STANDARD VARIETIES 81 



addition of two or three new ones each year, but must 

 have a dozen or more novelties to keep his keenness up to 

 concert pitch ; the raiser and distributor know that there is 

 the demand, and it is only human nature to try to provide 

 the supply. 



All Sweet Pea growers would complain if the supply 

 of novelties ceased ; their introduction is desirable ; but 

 novelties must be either decidedly superior to, or totally 

 distinct from, any varieties already in commerce. Slight 

 improvements or variations which can only be seen under a 

 microscope are not wanted, and they will eventually do far 

 more harm to the flower than they will good, for the simple 

 reason that many amateurs will become tired of paying 

 high prices without receiving reasonable compensation. 



The Court of Appeal will have to be the National Sweet 

 Pea Society, which must make itself so strong and so re- 

 liable that every one in the Sweet Pea world, no matter 

 whether he dwell in this country, or in any of the British 

 possessions over the seas, or in any foreign country, will 

 accept the Society's decision that this or that novelty from 

 this or that source is absolutely distinct, markedly superior, 

 and thoroughly fixed, and therefore worthy of purchase. 

 When the Society adopts such a policy, some people, 

 being dissatisfied, will threaten to withdraw their support, 

 and the thing will be to let them go. Directly the flood 

 of prosperity sets in it will continue to flow, and for 



