

 cock is located upon the old National 

 Pike, — is near Berkeley Springs; the 

 Potomac River and Canal pass by the 

 town. I<"'our garages will be available 

 tor accommodation of machines. Com- 

 plete program will be issued shortly. 



For further information regarding 

 the meeting, write — 



Secretary, T. B. SYiro.vs. 

 College Park, Md. 



Special arrangements are in pro- 

 gress for the annual meeting and ex- 

 hibition of the Horticultural Society, 

 which will be held in the Fifth Regi- 

 ment Armory, Baltimore, "ilARY- 

 LAND WEEK." November 14-lS, 1916. 



REPORT OF THE SWEET PEA 

 TRIAL GROUNDS. 



n.v Prcif. A. C. r.eal. 1o (lif Aiiii'i-ioan .Sweet 

 Pen Sooiety at P,ar Harltor. Me. 



When the American Sweet Pea So- 

 ciety was organized, the winter-flow- 

 ering sweet peas had already been 

 considerably developed, but the cul- 

 ture of them had not become very gen- 

 eral. The marvelous display of Win- 

 ter-flowering Sweet Peas at the Na- 

 tional Flower Show held in Boston 

 was a revelation to large numbers of 

 florists. Today, as a result of this end 

 of the work of the Society, the Winter- 

 flowering Sweet Peas have taken their 

 place among the leading cut flower 

 crops grown under glass. 



Value of the Crop. 



If the actual returns were known, it 

 is quite probable that the value of this 

 flower would rank after roses and car- 

 nation. Not only is the value of the 

 crop very large, but the investment 

 in greenhouses, specially constructed 

 for growing this crop, represents a 

 very large sum and is annually in- 

 creasing. The recital of these facts 

 will indicate the firm conviction of 

 many florists that the Winter-flower- 

 ing Sweet Peas have become estab- 

 lished in the tastes of the flower-buy- 

 ing public. Let us hope that in turn 

 the growers themselves will recognize 

 their duty in supporting the Society 

 which has done so much by means of 

 exhibitions and otherwise to advance 

 the interests of this flower. 

 Evolution. 



As previously stated, many varieties 

 were known when this Society was or- 

 ganized, but these are now giving way 

 to better forms. The varieties first 

 sent out were of the old, open form 

 with notched standards, then came tlie 

 hooded varieties, and Anally the pres- 

 ent varieties of waved form. Again 

 the first varieties were white, pink and 

 white, and maroon with bluish wings: 

 but today we have practically all best 

 colors found in the garden type. No 

 doubt if the amateurs were as much 

 interested in this type we should see 

 every color known in the garden type. 

 In the short space of twenty yc::is, the 

 varieties of Winter-flowerin - Sweet 

 Peas have passed through .'ill the 



stages of evolution shown in the 

 garden varieties during two hundred 

 years. Even the Winter-flowering 

 Cupid is not a figment of the imagina- 

 tion, but a possibility provided it had 

 any value at the present time. 



The new waved varieties for Winter- 

 flowering are making a decided Im- 

 pression, and we thinlc (after seeing 

 Yarrawa) that there may be some 

 further revelations among the new 

 Australian varieties now being offered. 

 Tests Under Glass. 



Last winter we resumed our tests 

 with the varieties of this type and 

 grew about seventy varieties. These 

 represented some unnamed seedlings, 

 new introductions and the best of the 

 older varieties. Although seeds were 

 not received until October and the 

 seed sown in pots, the results were 

 such as may be expected by persons 

 who use Sweet Peas to follow Chrys- 

 anthemums. The greenhouse used 

 was well adapted for the tests as it 

 was thoroughly modern, forty feet 

 wide, with high walls and without 

 benches. EHeven unnamed seedlings 

 from A. C. Zvolanek were a source 

 of considerable interest. Some have 

 since been named. 



Some Promising Novelties. 



Among tliem Britannia, a large 

 waved flower with carmine standards 

 and Tyrian rose wings, was the best 

 variety we have ever seen In this type. 

 Heretofore, red varieties have been 

 distinctly inferior to those of other 

 colors, and this variety represents, 

 therefore, a decided advance in this 

 color. 



Mrs. Charles Zvolanek. A large 

 waved lavender flower. Ridgeway 

 calls the color pale rose purple, 

 changing to a light mauvette. This 

 variety was one of the first to bloom 

 and was quite productive. 



No. 110 Light Pink. This was a 

 beautiful soft rose-pink. The flower 

 was large and waved. The color 

 should be a pleasing one to the flower 

 buyers. Unfortunately the plants this 

 year were not perfectly healthy, and 

 some flowers with side notches were 

 seen. We hope to test this again for 

 we were pleased with its fine color. 

