The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



July 21, 1910. 



THE SOCIETY AND ITS FUTUEE. 



[President Harry Turner's address at tUe sec- 

 ond annual convention of the National Sweet 

 Pea Society of America, in New York city, 

 July 12 and 13, 1910.] 



The sweet pea abounds in excellent 

 qualities, being a flower of great 

 beauty, with a color range probably 

 not surpassed by any other family. 

 Nature, time and hybridists have pro- 

 duced every imaginable self color; won- 

 derful combinations of colors, with the 

 wings and standard of distinct hue; 

 suffusions, blush shadings and striped 

 effects which are dear to the heart of 

 the sweet pea enthusiast. 



When the sweet pea is examined and 

 its fragrance is enjoyed by the ordinary 

 lover of flowers, the exclamations of 

 delight and wonder almost prove equal 

 to the wonderful range of color possi- 

 ble to be shown from an up-to-date col- 

 lection of our favorite. Our favorite 

 is becoming so popular, and so many 

 experts from two continents are con- 

 tinually advancing the types and the 

 beauty of the flower, that it is no easy 

 problem to keep up with the times by 

 making a selection of the finest varie- 

 ties, possessing beauty of color, excel- 

 lence of type, robust constitution and 

 distinctness. 



A Great Field of Usefulness. 



This is a point where our societv 

 will prove its usefulness, by endeavor- 

 ing by every legitimate means to raise 

 the standard already attained, put the 

 O. K. of approval on the best, and re- 

 duce the number of syhonymous varie- 

 ties existing. Our nomenclature com- 

 mittee has done good work in this di- 

 rection. Professors Craig and Beal will 

 enlighten us on this important matter, 

 after giving the subject close study and 

 methodical attention at the Cornell 

 trial grounds. 



We all feel proud of our exhibition 

 here today. One year ago, at the 

 inauguration of the society, all taking 

 part were enthusiastic about results. 

 These results are developing rapidly, 

 and I venture to say that a few years 

 hence ours will be a strong, useful and 

 influential society. 



I well remember the enthusiasm 

 caused by the formation of the Na- 

 tional Sweet Pea Society of England, 

 and note the goad work they have done. 

 Exhibitions I have attended in London, 

 Shrewsbury and other cities have 

 proved the great possibilities of the 

 poor man 's orchid. 



Eckford and His Successors. 



Our friend the late Henry Eckford, 

 the father of sweet peas, with his won- 

 derful collection of the grandiflora 

 type, did yeoman service in attracting 

 attention to these fragrant flowers 

 under high development. His unique 

 collectiops at Shrewsbury alone proved 



their popularity. It looks like an easy 

 prophecy to say that the Spencer type, 

 which certainly has greater charms, 

 will eventually supersede' the grandi- 

 flora type, and we may expect the 

 future to produce something more beau- 

 tiful than we can at present imagine. 



Mr. Burpee and other experts are 

 working along the right lines by pro- 

 ducing beautiful varieties and holding 

 them until they feel assured the 

 progeny is fixed and will come true. If 

 our life memberships would increase as 

 rapidly as new varieties are introduced, 

 we could prophecy a bright financial 

 future. 



I appeal to all interested in the seed 

 business to give their financial support 

 by becoming life members. Support 

 the society in its infancy, and as it 

 grows and develops the society will 

 help support you. I venture to state 

 that increased sales will prove this a 

 good business proposition. 



The Society's Hopeful Outlook. 



I feel sure, however, that the society 

 will prove its worthiness, and lack of 



funds will not prevent its doing the- 

 good work started or carrying ou efti 

 ciently all it has pledged itself to do. 



We must remember that great oaks 

 from little acorns grow, and thus we 

 may confidently believe that a great 

 society was born July 7, 1909, when 

 thirteen members were enrolled and the 

 society known as the National Sweet 

 Pea Society of America was inau- 

 gurated, and in years to come the 

 charter members will point with pride 

 to the first exhibition of fifteen hundred 

 vases, even supposing we are then in 

 convention and admiring an exhibition 

 of fifteen thousand vases. 



On behalf of the society, I desire to 

 thank all donors of prizes for their 

 generous support. Professor Craig and 

 his assistants for their valuable aid in 

 conducting the trial grounds at Cornell 

 University, and the horticultural press 

 for the notices published, which have 

 helped us much during our pioneer 

 period. 



GOOD COMMEECIAL PEONIES. 



Kindly name three peonies, red, white 

 and pink, for commercial use. 



C. W. M. 



You should grow more than one va- 

 riety of each color of peony, in order 

 to allow of a longer succession of 

 blooms. In whites, Mme. de Verneville, 

 Festiva maxima and Couronne d'Or will 

 please you. In pinks, M. Jules Elie, 

 Mme. Emile Galle and Richardson's 

 Grandiflora are good, while Felix 

 Crousse and M. Cahuzac are desirable 

 dark reds. The best time to plant is 

 September, and the earlier in the 

 month they are set out the better. 



C. W. 



SOBTS FOB A BEGINNEB. 



I want to have a bench of carna- 

 tions and should like to carry white 

 and two shades of pink. Would you 

 kindly advise me what varieties to get? 

 My house is piped for 50 degrees. Is 

 there any red carnation that I can 

 grow with the pink and white sorts? I 

 am located in the state of New York. 



G. W. B. 



There are perhaps no varieties which 

 are more universally satisfactory than 

 Enchantress and its two sports, White 

 Enchantress and Eose-pink Enchantress. 

 Naturally these three varieties will get 

 along together in the same house and 

 under similar treatment. 



Other varieties have their friends, al- 

 most to the exclusion of these three 

 sorts, but in most cases their popu- 

 larity is limited to certain localities, or 

 scattered. Among these may be men- 

 tioned White Perfection, Lady Bounti- 

 ful, Winsor, Afterglow, Aristocrat, Vic- 

 toria, Winona, etc. 



Pink Delight would be one of the 



greatest sorts ever introduced, were it 

 easier to propagate. When its wants 

 become better understood, it will no 

 doubt become a general favorite, as it 

 has every quality needed by a commer- 

 cial sort. 



In red you can grow Beacon and Vic- 

 tory successfully with the Enchantress 

 sorts. Both are good. 



You should also buy a few of the new 

 ones in limited quantities. Each sea- 

 son you will find one or more which 

 you can profitably add to your list. 

 This year there are several which will 

 undoubtedly be grown extensively for 

 several years. Some will find favor in 

 one section, while others will find it in 

 another. Perhaps one or two may dupli- 

 cate the record set by Enchantress. 

 Time alone will tell. A. F. .J. B. 



SHEEP MANUBE IN COMPOST. 



I have a lot of sheep manure which 

 I should like to mix with sod for car- 

 nations, instead of cow manure. Would 

 it be suitable for this? If so, in what 

 proportions should I mix it with the 

 sod? The sod is blire grass and well 

 rotted. M. H. L. 



There is perhaps no more complete 



