August 28, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
823 
FAILURES WITH PEAS. 
“Amateur” (p. 810) does not say how or when he 
sowed his Peas, nor what kind of soil his garden is 
composed of. There are many things which bring 
about failure, and both sowing and reaping must be 
guided by circumstances, soils and other considerations, 
which have to be taken into account. “Amateur,” 
being situated in the vicinity of Manchester, may have 
sown his Peas too early, and this, coupled with the 
cold late spring, may have caused the seed to rot 
instead of germinating, and especially would this be 
the case if the soil be of a damp heavy nature. I 
generally sow for the first crop in the second or third 
week in March, and even then am never sure whether 
they will come forward, as they are dependent on the 
weather after the first three weeks of sowing. If it be 
fine, open and mild, well and good ; if stormy, cold or 
wet, I know what to expect—Peas or any other seeds 
cannot remain long in the ground without either going 
one way or the other. "With me, the first week in 
April gives the most certain results, and those sown at 
this date are not far behind, even should the first 
sowing germinate all right. 
Too deep sowing is another cause of failure ; 1 in. 
deep is quite deep enough. There is a golden rule, 
that seeds, of whatever then - nature, should be sown 
no deeper than the seed itself ; hut seeing that we 
have birds to contend with, as well as spring frosts, it 
is best to err on the safer side, by sowing no nearer 
than 1 in. from the surface, that is as regards the early 
sowings. Another cause of failure is the ground not 
being sufficiently prepared or worked during winter. 
Many there are, those who have gardens, who leave them 
until the time of sowing, and then are all hurry and 
flutter ; the consequence is, the soil turns over rough, 
and not having had the beneficial effects of winter 
frosts, does not crumble as it otherwise would do, hut 
turns over like half-baked bricks. In this case it is 
impossible to cover the seeds regularly, some of the 
seeds being covered too deep, whilst others are not 
covered at all, and mice, slugs and snarls work their 
own sweet will in the subterranean larder. The surface 
of the trench or row should be made fine, and the seeds 
have a covering of soil of a light, fine, sandy nature, 
through which the young sprouts will easily penetrate. 
If “Amateur” has followed out these rules, we 
must come to another conclusion— i.e., that in all pro¬ 
bability his blank places have been caused by mice, 
slugs, or snails, as they have been well protected from 
birds. “Amateur” says that there are blanks among 
his “ Stratagem,” whilst Earliest of All has come up 
the best. This is accounted for by the fact that 
Stratagem is a wrinkled marrow Pea, whilst Earliest of 
All is a blue or round-seeded Pea. Blue Peas are of a 
more hardy nature whilstjraried in the ground, conse¬ 
quently they are more generally used for "first sowings. 
"Wrinkled marrows are more tender, and, moreover, are 
of a sweetev nature, therefore more liable to the attacks 
of vermin than the other. As to the haulm of Earliest 
of All being poor and weak, this sort is not near so 
stiff and sturdy in its habit as Stratagem, therefore it 
is not expected to be so good in constitution. 
A word, if you please, about seeds and seedsmen. 
The latter are oftentimes blamed for the unsuccessful 
germination of the seeds, when in most cases it may be 
traced to careless sowing, indifferent management, 
damp soils, or an insufficiency of heat—solar or other¬ 
wise. I think we should find more difficulty in pur¬ 
chasing bad seeds now than good ones, for seedsmen 
know that if they do not keep the best in these days 
of keen competition a falling off in trade soon follows. 
MESSRS. LAING’S BEGONIAS. 
All who are interested in the culture of tuberous 
Begonias, either indoors or out—or, at all events, as 
many of them as can conveniently arrange to do so—• 
should not fail to pay a visit to the grand, show of 
these in flower at the Forest Hill Nurseries. Begonias 
have steadily progressed in public favour, and deservedly 
so, for few plants give such a show of bloom with so 
little trouble. Many are they who have laid in a small 
stock of them, which they cherish and cultivate well; 
but in many instances the varieties grown are far 
behind those recently raised by Messrs. Laing, and a 
large number of growers, if they saw the ordinary stock 
at Forest Hill, would be tempted to superannuate their 
old favourites, and put some of their large and per¬ 
fectly-shaped varieties in their places, especially when 
they found they could do so at a very small cost. 
