132 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 31, 1885. 
tlie vivifying influences of plants and flowers, 
fruits and vegetables ; and these could only be 
supplied by the holding of a series of weekly 
shows, at which special attractions in the way 
of good prizes would be needful to bring in the 
required objects. Even if such could be ac¬ 
complished, and it could only be accomplished 
at considerable cost, it is only too certain that 
such a continuous succession of shows would 
soon breed satiety. It is a curious fact, but an 
exact one none the less, that beautiful as flower 
shows are, and full of interest to the masses, yet 
these sooner breed satiety, especially to those 
called upon to take an active part in their 
construction, than other objects. Perhaps the 
immense amount of work incidental to these 
shows, especially for exhibitors, breeds this 
feeling on the one hand, as must certainly the 
contemplating of so many things that have 
almost identical characters do on the other; 
hence it would be a danger if the public taste 
were to weary of a great international horti¬ 
cultural show in the same way that it often 
does of some other attractions. The Council of 
the National Eose Society seems to have recog¬ 
nised that fact, for it will patronise only one 
day exhibitions ; and yet a great feast of Roses 
is held to be qne of the most attractive of 
flower shows it is possible to provide. Perhaps 
the unattractive and prosaic way in which Eose 
blooms are usually shown tends to that result. 
It is easy to declare that if the money be 
found anything is practicable ; but the promoter 
of any grand horticultural exhibition, especially 
if to be held at South Kensington, must not 
forget that animate subjects, such as plants— 
and especially tender plants—are not so amen¬ 
able to ordinary exposure and treatment as are 
other subjects; indeed, it is that feature in 
gardening which presents the chief obstacle to 
the carrying out of heroic enterprises. We 
have no desire whatever to throw cold water 
upon a proposal that is fraught with so much 
interest to all horticulturalists. We rather 
wish to stimulate consideration as much for the 
difficulties to be surmounted as for the con- 
tingences, which are less objectionable, and 
therefore hope that the forthcoming meeting 
may result in some tangible and practical 
purpose. 
--i - 
GARDENING MISCELLANY. 
The Chrysanthemum Shows to be held next week, 
are:— Tuesday, Ealing, Southampton, and Lambeth. 
Wednesday, Brixton. Thursday and Friday, Highgate, 
Finchley, and Hornsey, at North field Hall, Highgate, 
Richmond, and Havant ; and Friday and Saturday, 
Crystal Palace. Besides these public exhibitions, large 
private displays, which will be well worth visiting, will 
be opened in Messrs. Cannell’s Nursery, at Swanley ; 
Messrs. Veiteh & Sons, Chelsea ; Messrs. J. Laing & 
Co., Forest Hill; Mr. B. S. Williams, Holloway ; 
Messrs. W. Cutbush & Sons, Highgate ; and Mr. N. 
Davis, Camberwell. 
Grape Growing at Keele Hall. — From Mr. G. Bolas, 
gardener, Hopton, Wirksworth, Derby, we have recei¬ 
ved a statistical account of the prizes for Grapes won 
by the late Mr. William Hill, of Keele Hall, at the 
exhibitions of the Royal Horticultural Society, between 
June 11th, 1853 and July 1st, 1863, and which shows 
that in the ten years, he took twenty-two first prizes, 
nine seconds, and six thirds, besides two extra prizes, 
a large silver medal, and a silver Knightian medal. 
Fruits and Fruit Trees, Home and Foreign. — An 
interesting book bearing this title, and from the pen 
of Mr. Leo. II. Grindon, has just been published by 
Messrs. Palmer & Howe, Manchester. 
The Largest Vine in the World is said to be one grow¬ 
ing at Oys (Portugal), which has been in bearing since 
1802. Its maximum yield was in 1864, in which year 
it produced a sufficient quantity of Grapes to make 750 
litres (165 gals. ) of wine ; in 1874, 665 litres (1461 gals. ) ; 
and in 1SS4, only 360 litres (79£ gals.). It covers an 
area of 494 square metres (5,315 sq. ft.), and the stem 
at the base measures two metres in circumference.— 
Society of Arts Journal. 
