172 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
have even recommended 2 inches, but one is enough for economy and general 
usefulness, two may serve for exhibition purposes. 
Peas are very impatient of drought, and also of too great heat; the latter 
cannot be entirely counteracted, but may be greatly modified in its effects by 
the means to be adopted to counteract the former. In dry weather, therefore, 
pour plenty of water into the drills previous to covering over the seed, and in 
earthing-up take care to leave a broad surface on the top of the ridge, so that 
the water can penetrate to the roots, and occasionally pour some along the 
rows when drought prevails; and further, as a means of keeping the earth 
moist and cool, let the surface on each side of the rows be well mulched over 
with short litter. By adopting these precautions, late Peas may often be made 
as productive as the best of the general season, but there is no need to apply 
them in the case of early and midseason varieties, as in most seasons they 
arrive at maturity before the great heats likely to affect them prevail. The 
present season, however, has been one of the exceptions, for in the month of 
April the sun’s heat was so powerful as to scorch the blossoms, and shrivel up 
the incipient pods. 
Late Peas are quite as much appreciated by epicures as early ones, and 
therefore it is worth a little extra trouble in watering and so forth to secure 
them, and the precautions I have mentioned may well be modified to suit 
particular situations. In hot and dry soils they are imperative ; in strong soils 
retentive of moisture they are not so unless under extreme circumstances of 
drought, and even then it is probable that mulching will be found sufficient. 
The time at which it is best to make the latest sowings is a vexed question. 
Experience and observation convince me that locality has everything to do with 
the matter. I find here that the middle of June is the latest period at which 
it would be of any good to sow for remunerative produce. In other localities, 
particularly in some of the warm sheltered gardens on the south coast, the 
first week in July is not too late in the majority of seasons. 
John Cox. 
NOSEGAY GERANIUMS. 
If Donald Beaton had never, in the course of his busy life, raised any 
other Geraniums beyond Cybister and Stella, every flower gardener ought to 
be grateful to him for these alone. They are perfection for bedding purposes, 
easy of culture, and of hardy constitution. They should be in every garden, 
as no doubt they will be soon, because cuttings must be badly put in if they do 
not root; and when done properly this takes place most freely, even as eyes in 
the way Vines are propagated. They are easier to keep through the winter 
than most of the common older varieties, under the roughing process that all 
have to undergo in these months; they also begin flowering early, and continue 
all the season, without any cessation. The weather, and other causes, do not 
affect them in the way they do Christine, Minnie, Model, Brilliant, and many 
others; and their trusses fully entitle them to the name of Nosegays. It 
appears to me that the free-flowering habit of these two varieties is the great 
secret of their seldom getting into that gross state of growth which so many 
other varieties do very shortly after they are fully established, completely marring, 
at a comparatively early season, that effect which has been nine months in 
maturing. I have only seen one or two of Mr. Paul’s new varieties planted 
out, but I have no doubt they will fully realise all that has been said of them. 
Amy Hogg is the most beautiful colour of any Geranium in the bedding class; 
it surpasses all other home-raised or continental varieties. The latter are most 
frequently unable to keep their colour under our sun, which is the more extra- 