At present in bloom in the open ground are over 
100,000 plants, and not a bad flower among them. 
There are large beds of dark crimson, nearly black on 
the outer side of the flowers ; of crimson, of scarlet, 
orange, yellow, rose, white, and every conceivable in¬ 
termediate shade, the whole of them being characterised 
by that peculiar rotundity of petal and thickness of 
substance which distinguish Laing’s strain. In th 
double section, all the beautiful colours of the singles 
are repeated with a marvellously rosette-like double¬ 
ness of flower. The scarlet, crimson, white, and rose 
doubles are especially fine, and whole beds of one 
colour prove to what a successful issue the Messrs. 
Laing have carried their efforts in intercrossing and im¬ 
proving the strain. Such a show of colour spread over 
such an extent of ground, -without a single failure, 
proves beyond a doubt the usefulness of these plants 
for bedding purposes. 
Indoors are houses full of grand specimens which, 
although they have been in bloom since May last, are 
still in fine order. Some of them are grown in baskets 
and are suspended about the house, forming very showy 
objects, and demonstrating another use for these showy 
plants. 
"Where all are so excellent, it may be somewhat of a 
matter of opinion as to their relative merits, but at 
present the following selection appeared to be the 
best :— 
Singles. —Prince of Wales, vivid scarlet; Blushing 
Bride, blush-white ; Golden Queen, a fine golden yel¬ 
low ; Lady Trevor Lawrence, yellowish Orange ; Duke 
of Edinburgh, very rich deep maroon; Princess Victoria, 
rosy carmine, with a white centre ; Lord Salisbury, 
bright dark red ; Atro-rubra, dwarf, dark crimson ; 
Stanstead Surprise, rich crimson, very large ; Star of 
Gold, bright yellow ; New Colour, buff orange ; Lady 
Lewisham, a fine rose ; Virgin Queen and White Per¬ 
fection, two pure whites. 
Doubles. —Alba plena, a'grand white; Lillie, deep 
pink, a fine flower ; Little Gem, pure white ; Formosa, 
crimson, with white centre, the best for baskets; 
Marquis of Stafford, large crimson ; Princess of Wales, 
white ; Alba fimbriata, large, fringed white ; Miss Amy 
Adcock, a fine full salmon-red ; and Fireball, a brilliant 
scarlet. 
Besides the Begonias, Messrs. Laing have grand 
specialities in Hollyhocks, Pentstemons, Chrysanthe¬ 
mums and a grand collection of hardy perennials, 
which are now grandly in bloom : also, in the houses, 
a noted collection of Caladiums, Gloxinias, Ferns and 
stove and greenhouse plants generally, as well as some 
good houses of Orchids^ among which the Cattleyas, 
varieties of Lselia anceps, Dendrobes and other showy 
good things are in grand order, especially D. Falconerii 
and D. Wardianum, the latter having very stout 
growths over 3 ft. in length. The cool Odontoglos- 
sums, also, are in great vigour. In bloom we noted 
Cattleya Gaskelliana, C. Leopoldii, C. Loddigesii, 
Cypripedium Pearcei, C. Sedeni, C. Dominiana, C. 
concolor, C. Godefroyee, many fine Oncidium Jonesia- 
num, O. laneeanum, Dendrobium Pierardii latifolium, 
Odontoglossum Pescatorei, O. Alexandra, O. Wallisii 
purum, and a very healthy importation of Phalaenopsis 
violacea and P. Sumatrana. 
-->X<~- 
Scottis h Gar dening. 
Notes from Foretell, Fifeshire —When 
passing through the well appointed Vineries of this fine 
old place the other day, I noticed a number of Vines 
which have been trained up the rafters and down the 
back walls. Among other kinds Gros Colmar was 
fruiting freely, and I noticed that bunches on the 
back wall at least 6 ft. from the glass were in advance of 
those under the rafters, about 16 ins. from the roof. 
Those on the back wall were almost fully coloured, in 
fine form, while their compeers were only changing, 
showing how much better black Grapes often do under 
dense shade, than in unobscured light. White Grapes 
do the reverse of this, and when accustomed to full 
sunshine from their earliest stages they stand it with 
safety. A very densely-coloured Grape of the white class 
is grown at Fordell. At Dundee International show 
this kind was conspicuous for its deep bright yellow 
colour, and some experts were not unanimous regarding 
its kind. It is certainly unlike all the sorts I 
have seen. In form and flavour it resembles White 
Tokay, but no Tokays were ever seen so yellow before. 
