482 
Lathyrus—continued. 
should a period of drought occur in late spring, as it 
frequently does. Rotten leaf-monld and well-rotted horse- 
manure are as good as anything. This mulching will 
minimise considerably the labour in connection with 
watering, which in very dry weather does more harm 
than good by caking the top soil. The after-treatment 
consists in keeping the flowers picked so as to prevent 
the formation of seed-pods. By this method the plants 
may be kept going for some time, and after they begin 
to show signs of exhaustion and general wear and tear, 
they may be gone over with the shears and topped. 
This will induce them to make new growths, from which 
flowers will continue to be produced until bad weather 
sets in. We have frequently had Sweet Peas in all 
their beauty in mid-October by adopting the “topping” 
plan suggested. : 
Sweet Peas may also be grown with success as window- 
box subjects by sowing them thickly in the front rows, 
allowing them to droop over, and keeping them in 
place by means of string stretched from each side of the 
window. They require similar treatment to that already 
noted; but as the mulching cannot be done, copious 
waterings must be given. The back of the boxes may 
be oceupied with any tall plants liked. 
Some cultivators who are desirous of getting Peas 
outdoors at the earliest time possible, use 3in. pots, and 
sow in them towards. the end of February half-a-dozen 
seeds, coyering them 4in. deep, and making the soil 
firm. This latter is of the greatest importance. To 
start them they are placed in gentle heat, but after- 
wards kept in cold frames, and allowed plenty of air 
whenever the conditions are favourable. They are thence 
transferred to the open ground in April, and afforded a 
sunny position. 
Recently the value of the Sweet Pea as a pot-flower 
has been shown, and this method of culture is likely to 
become still more popular. The seeds are sown in boxes 
at the beginning of September, and the young plants 
afterwards potted singly into ‘“‘ sixties” and stood in a cold 
frame, as near the glass as possible, giving plenty of air, 
as aboye advised. From there they are re-potted abont the 
beginning of December, using larger-sized pots—‘‘forty- 
eights ’’—while by the end of the next month they will be 
ready for their final shift into 10in., when they must be 
neatly staked. The aim of the cultivator in the winter 
months must simply be to keep the plants on the cool 
side. No forcing must be attempted; in fact, the house 
temperature should never reach 50deg. 
Hardly less beantiful nowadays are the varieties of the 
Everlasting Pea, which are to be found in many colours. 
They are extremely useful for making pretty hedges, and 
afford plenty of cut-flower material. For these, as for 
the Sweet Peas, twiggy sticks should be employed for 
them to ramble over. Then two or three of the dwarf 
species and: varieties—like DL. rotundifolius, L. sativus, 
L. s. azwreus, and L. s. albus—are most effective when 
employed upon rockeries or in groups in the front row 
of the summer borders. Yet another section is the 
trailing one, of which JL. tingitanus and L. sylvestris 
platyphyllus are fairly well known. 
To the species described on pp. 237-8, Vol. II., the 
following should be added. See also Orobus (which is 
included hereunder by Bentham and Hooker). 
L. Armitageanus is a synonym of L. nervosus. 
L. azureus (azure-blue). This plant (referred to in F. & P. 
1881, p. 22) is a variety of the old L. sativus. 
L. Clymenum (Clymenum). jl. blue, or having the standard 
red and the wings blue, one to six to a peduncle. 7, lower 
petioles dilated, leafiess, linear-lanceolate; upper ones _five- 
Betas linear. Stems tetragonal, winged. South Europe. 
nnual. 
L. Davidii (David's). #., corolla yellowish-white, at length 
ochreous; peduncles many-flowered, ultimately exceeding the 
leaves. jr., pods narrow-linear. /. three- ori our-jugate ; leaflets 
oval, rhomboid-oval, or oval-oblong, obtuse at both ends or 
slightly acute at apex ; stipules semi-cordate or semi-sagittate. 
Japan, North China, 1883. A tall, highly glabrous perennial. 
(R. G. 1127.) 
L. Drummondii (Drummond's). /. of a bright carmine, very 
large, several borne on the stalks which spring from the axils 
of the leaf-shoots. fr., pods straight, glabrous, many-seeded. 
7. reduced to a pair of rounded-ovate, sessile leaflets. A. 34ft. 
to 4ft. Origin unknown. This requires a shady and sheltered 
position. 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Lathyrus—continued. 
L. Gorgoni (Gorgon’s). fl. fuscous, rather large; peduncles one- 
flowered, shorter than or nearly equalling the leaves. J. having 
one pair of lanceolate leaflets and trifid tendrils. Stems diffuse, 
winged. Sicily. 
