28 THE BOOK OF THE SWEET PEA 



our American cousins gave considerable attention to such 

 a novelty raised on their own continent. 



In the meantime, however, although not raising new 

 varieties in any great number, they still feel a certain 

 interest in them. There are gardens in this country 

 also, where the Cupid varieties have received more than 

 ordinary atttention ; those responsible for their cultiva- 

 tion making special provision for doing them well. 

 We are of the opinion that these plants must have the 

 free air of the country to be seen at their best, as the 

 dirt and accumulations of smuts, etc., of small gardens 

 in and around large towns represent the Cupid forms 

 very unfavourably, and in consequence such gardens 

 can hardly be regarded as a suitable location for them. 

 There is a method of growing them as margins to 

 hardy flower borders, on low ridges of soil that has 

 been deeply dug and specially prepared, and in such 

 circumstances they appear to do fairly well. At one 

 time the National Sweet Pea Society made provision 

 for plants to be exhibited, but we have failed to trace 

 that any encouragement has been given to them latterly in 

 the schedule of prizes of this special Society. Although 

 we do not speak in such deprecatory terms of the Bush 

 varieties we cannot say much in their favour. They 

 never attain a very great height ; as a matter of fact 

 they are only of medium height and distinctly less 

 robust than their taller rivals. We saw them growing 

 in pots in the earlier days, where they made a pretty 

 little picture, but as they possess less vigour than the 

 taller-growing sorts, and are less free and branching in 

 consequence of their shortness of stature, they fail to 

 attain to any praiseworthy notoriety. They may be 

 grown in pots, tubs, boxes, or any such receptacles, 

 but we should hesitate to give such attention to them, 

 while we have so many other beautiful things available 

 in the taller growing sorts. 