I still hold to the opinion that it is Tokay grown 
under peculiar circumstances. The Vines, which 
are of considerable length and girth, seem to attain a 
certain stage of growth, then cease and extend wood or 
foliage ; the fruit seems to ripen rapidly when the Vine 
has reached this stage. We often notice the same change 
take place with stone fruits, Pears and Apples (of ordi¬ 
nary colour) become a deep crimson when ripened on 
trees which ceased to grow prematurely. 
Grapes, Peaches, and Figs, are well done at Fordell; 
trees on walls are skilfully managed, and fine crops are 
realized. Plums are a heavy crop this season. In the 
numerous plant houses and pits, great numbers of 
plants were a blaze of flower, or being grown on for 
autumn and winter use. In a pit were a quantity of 
Cinerarias and herbaceous Calceolarias forming their 
flower buds, which are intended to flower early in the 
autumn, and continue onward to winter till other 
batches succeed them. These early flowering plants 
are sown in spring, and got forward to flower at a period 
while the family are at home to see them. 
Among notably well-done things was a collection of 
fine foliage plants in a spacious house ; the cleanliness, 
health, and vigour of these plants was most pleasing. A 
small structure we observed was filled with Adiantums, 
among which was the finest grown A. cuneatum (one 
of the oldest and best) which I have seen for years. 
It would take up too much space to attempt a general 
description of these highly kept, extensive and beautiful 
gardens, in which something of most branches of horti¬ 
culture are well represented. Flower gardening is very 
extensively carried out at Fordell. "We climbed to the 
top of an old tower vrhere a view of the greater part of 
the flower gardens could be obtained, and such a floral 
picture is rarely met with, or one so varied in conception. 
The English style in grass is seen in one division ; the 
French comes into view with its broad bands of Box, 
and a very different picture is displayed by such an 
arrangement than by the meagre narrow lines which 
are too often seen in Anglo-French gardens. Scrolls 
in Box, Rose gardens, herbaceous borders, &c., all have 
their separate positions, and the same care and cultural 
attention characterises each. 
Conifers have had a special position at Fordell for 
many years, and many fine specimens are growing 
in the spacious grounds. Shrubs are varied and 
numerous ; there is rock work in natural form, running 
streams, miles of walks, glades and woods in great 
variety, forming one of the most beautiful seats I 
have seen beyond the Forth. The excellent order in 
which the gardens are kept, and the -whole managed, is 
most creditable to the very able and painstaking 
gardener, Mr. Ramsay.— M. T. 
-- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
_ •» 
♦ 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
As the ground is cleared of the early and second early 
crops of Potatos, it should be dug or forked in prepar¬ 
ation for the winter vegetables, and if it was well dug 
for the Potatos it will not require so much attention in 
that respect now. All vacant places in the kitchen 
garden should be filled immediately they are cleared of 
the previous crop, as it is a most important part to 
have the garden well stocked for winter. Cabbages can 
be planted plentifully, and Savoys are an excellent 
green vegetable for a severe winter, standing very sharp 
frosts with immunity, in fact they are, in the opinion 
of most people, greatly improved by being subjected to 
a few keen frosts. Curled Kale is also a capital hardy 
green, and lasts when all else has been finished, but it 
is not so delicate in flavour as the others, and is rarely 
liked in small gardens except in the northern part of 
the kingdom, and the depth of winter when other crops 
are scarce or quite over. 
Celery is making good progress, and should be 
earthed up as it advances ; Peas are nearly past now, 
but Ne Plus Ultra is still yielding an occasional gather¬ 
ing ; Scarlet Runner Beans are abundant; Turnips, 
Onions, and Carrots are also turning in -well. Onions 
that have become sufficiently large should be pulled 
from the ground, the stem twisted just above the bulb, 
and then laid on the surface if the weather is dry, as a 
day’s exposure in this way will wonderfully improve 
their keeping qualities. Continue careful attention 
in clearing the garden of -weeds, which have been most 
luxuriant this season, but it is especially necessary to 
prevent their seeding, or they will give a lot of trouble 
in the future. — Scolytus. 
