372 
■JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May f, I88»- 
their best, I went to see them on Monday, the 29th of last month. 
The blooms were this year earlier than that of the other northern 
growers, for, as my correspondent informs me, Auriculas will not 
be in full form until the second week in May, and my own will be 
much about the same time. Mr. Cathcart has one of the most 
extensive and valuable collections in Scotland, and he adds to it 
every new variety as soon as it can be had. Knowing this I was 
the more anxious to see the newer varieties, and especially those 
which I have not as yet added to my own stock. A thorough exami¬ 
nation of them, as seen at Pitcairlie, convinces me that we have not 
had of late years many decided acquisitions. The plants, as a 
whole, were a grand sight—strong and healthy, with stately trusses. 
To me, largely impressed with the ideas of the old growers, they 
appeared too strong for giving the desired refinement to the 
blooms, and I observed that numbers of them were not in proper 
character ; yet Mr. Cathcart informed me that he adds no manure 
to the soil. It must therefore be inferred that his turf is too rich 
in strength and fibre. The plants are grown in an airy greenhouse, 
which seems to suit them in every way. 
Mr. Cathcart has the good sense to grow the old sorts as well as 
the more recent introductions. Most of the old varieties had very 
fine trusses, and conspicuous amongst them were Spalding’s Metro¬ 
politan, John Simonite, F. D. Horner, Glory, Colonel Taylor, 
Prince of Greens, Blackbird, George Lightbody, and many more. 
The following varieties, not long out, I examined carefully as I 
saw them in bloom :— 
Mrs. Moore (Douglas).— Grey edge, showed itself to be a rough 
flower, with a starry, irregular paste, and a tube of a greenish 
tinge. The ground colour is a very dark brown, and the edge is 
not a solid grey. Traill’s Beauty, which it strongly resembles, is 
in every way a good flower. 
Mabel (Douglas).—Grey edge, has a dull tube and a thin grey 
edge. The paste is solid and good, and the ground colour nearly 
black. One half of the truss was good, but the other half had no 
edge. I should suppose the flower is pretty good when it comes 
right. 
Silvia (Douglas).—Grey edge, looks bright on account of its 
wide yellow tube, but the paste is scolloped at the outer edge. 
The paste, ground colour, and edge are not well balanced. 
Duke of Albany (Douglas).—Self, came out with a character 
which, in every plant of it I have seen, has not been borne out. 
Its stem is too weak to support the truss, its edge is ragged, and its 
colour is not black as was stated when it was sent out. It will not 
keep its place long in collections. 
Black Bess (AVoodhead).—Self, a fine flower all over, very 
smooth, with a good paste and pleasing colour. It is well worth 
growing. 
Mrs. Dodiccll (Woodhead).—White edge, gives a large pip, 
which in the plant I saw went back. The tube is a greenish 
yellow, and the outer edge cf the paste is not so smooth as it 
ought to be, but the ground colour is good. 
Brunette (Pohlman).—Self, a fine flower, although the tube 
like that of many another self, is somewhat dull. The paste 
is not very solid but good, the edge bright claret, and the petals 
have no notch. This is a decided acquisition to the class of 
seifs. 
Hetty Dean (Dean).—Yellow r self, has, as I saw it, only one 
point in its favour, and that is a good yellow tube. The paste is 
thin, the petals aie loose, go back, and shrivel together, and why it 
was ever sent out to take a place among stage Auriculas must seem 
a mystery. 
Mrs. Heap (Mellor).— Self, is a flower of a very bright cheerful 
colour, more of a light blue than purple. It is remarkably neat 
and smooth. The tube is dullish and fluted, and perhaps too 
narrow. The paste is good, and the plant is evidently a fine 
trusser, and a decided acquisition. It does not seem to be so well 
known as it deserves to be. 
Heroine (Horner).—Self, is not maintaining its character in the 
north. Mr. Cathcart’s plant showed exactly the same as my own, 
every pip turned back, and the petals loose. The component parts 
of the flower are undoubtedly good, but if they will not stay 
where they should be we cannot uphold it as the best self ever 
raised. It would.be interesting to know how it has come with other 
growers in Scotland. 
Alongside his named collection Mr. Cathcart had about 250 
seedbngs, nearly all seifs, in good blocm. We went very minutely 
over them and set aside eight worth another trial. The colours 
of these eight were deep brown, light bluish purple, and almost 
black. They were of fine shape and smoothness, every paste was 
good, and every edge without a notch. They will have another 
trial, and I have no doubt some of them will be worthy of places 
on the show stage. Every one of the seedlings was raised from 
crossed flowers. 
