XVI 



IRISH GARDENING 



followed. The investigations into the causes of and 

 remedies for, the dread "streak disease" are beinjj 

 dilig-ently followed up, and il is hoped Ihat during tlie 

 ensuing season this trouble, so prevalent in the past, 

 will be successfully grappled with. .Among other con- 

 tents of the "Annual" will be found " Life on a Cali- 

 fornian Sweet Pea Ranch, " by Frank*;. Culhbertson ; 

 "Sweet Peas in the Lake District." by F. J. Harrison : 

 "The Outings of the Society " at Wisbech and at the 

 Sweet Pea Trial grounds at Ciuildford ; the usual Report 

 of the Floral Committee, and the Audit of the \'arieties 

 at the London Show. We notice that at the next 

 annual .Show, which is to be held at the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Hall, London, on gth and loth July next, in 

 addition to the prizes which are open to all members. 

 Four Spi'cial Prizes are offered to Members Resident in 

 Ireland for nine bunches, distinct, the first prize being a 

 very chaste .Silver \'ase, value three guineas, presented 

 by Mr. Robert Bolton, of Carnforth. .Ml growers of 

 sweet peas should join a society like this, which has 

 done so much for the dcvelopmejit of what is now the 

 most popular of all annuals. The subscription, as .seen 

 in our advertising pages, is only 5s., including a free 

 copy of the ".\nnual,'' no introduction being necessary. 

 Mr. C. H. Curtis, the Hon. Sec, .Adelaide Road. 

 Breiilfortl, Middlesex, will welcome all new members 



Correspondence . 



A correspondent writes: -In answer to R. M. 

 Pollock's question, re the uncertainty of Lenten Roses 

 being suitable as cut flowers for indoor decoration, 

 may I give my experience of them ? I experimented 

 with these flowers, tryinf; every devise I could think of 

 to prevent thein drooping — putting .salt in the water, 

 splitting, scraping, peeling, burning and knotching the 

 stems, and many other forms of torture, some of which 

 were duly resented by the flowers dying at once. I 



have now a bowl of these flowers which have been in 

 w-ater nearly tw'o weeks and are still a thing of beauty, 

 especially at this time of year, when flowers are scarce 

 and precious to those whose purses are limited. They 

 require a little care, but not more than their dainty 

 beauty deserves. The^' were treated in the following 

 manner : — Before being placed in water the stem was 

 cut up the centre, an inch at least, and if long enough, 

 two inches: the water used was warm (not only luke- 

 warm) and, as much as the arrangement of the flowers 

 permitted, their stems were deep in the water. If any 

 flowers droopeii after this treatment, as some certainly 

 did even after three or four days, they had a good 

 half inch cut off iind the stems split still more and 

 plunged right up to the blossoms in warmer water. 

 In every case they revived in twelve hours or less, 

 and could be replaced in the vases. Every second day 

 they were given fresh, warm water and had the stems 

 snipped, and. if necessary, re-split. .AH the larger 

 buds opened uniler this treatment. The r^d and pink 

 flowers certainly lasted longest G. B. M. 



Bui.B.s (" E. J. M."f. — Tulips and Narcissi cannot be 

 forced two years in succession with any degree of 

 success. If you desire to keep the bulbs allow them to 

 ripen oft" the foliage naturally in the pots, and then plant 

 the bulbs outside in autumn. They should give yon a 

 few flowers the following spring. 



Royal International Horticultural 

 Exhibition. 



.As already announced in these columns, this great 

 show will be opened in London by His Majesty the 

 King on 22nd May. The members of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural .Society of Ireland are presenting a splendid 

 cup, to be called the "Irish Cup," for competition in 

 Class 252 for group of hardy plants. This cup is now 

 on view in Messrs. West's window, College Green 



SWEET PEAS 



Edmondson's Eblana Collections 



25 Varieties, 40 seeds each — 1 ,000 seeds for Is. 6d. 

 25 Varieties, 80 seeds each — 2,000 seeds for 2s. 6d. 

 The "Minor Eblana" Collection, 12 choice sorts. Is. 



The " Novelties" Collection 12 novelties, 5s. 



Eblana Mixture, 1 qt. 5s., 1 pt. 2/6, ^-pt. 1/6, 1 oz. 3d. 

 Giant-flowered Mixture, 1 lb. 5s., .^-Ib. 2/6, I oz. 6d. 

 Spencer Mixture, 1 lb. 12/6, i-lb.6/6, J-lb.3/6, 1 oz.ls. 



EDMONDSON Brothers 



se:e:dsivie:isi 



10 DAME STREET DUBLIN 



