CUPID AND BUSH TYPES 27 



of much practical worth. The growths, which are 

 distinctly short-jointed, were evolving sprays of blossoms 

 at each joint, and the plants were represented by a mass 

 of blossoms on growths that were well spread over the 

 surface soil. We imagine a great amount of work 

 would be entailed in maintaining such plants in a 

 satisfactory condition, and at the best we should regard 

 their period of blossoming as somewhat short-lived. 

 Several varieties of Sweet Peas represented in the true 

 and original form are now to be found in the Cupid and 

 Bush types, and as we value the Sweet Pea generally 

 for its freedom of growth and continuity of flowering, 

 we fail to see on what grounds these Cupid forms can 

 claim attention for practical purposes. 



They originated in California in 1893, in the 

 gardens of Messrs C. C. Morse & Co., Santa Clara. 

 Messrs W. Atlee Burpee & Co., of Philadelphia, had 

 the distinction of distributing the first Cupid novelty, 

 and Mr James Douglas, the well-known florist, who 

 was at that time in charge of the gardens at Great 

 Gearies near Ilford, Essex, succeeded in growing a few 

 plants very satisfactorily. These were placed before 

 the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 Westminster, in the closing days of June 1895. 

 Naturally such a representation was the cause of con- 

 siderable interest ; some men regarding them in the 

 nature of freaks, although they were, of course, quite 

 unique. 



The Floral Committee on that occasion made an 

 award of merit in favour of those who introduced the 

 novelty, but little appears to have come about in 

 consequence of the notoriety then gained. Some 

 authorities, whose opinion must be respected, fail to 

 see any real value in the Cupid forms; the beautiful 

 garden plant as represented in the original type renders 

 the Cupid forms insignificant by comparison. Naturally 