Mr. Cathcart grow T s a few gold-laced Polyanthuses, among 
which are Buck’s George IV., Bullock’s Lancer, Saunders s 
Cheshire Favourite, Cox’s Prince Regent, Crawshaw’s Exile. 
AYhat other fine plants I saw in the gardens during the pleasant 
day I spent at Pitcairlie do not come within the) scope of my 
remarks.—J. M., Dundee. 
SUCCESSIONAL AND MAIN CROP PEAS. 
Early dishes are always welcomed, but as a rule it is the- 
gatherings from the earliest of the wrinkled seeded or Marrow 
Peas that are the most delicious, and are appreciated accordingly.. 
We have now quite a wide choice of second early and main crop 
varieties, many of which are of excellent quality. It does not 
follow that every gardener should grow as many varieties as he can 
find room for, yet this is what is often done, even to the extent, of 
dividing a row between two or more varieties. First discover which 
best suit the garden and the requirements of the establishment,, 
and then grow these extensively. By all means give a trial to one 
or more novelties every season, but the trials ought not to interfere 
with the space devoted to the culture of the limited section that 
has previously given the greatest satisfaction. In reality three 
or four varieties are ample for most gardens, and when these are 
grown in quantity no mistake is made. A constant change serves 
to baffle the cook, and certainly does not please those who command 
the services of both the cook and gardener. The advantage of 
growing a few varieties only does not stop here. For instance, 
those who are well acquainted with their habits know very nearly 
when each will arrive at full bearing, and an undesirable glut 
can usually be avoided ; whereas when several strange varieties 
are grown there is every probability of three or four rows being 
all ready to gather from at the same time, owing to some 
'being of quicker growth, or, it may be, less robust growth than 
others. _ . 
It will thus be seen that a judicious and limited selection is of 
considerable importance, but it is not so easily arrived at as might 
appear at first sight. The difficulty lies, not in the paucity of 
suitable varieties, but rather in their superabundance.* There is no- 
necessity to send in various directions for what are needed, every 
reliable seedsman including plenty to select from. Having a fair 
amount of garden space to devote to experiments, I never confine- 
myself to a very limited collection, but the varieties we principally 
depend upon for furnishing a prolonged supply are William I., Tele¬ 
phone, Criterion, and Ne Plus Ultra, and a much better selection cannot 
well be given. For frame culture as well as warm positions near 
walls or otherwise Chelsea Gem is preferred among dwarf varieties, 
American Wonder being a good substitute. Veitch’s Selected Extra 
Early is also grown for the purpose of affording gatherings slightly 
in advance of William I. Telegraph might be grown instead of 
Telephone by those who do not care for sweet Peas, Early Paragon, 
being also a fine second early variety. Stratagem, being of medium 
height, is one of the best for small gardens. Wordsley Wonder,, 
though less showy than the last named, is exceedingly productive,, 
and the neat pods are closely packed with peas of the best quality. 
This is quite a “ poor man’s Pea,” as it only attains a height of 
about 30 inches, and therefore is not expensive in any way. Marvel, 
Gladiator, Dr. M‘Lean, Triumph, President Garfield, G. F. Wilson, 
Carter’s Anticipation (one of the best), Prince of Wales, and 
Royal Jubilee, all of which are suitable for third early and main 
crops, and usually grow to a height of about 3 feet, have been 
proved serviceable and good in every way, and any of them are 
worthy of a trial. 
If taller growers are preferred, and these we find frequently 
withstand either drought or too much wet better than the less- 
robust medium-height varieties, then either our favouiite, Criterion,. 
Iluntingdonian (a good form of Champion of England), Duke of 
Albany, Hundredfold, or Prodigy may well be selected. The 
last named is distinct and good in every respect, and is well 
worthy of a place in a limited collection. The last fourteen 
varieties named are also frequently and rightly classed as 
main crop Peas, and to these may well be added, by way of a 
selection, the good old Yeitch’s Perfection and G. F. Wilson, both 
of which attain a height of about 3 feet, Reading Giant 5 feet and 
upwards, Autocrat 4 feet (a very fine variety, possessing a good> 
constitution, and therefore well able to withstand extremes of 
weather), and Ne Plus Ultra, G feet and upwards. Sturdy, which' 
does not exceed 3 feet in height, is exceptionally good for the- 
general crops, but we usually reserve our seed for the later sowings,, 
as the variety does good service in September and onwards. 
Whether medium height or tall vaiieties are grown they require 