A Plea for the Single-handed Gardeners.—A corres¬ 
pondent writing to a contemporary, asks the somewhat 
pertinent question, whether it is not unfair that work¬ 
ing or single-handed gardeners should have to compete 
in the same classes with gardeners who are in charge of 
large establishments, and have much greater facilities 
for producing subjects for show. Certainly it is, and it 
is a matter for regret that the arrangements observed 
in many schedules of prizes places all the principal ones 
at the mercy of gardeners at large places whose resources 
are well-nigh boundless. We have frequently noticed 
this at country shows, and that, too, in places where 
there are only one or two large places and many small 
ones, and the gardeners at the latter, feeling they have 
no chance of securing the highest honours, decline to 
bring their productions to the show ; and the managers 
of these exhibitions wonder why it is that their shows 
decline ! We strongly advocate the setting apart of a 
series of classes for single-handed gardeners—that is 
men who manage a place with only occasional, as op¬ 
posed to regular assistance. We know not a few of 
these as hard working and industrious men, good and 
successful gardeners, excellent cultivators, but with 
limited resources, who can show a single bunch of 
grapes or even two of a few varieties, and other choice 
fruits in the same proportions ; but cannot compete in 
the larger classes. These are the very men that should 
be encouraged, and we repeat, that in all schedules of 
prizes, where it can be done, classes should be set apart 
for this section of exhibitors. We are acquainted with 
some where this is done, and with marked success. 
These men compete together, in a division set apart 
for them, and they show subjects of a highly praise¬ 
worthy character. And it may be further said, that 
such a class of exhibitors is under, rather than over, 
paid ; and a little prize money is an object of some im¬ 
portance to them. The wisest managers of flower 
shows are those that broaden the basis of their exhi¬ 
bitions as widely as possible ; the result is almost 
invariably seen in an enlarged show, and a correspond¬ 
ing increase of popular support. 
Phacelia campanularia.—“Of this novelty,” writes 
a correspondent, “ I, last spring, procured a packet of seed, 
but the result predicts no great future for it as a garden 
flower in England. Nursing it under glass I found it a 
tender subject, liable to damp, and to be eaten by slugs ; 
but what is worse, when the plants got a fair size and 
about the stage that they should have gone on safely, 
they still seemed to be of a very tender character. The 
plants I had in pots, in large 60’s, ready to plant out if 
they promised to do well placed on a surface of ashes in a 
cold pit, with the lights off. Although one or two of the 
plants flowered, the colour being a beautiful blue, of 
the same shade as the old Salvia patens, small and 
campanulate in shape, they were not abundant, and 
after a heavy shower or two the plants seemed to grow 
less in size, and, at any rate, the species from this result 
would prove that it is not likely ever to be a popular 
annual, though the colour of the flowers is a most 
beautiful shade of blue.” 
-—- 
NOTES ON PEAS. 
The past season has been a very bad one for Peas. 
The spring was late and cold, and being followed by a 
dry, parching summer, extending into September, the 
Pea crop in most places was not an average one, except 
where the ground was specially prepared for their re¬ 
ception, and an abundance of water was applied to them 
while growing. I was fairly successful with them 
myself, having sent a supply into the house for sixty 
consecutive days. Being in a cold bleak part of the 
West Riding of Yorkshire, sowing Peas with us in the 
months of November, December, and January is out of 
the question. The first sowing is made at the latter 
end of February, and then continued at intervals up to 
June, and these give us a succession from the beginning 
of July until they are cut down by frost in November. 
Our staple sorts are Dickson’s First and Best, Prince of 
Wales, Champion of England, Telephone, Telegraph, 
and Ne Plus Ultra, which come into bearing in the 
order named. Some of these are of recent introduction, 
but the others are of ancient date, and so good that no 
doubt they will continue for some time to come to 
contest the supremacy with newer introductions. 
I am one of those who always favour tall-growing 
kinds, provided stakes can be had, as they give 
a better crop, enjoy more sun, receive the benefit of a 
freer circulation of air, and are not so liable to the 
attacks of aphis as dwarfs. The early sorts are sown on 
a south border manured heavily the previous summer, 
and are sown moderately thick, to make allowance for 
their being thinned by mice, birds, &e. 