 It is worthy of trial. 



Servian'Prince. A large flower with 

 magenta standard and Rood's violet 

 wings. It is a very conspicuous flower 

 when seen in the greenhouse in Mid- 

 winter. As It blooms among the first, 

 it Is soon covered with many spikes 

 of flowers. 



Miss F. Roland. A large flower with 

 Venetian-pink standards and rose-pink 

 wings. 



Orange Orchid, A large waved 

 variety of a vivid geranium pink 

 color, and is one of the most striking 

 varieties that has been sent out. This 

 variety was a center of interest wlier- 

 ever shown, and probably ■will rank 

 after Christmas Pink and Christmas 

 Pink Orchid as the flnest of Zvolanek's 

 varieties. 



Some of the other unnamed seed- 

 lings are very promising, and when 

 some are fixed will doubtless be heard 

 from. 



Yarrawa continues a giant-flowered 

 variety. 



It seems difficult to trace the origin 

 and history of some of the varieties 

 recently introduced. AVe shall have 

 to ask for further time to investigate 

 these. We hope to continue the trials 

 again this winter and think that suf- 

 flcient material will be ready to war- 



rant a new and revised bulletin on 

 Winter-flowering Sweet Peas. 

 Out-Door Trials. 



The outdoor trials were very largely 

 reduced in extent this year as we 

 have few samples from the dealers 

 Tills proved to be a blessing in dis- 

 giiise since our appropriations and 

 financial balances were so heavily cut 

 tills year. We have had to reduce our 

 labor on tiie trial ground over one-half 

 and consequently we are not seeking to 

 extend our trials this year. No doubt 

 the next administration will favor 

 more liljcral maintenance appropria- 

 tions, for the cuts were not made be- 

 cause of any dissatisfaction, but were 

 the result of an attempt to place all 

 allowances under a budget system. 

 The legislature and the people of New 

 York may be depended upon to remedy 

 this matter when they understand it. 

 consequently we are looking forward 

 to next year when we hope to resume 

 all lines with renewed energy. The 

 interest of the people in flowers is 

 growing at a remarkable rate. This 

 sunimer we have 150 students regis- 

 tered in floricultural courses at Cor- 

 nell. Two-thirds of these are regular 

 college students, and the remainder 

 are Sunimer school students. This is 

 the largest summer registration we 

 have ever had, and if the Department 

 of Floriculture is to provide adequate 

 instruction and continue to grow and 

 expand, it will need the support not 

 only of the florists but of the flower- 

 loving public. The experimental work 

 should develop simultaneously so that 

 we may increase our knowledge of 

 plants. 



This year our garden varieties of 

 Sweet Peas will come into bloom about. 

 July 25th. with hut few flowers before 

 August 1st, and consequently no report 

 can be made at this time. Notes will 

 be made as usual so that we shall have 

 a record of these varieties for pub- 

 lication later. 



In closing, permit me to say that 

 the latchstring is always out, and we 

 shall be pleased to see any of the 

 members whenever they visit Ithaca. 

 Whether you need our help or not we 

 will be glad to have your kindly criti- 

 cism and helpful advice. We wish to 

 thank all those who have assisted us 

 in our work and hope they may feel 

 .iustified in continuing their support 

 in the future. 



A HOLLYHOCK IN A CITY 

 BACK-YARD. 



Sinir of tbe red rose as we will — 



And we know she is queea of tlie gartlea 



still— 

 .\n(l dwell on the lily's splendid givnce. 

 And the charm of the pansy's winsome 



face; 

 And the wltehhiK scent of I he mignonette. 

 And the sweet pea's dainty blossom, yet 

 There is none of them all that will dare to 



mock 

 The dear, old-fashioned hollyhock. 

 Tuck it away if you will hack there 

 .\t ibo garden's end, it will climh to 



wlM're, 

 In its regal beanty. glad and tall. 

 It greets'ns over the hedge or wall. 

 Like a dear old fi-iend from the long ago. 

 From a dear old garden we used to know; 

 The fairest garden in all the land. 

 Because SHE kept It with loving hand. 

 Ijittle yon know how much of care. 

 Prave. tall hollyhock, standing there. 

 Yon lift flora the hearts of the passing 



throng; 

 Be;nitv is brief, but memory, lon.g. 

 Glints' of splendor shall still survive 

 To glad the bees in the great stone hive. 

 While ever and aye. in the thoughts of 



men. 

 your rare beauty shall bloom again. 



— Boston Treveler. 



