62 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



• 



Succinctly put, some of the essentials of successful sweet pea 

 culture have been described as follows: manure liberally, dig 

 deeply, sow early, brush quickly, water freely, and dispod speedily; 

 to which we would add, sow thinly or thin severely. Many failures 

 in sweet pea culture are caused by sowing far too thickly; six 

 inches apart each way is sufficiently thick to leave the plants if 

 strong haulms, and excellent flower stems are desired. 



A selection of a dozen first class kinds is, Dorothy Eckford, white; 

 Prince of Wales, rose; Gladys Unwnn, pink; Duchess of Suther- 

 land, blush; Miss Willmott, orange-pink; King Edward VII, 

 scarlet; Lady Grisel Hamilton, lavender; Hon. Mrs. G. Kenyon, 

 primrose yellow; Jeannie Gordon, bicolor; Black Knight, maroon; 

 America, red striped; and Navy Blue, blue. 



The best six separate colors are, in my opinion, Dorothy Eckford, 

 Hon. Mrs. Kenyon, Lady Grisel Hamilton, King Edward VII, 

 Miss ^Yillmott, and Gladys Unwin. If confined to one variety I 

 would select that beautiful orange variety. Miss Willmott. 



Some of the 1906 novelties that are offered promise to be great 

 acquisitions, especially the Harry Eckford, a magnificent orange 

 variety which it is hoped will long perpetuate the name of its es- 

 teemed raiser. The Evelyn Byatt, Phyllis Unwin, and Helen 

 Lewis all promise well. 



Asters, next to sweet peas, are, perhaps, the most esteemed of 

 annuals both for cutting and massing. Especially good varieties 

 are the Single Chinese, Queen of the Earlies, Mary J. Sernple, 

 Ostrich Plume, and Giant Comet. Several diseases affect them, 

 a stem rot or wilt which seems to have its inception in the seedling 

 boxes under glass, for it is practically unknown amongst plants 

 sown and grown altogether outdoors. No cure for this has been 

 found nor yet for the "Yellows" which troubles some growers; 

 new ground is the best preventive for these diseases. Root lice 

 are sometimes troublesome, causing the plants to wilt and die 

 when attacked, and entomologists do not seem to know their life 

 history. New land should be used if possible to avoid them. Black 

 beetles are best kept in check by hand picking; they are trouble- 

 some when the flowers are opening. 



Schizanthus, commonly called butterfly flower, is one of the most 

 beautiful of annuals both for outdoor and pot culture. For the 