For the general crop trenches are thrown out the 
same as for Celery, and 18 ins. deep ; 12 ins. of manure 
is placed at the bottom and covered with soil, adding a 
sprinkling of soot to the drill before sowing. The dis¬ 
tance from trench or row to row is determined by the 
height of the sorts. Thus Yeitch’s Perfection, 4 ft. 
high, is sown 4 ft. apart ; Ne Plus Ultra, 6 ft. high, 6 
ft. apart, and so on. That is my general rule, but we 
always allow the space to be more rather than less. It 
is not advisable to plant or sow between the rows, as is 
sometimes done ; we prefer rather to leave the space 
clear in order that it can be forked a couple of times 
during the season. I find this is of especial benefit to 
them, as it aerates the soil and gives the rains a better 
chance of penetrating to the roots. It is a question of 
some importance, as to in what direction the rows should 
run? Were I sheltered, I certainly should sow north 
and south. If not, then so as to cut the wind. The 
first year I came here I sowed north and south, as was 
my wont; but the winds came, and the moral was, 
“Don't put a broadside to me again.” 
As to vermin, I have not found anything better for 
mice than the old figure of 4 traps, and sharp ashes 
spread over the rows. To keep off birds, we put pegs 
on each side of the rows and string cotton on them 
diagonally. For slugs, we put strips of old carpet, one 
foot square, on the side of the rows, examining them 
occasional!)' ; but the best of all methods of dealing with 
these is to get eight or ten young ducks, keep them in 
a corner of the garden, and let them out occasionally 
until they get too heavy, when they may bid good-bye 
to the Peas until such times as they meet again, and 
another younger lot be obtained ; these are the scaven¬ 
gers for these pests. Topping the Peas, or pinching 
them, is done with the tall sorts when the height of 
the rods is reached, to check them from falling over on 
to the rows, and to help them swell the pods. 
Notes on Varieties. 
Earliest of All. —This was sown at the same time 
as Dickson’s First and Best, and was ready three days 
in advance of it. Height 2 ft. to 3ft., with nice well-filled 
pods containing six to eight peas of fair quality ; a good 
cropper. 
William Hurst. —This variety promises to become 
a standard dwarf early sort ; it was sown witl; Dick¬ 
son’s and came in with that variety. Height 2 ft. to 3 
ft.,and the haulm almost covered with fine dark green 
pods, containing from six to eight peas of good quality. 
With me, this has completely ousted the American 
varieties. 
Abundance. —This has not done so well here and 
has not come up to my expectations. It is 2 ft. to 3 ft. in 
height ; haulm strong, and the foliage heavy, with a 
branching habit of growth, the individual branches 
bearing pods which are freely produced in pairs, and 
contain six to eight peas of good colour and quality. 
Everbbearing. —This is like the preceding in the 
habit of the plant, but has heavier foliage, and is 
longer in bearing, but not so long as to constitute it 
everbearing. I sowed a few of Abundance with it, 
they both came in together, but I got Peas a fortnight 
longer from Everbearing. However, I shall try these 
two varieties again, as perhaps the season may have 
brought the plants sooner to maturity than if we had 
had the ordinary amount of rain. 
Stratagem. — This, like the two foregoing, has 
heavy foliage and a vigorous constitution. Its height 
is 2 ft., an 1 the foliage is of a dark green colour. The pods 
contain six to nine peas of good colour and quality ; a 
good cropper as long as it lasts, but this is the worst 
quality of dwarf varieties they do not last long. 
Evolution. —Some of the pods of this variety were 
wanting in peas, whilst others contained their full 
quota ; this has generally been the case with most of the 
largest podded kinds, as for instance, Superlative and 
Giant Marrow, in which most of the pods have been 
blind. Height 4 ft., and the pods which are produced in 
pairs are of a deep green colour, slightly curved outward 
at the end, and contain eight to eleven peas only of 
second-rate quality. This was the second trial. 
Paragon. — This is a 6 ft. Pea and a prolific variety 
of good quality, but the pods here are short, broad, and 
stumpy, with the ends turned outwards. I attribute 
