no THE BOOK OF THE SWEET PEA 



decorative material of the very best kind. In succeed- 

 ing years it is quite possible that Sweet Peas of 

 these more refined and pleasing tones of colour will be 

 more often used in table decorations than is the case 

 at the present time. They will form a pleasant 

 break in the self-coloured table decorations that it has 

 been the practice of table decorators to arrange in the 

 past. We welcome such an innovation most heartily, 

 and hope that raisers will give some attention to the 

 creation of Sweet Peas of even more novel colours 

 than they have yet given us. 



COLOURS FOR ARTIFICIAL LIGHT 



Some attention needs to be given to the question of 

 colours especially suitable for artificial light : there 

 appears to be considerable ignorance in regard to this 

 matter. The Sweet Peas in the summer exhibitions are 

 surely intended to teach us something respecting the 

 question of colour association when used in table 

 decoration, but, alas, this is seldom exemplified in what 

 we see in the various competitions that are provided at 

 both local and larger shows. A dinner-table decoration 

 is surely intended for an evening display, when artificial 

 light is invariably used. Flowers of a colour that may 

 look very beautiful in the day-time, may be quite un- 

 suited for displays under artificial light, and for this 

 reason considerable discrimination is necessary when 

 determining what the colour of the Sweet Peas shall 

 be for evening use. How frequently table decorations 

 of Sweet Pea Lady Grisel Hamilton, and others of a 

 somewhat similar colour, are met with at the shows. 

 Sweet Peas of this colour are anything but pleasing 

 under artificial light, and we are at a loss to under- 

 stand why such unsuitable material is used. Lavender, 

 mauve, and kindred tones of colour, have a most sickly 