L. letifiorus (pretty-flowered). fl. nearly white or faintly 
flesh-coloured, nearly lin. long; standard veined, and suffused 
with light pink at back; racemes longer than in L. violaceus 
(which this species resembles in leaves and habit). California, 
1894. Half-hardy perennial. 
L. luteus (yellow). ji. bright yellow; corolla twice as long as 
the calyx; racemes pedunculate, six- to twelve-flowered, 
equalling or exceeding the leaves. /., leaflets six or eight, 
oblong, acute, membranous, 2in. to 4in. long; stipules leafy. 
pone sub-erect, glabrous, 2ft. to 3ft. high. Western Himalayas, 
1882. 
L. magellanicus. The correct name is L. nervosus. This is 
frequently offered for sale in plant catalogues ; but oftener than 
not L. sativus, a well-known annual, or else L. tingitanus is 
substituted. 
L. nervosus (nerved). 
(S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 344). 
L. niger (black). The correct name of Orobus niger. 
L. pubescens (downy).* jl. pale violet, disposed in dense 
racemes ; calyx pubescent; peduncles longer than the leaves. 
Summer. JZ. unequally pinnate; leaflets oblong-lanceolate, 
twice as long as the petioles. Stems winged, and, as well 
as the leaves, pubescent. Chili and Uruguay, 1840 and 1892. 
A magnificent, greenhouse climber. (B. M. 3996.) 
L. sativus. This species, described in Vol. IL, is largely 
cultivated as a fodder plant in Europe, and also in India and 
Egypt. The meal, however, made from the seeds is extremely 
poisonous. 
L. s. albus (white). Pure white. h. lft. 
L. s. azureus (azure-blue). jl. of a clear azure-blue. h. 1ft. 
L. s. coloratus (coloured). /. white, purple, and blue. 
L. Sibthorpii (Sibthorp’s). A synonym of L. wndulatus. 
L. splendens (splendid). 1. searlet-purple, large, very beautiful, 
arranged in clusters of from ten to twelve; keel almost lin. 
long. J. very variable. Lower California, 1881. Greenhouse or 
half-hardy. Allied to the Everlasting Pea. (B. M. 7575.) 
L. sylvestris platyphyllus delicatus (delicate coloured). 
jl. white, flushed with pink. There is also a pretty garden 
variety known as Pink Beauty. 
L. s. Wagneri (Wagner's). jl. a dark red, handsome. 
perennial trailer. 
L. undulatus (wavy).* /. magenta-red; standard orbicular, 
lin. in diameter; racemes unilateral, five- or six-flowered ; 
peduncles 6in. long. 1a and June. /., leaflets twin, oblong, 
sub-acute or cuspidate; stipules lanceolate-deltoid. Stems 
prominently winged. 2. 2ft. to 3ft. Turkey, 1889. Perennial ; 
requires a warm situ@ ion. Syn. L. Sibthorpii (B. M. 7499). A 
handsome plant. 
L. vernus (spring). The correct name of Orobus vernus. There 
are three good varieties: albus (white), flore-pleno (double- 
flowered), and flaccidus (the correct name of Orobus flaccidus). 
L. violaceus (violet). #. violet-blue, about gin. long, the 
standard veined with darker, nearly parallel veins; racemes 
ten- to fourteen-flowered. 7. light green, with about twelve 
The correct name of L. magellanicus 
A hardy 
small leaflets. kh. 6ft. to 8ft. California, 1894 Half-hardy 
perennial. 
Varieties. So much has the Sweet Pea increased in 
favour of late years, that the number of varieties of 
IL. odoratus now available has reached enormous propor- 
tions. A Sweet Pea conference and a show devoted to 
this beantifal annual have been held. The rapid rise 
in favour is largely due to the improvements florists 
have made in the flowers, than whom none have been 
more assiduous than Mr. Eckford, of Wem. New varieties 
may not increase at the same rate in the future, but 
improvements upon existing kinds willbe made. At the 
time of writing, however, the following may be considered 
to embrace most of the best in cultivation: 
AMERICA, white, striped pink; AURORA, white, flaked orange- 
salmon; BLAacK KNIGHT, deep maroon, vigorous and free; 
BLANCHE BURPEE, white, free; BOREATTON, deep maroon; 
CaLypso, bright magenta, flushed mauve; CAPTAIN OF THE 
BLUES, a combination of bright purple and light blue, fine 
flower; CHANCELLOR, bright orange, with orange-pink wings ; 
COLONIST, rosy-lilac ; COQUETTE, deep primrose, suffused purplish- 
rose ; COUNTESS CADOGAN, violet and light blue, with lavender 
keel ; COUNTESS OF ABERDEEN, white and pale pink ; COUNTESS 
OF Powls, bright orange, suffused purple, very glossy, lovely 
combination of colour; COUNTESS OF RADNOR, pale lavender ; 
DorotTHY TENNANT, light violet; DuCHESS OF EDINBURGH, 
scarlet, flushed crimson; DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND, pearl- 
white, suffused light pink, very fine; DUKE OF SUTHERLAND, 
deep claret, with indigo-blue wings, handsome; DUKE OF 
WESTMINSTER, maroon and bright violet, quite distinct; 
