IRISH GARDENING. 



41 



The choice of varieties is a matter of great im- 

 portance, and also one of great difficulty owing to 

 the fact that hundreds of fine varieties have been 

 put on the market in recent years, and this mul- 

 tiplication of novelties has made selection very 

 perplexing. It used to he possible to name the 

 best dozen in cultivation, Imt to do so in the 



more (picotee), Maud Holmes (crimson), Mar- 

 garet Fife (blue). 



Eaisers have been introducing novelties every 

 year in spite of the war, but 1 cannot say that 

 any new and striking shade has recently been 

 brought under my notice. In fact, it is every year 

 becoming more difficult to produce a genuine 



jMrs. John Batejiax 

 H. T. CJiina Rose, yellow at base of petals. 



altered circumstances now baffles the skill of the 

 best expert. 



The " National Sweet Pea Society " publishes 

 annually a classified list of up-to-date varieties, 

 and from this list it is comparatively easy for an 

 amateur to select what he requires. I recommend 

 the following : — Edrom Beauty (orange pink). Red 

 Star (scarlet). King White (white), Dobbies 

 Cream (cream). Lord Fisher (maroon), Hercules 

 (pink), Austin Frederick (lavender), Rosabelle 

 (rose), Beryl (cream pink), Mrs. C. W. Bread- 



novelty, for the simple reason that all the tints of 

 the rainbow have been introduced and multiplied 

 many-fold. Still I am in favour of encouraging 

 new varieties, as it is well known that fresh crosses 

 inherit new vigour, and although you may not 

 get an entirely new shade, you are likely to get 

 larger flowers of finer form. 



Now that the red flag of war has been furled, we 

 hope to see the peaceful banner of the Sweet 

 Pea planted on every show table throughout our 

 land. 



