u 



The Florists* Review 



3vvr 2d, 1915. 



OFFICIAL SWEET PEA TRIALS. 



[The report of A. C. Beal on the trials at 

 Cornell University, .Ithaca, N. Y., conducted for 

 the American Sweet Pea Society.! 



During the year we were able to 

 resume our triaJs with the wipter-flow- 

 6ring sweet peas. Although we did not 

 come into possession of the necessary 

 greenhouse space in time to sow them 

 for the early crop, we were able to 

 plant during October and therefore had 

 an excellent crop of flowers during mid- 

 winter and spring. In fact, last year's 

 crop was the best we have ever had. 



A large collection of varieties was 

 received from Mr. Zvolanek and a few 

 varieties from other seedsmen. Some 

 of the older varieties were grown for 

 comparison and altogether there were 

 sixty varieties in the collection. 



Qreenhouse Varieties. 



Among the newer sorts, the follow- 

 ing are promising: 



Bridal Veil, A large to very large, much- 

 waved white flower. 



King of England. A large waved flower, of a 

 bright glowing crimson color. In our experience 

 this variety is the best red for greenhouse culture. 



Kwr. Father Kelly. A large to very large, 

 much-waved lavender flower. Some of the stand- 

 ards show tints of mauve-rose, but change to the 

 same color as the wings. The exact color is not 

 given In the Repertoire des Coleurs, being less 

 red than 188 (1) and less blue than 201 (1). 



Belgian Horo. A large waved flower with the 

 standard salmon-carmine and wings purple-rose., 

 This would be called by the trade an orange-pink. 

 When grown in late spring or summer this 

 variety, unless shaded, shows the blackened veins 

 common to flowers of this color; but In winter 

 this variety was free from this defect. When 

 well grown It is a fine variety. 



Koming Star. A very large, much-waved 

 flower with the standard bright mauve-rose and 

 wings violet-rose. These are the approximate 

 colors, as the real colors lie between the two 

 and the flower is more nearly a self than is in- 

 dicated. 



Krt. Calvert. A large waved deep pink flower. 

 The standards are mauve-rose and the wings pale 

 lilac-rose. A beautiful flower. 



Polar Light. A large waved flower; standard 

 lilac-rose, wings darker. 



Waved Christmas Fink. Appears to be a de- 

 cided Improvement on the widely grown Christmas 

 Pink. 



The above are the best of the collec- 

 tion for commercial culture, but there 

 are others of considerable promise 

 which we^a^e not space to describe, 

 as Pacmc^ Montenegrin, President 

 Wilson and Polar Bear. 



The above varieties were free from 

 rogues, and all the varieties indicate 

 a very great advance in the winter- 

 flowermg section. 



Of the varieties received from other^ 

 growers, Selma Swenson is a large to 

 very large waved, pale lilac-rose with 

 light violet-rose wings. 



In the Open Ground. 



This season in the open ground we 

 have seventy varieties of compara- 

 tively recent introduction, and about 

 an equal number of the oldest vari- 

 eties. The latter we are growing to 

 secure seed so that we may keep them 

 for a few years. It is probable that 

 the plants at Cornell are the otily exist- 

 ing plants of some of these old vari- 



eties, which are so interesting to those 

 of us who wish to note the progress in 

 the evolution of sweet peas. These, of 

 course, were sown in the open ground. 

 The new varieties referred to were 

 not received until the latter part of 

 March, probably because of the war, 

 and were sown in pots at once. Had 

 we been able to forecast April condi- 

 tions this year, we should have sown 

 them in the open, because when we 

 did transplant we had a dry period 

 which tended to check the plants. They 

 are now beginning to bloom, although 

 the amount of growth is less than usual. 

 It is too early to estimate the real 

 worth of these varieties. What I shall 

 say, therefore, is only tentative and 

 subject to revision. At present we con- 

 sider: 



Stark'* Giant Buff. This with us is the largest 

 waved variety of its class. 



Dnoheia of Portland (Dobbie, 1915). A very 

 large cream-pink. 



Alfred (Dobbie, 1915). A good sized clear palo 

 lavender. 



Blue Plootee (Dobbie). Appears to surpass all 

 other blue Picotees. 



Robert Sydenham. The flrst flowers of this 

 have proved a disappointment to us, for It burns. 

 We have had very unusual weather in that we 

 have had frequent heavy rains alternated with 

 bright sun. Possibly settled weather would result 

 in better flowers, although the fault is not au 

 uncommon one among the varieties of this color 

 section. 



Stark's Soft Salmon. A pretty thing, but we 

 wish to sec more of it. 



King White. The leading exhibition white. 



Wedgwood. Appears likely to supplant the 

 other waved blues. 



Brooklands' Queen, Sincerity, Dobble's Orange, 

 Spitfire and others may prove desirable. 



We hope that conditions may be bet- 

 ter this fall and that we can receive 

 seeds earlier next year for outdoor 

 growing. 



In closing let me urge the members 

 of this society to use their influence to 

 get varieties for the trial grounds. This 

 fall we shall have better facilities for 

 testing winter-flowering sweet peas 

 than we have ever had before. We 

 shall have a new, modern house forty 

 feet wide at our disposal, and the tests 

 will be made under commercial condi- 

 tions, as we plan to use the house and 

 crop as an object lesson in growing 

 winter-flowering sweet peas. If we can 

 secure all the varieties now in the trade 

 for trial with our present notes, we can 

 later issue another publication bringing 

 the subject up to date. 



BOSES IN THE SOUTH. 



Carrying the Plants Over. 



Unless the plants are in a perfectly 

 healthy condition, it is not advisable 

 to carry them over for another year. 

 If, however, they are in good condi- 

 tion, they can be carried over profit- 

 ably. In general the plants do not re- 

 quire so long a rest or so hard a drying 

 off as is the custom in the north. Re- 

 ducing the water supply gradually for 

 two weeks is all that is needed. If the 

 plants have to be moved from one bed 

 to another, they are all the better to 

 be fairly moist, so they can be lifted 

 with a good ball. Varieties like Ameri- 

 can Beauty and Richmond transplant 

 readily without any soil adhering to the 

 roots. The Killarney family, on the 

 other hand, if they have to be trans- 

 planted, would better be lifted with 

 good balls. 



If the plants are not to be moved, 

 two inches of the top soil can be 

 scraped off. After giving the bed a 

 good watering, a top-dressing of bone 



meal can be applied and the bed can 

 be filled up with a compost consisting 

 of one-half loam and one-half cow ma- 

 nure. 



The watering, especially under south- 

 ern conditions, must be carefully at- 

 tended to until the plants are again 

 well under way. It is just as easy 

 to err on the side of underwatering as 

 it is to err on the side of overwatering. 

 A medium amount of moisture at the 

 roots, with frequent overhead spray- 

 ings each day, will keep the plants in 

 good shape. There is no need to be 

 alarmed if they break a little yellow. 

 Just as soon as the roots get a little 

 more active the natural color will 

 return. 



Cutting the Plants Back. 



All plants, of course, require to be 

 cut back before starting them up 

 anew. Hybrid teas, as a rule, can be 

 pretty severely pruned. The Killar- 

 neys require a little special handling. 

 They make so many breaks after prun- 

 ing that more water is needed; this, 

 however, must not be overdone. They 

 also need more spraying. I find a good 

 plan in handling these varieties is to 

 make the pruiing operation a gradual 



