308 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 15,1898. 
those that are really beautiful. Admirers 
of Orchids, for instance, are satisfied with 
anything for a few years after taking them 
up as a hobby, but sooner or later they 
begin to recognise in what direction true 
beauty and quality lies, and follow them 
up according to the means at their com¬ 
mand. So it must be with Sweet Peas. 
The idea of classifying Sweet Peas by the 
form of the standard was first suggested by 
the Rev. W. T. Hutchins, the Sweet Pea 
specialist of the United States, and as his 
arrangement is very closely identical with 
that of the leading growers in this country, 
his classification may be adopted until a 
better is devised. Form has precedence in 
this arrangement, while colour maybe taken 
as a second basis for division. 
The old form of the standard was erect, 
but flat, wedge-shaped at the base and of 
small size. This would correspond to the 
first group. The second group includes 
those that have the standard reflexed at the 
sides and wedge-shaped at the base. The 
third type has an erect and rounded stand¬ 
ard of large size, expanded, and truncate 
or even auricled at the base owing to the 
great development of the organ there. This 
is undoubtedly a vast improvement upon 
either of the two proceeding types. The 
fourth group would include all those having 
a hooded standard of large size, with auricles 
at the base. This also is a highly evolved 
form, and there are doubtless many who 
would give preference to either one or the 
other of groups three and four. In this 
country we know that some prefer the third 
group in which the standard is flat or nearly 
so. We consider that both forms are very 
beautiful notwithstanding differences of 
taste, and that they might be encouraged 
for the sake of the variety they afford in 
representative collections, or those having 
any pretensions to being so. Much diver¬ 
gence of opinion also exists as to whether 
the notched or rounded standard is the 
better form to adopt ; but the fact remains 
that we have fine varieties in both divisions. 
Then again, Sweet Peas are not yet so 
firmly fixed as to prevent variation or de¬ 
generation. No flower, perhaps, is more 
influenced with variations in temperature 
and the state of the air as to moisture. A 
few days of sunless or comparatively sunless 
weather, with a soft moist atmosphere 
causes the flowers of Sweet Peas to spread 
open to their fullest extent; while an arid 
atmosphere will soon cause them to become 
more hooded than they would otherwise be. 
The duration of the flowers as well as their 
quality are greatly affected by an arid 
atmosphere ; and other signs of degeneracy 
are evident when the plants are becoming 
played out by drought and age. The 
standard often becomes notched at the apex 
even in those varieties which are reputed to 
be rounded. A greater disfigurement is 
seen in those that develop a saddle-shaped 
standard owing to the same causes, coupled, 
it may be, with a dry and poor soil. The 
side shoots produced as a result of second 
growth likewise show more or less of these 
defects. Cultivation can come to the rescue, 
and under skilled and attentive growers, 
ensure success where even the best varieties 
might otherwise result in failure. The same 
thing happens with the garden Pea with 
which expert growers are able to cope even 
in dry soils and seasons. Fresh ground 
should be secured where possible every year, 
but in every case the soil should be pro¬ 
perly prepared according as it may be heavy 
or light, and manured accordingly. In 
light soils the surface should be undulated 
in such a fashion that surface moisture may 
run into furrows where the roots of the Peas 
are situated, and after sowing it should also 
be trodden. Early sowing is also a matter 
of vital importance with Sweet Peas, be¬ 
cause they thereby get firmly established 
before prolonged drought makes its presence 
felt. All these precautions are necessary to 
insure the quality of the flowers indepen¬ 
dently of the intrinsic merit of the variety 
itself; and gardeners should attend to these 
matters at present while the ground is being 
prepared for the reception of the seeds later 
on. A fertile soil well supplied with the 
requisite degree of moisture affects not only 
the form of the flower, but also the colour, 
which often varies to a degree which recalls 
the mutability of the Chrysanthemum. In 
the absence of any classification of Sweet 
Peas according to form, the cultivator would 
do well to make a classification of all that 
he grows and flowers, for his own guidance 
in succeeding years, putting new varieties 
to the same test as they come out. 
T>ritisii hybrid Primulas. —There are 
three very distinct forms of Primula 
in Biitain over which there has been much 
discussion as to whether they should be re¬ 
garded as distinct species or varieties of one. 
They are easily distinguishable by anyone 
gifted with the faculty of observation and 
the power to distinguish between one flower 
and another. This of course applies to the 
normal or typical form of each, but so many 
intermediate stages have been discovered 
between Primula vulgaris (the Primrose), 
P. veris (the Cowslip), and P. elatior (the 
Oxlip) that many admittedly good botanists 
have classed them as varieties or forms of 
one species. Other good authorities affirm 
that all three are specifically distinct, and 
that the intermediate forms are truly of 
hybrid origin. Amongst these we note that 
Miller Christy, Esq., F.L.S., takes his 
stand. In the Journal of the Linnean Society 
Vol. XXXIII., No. 299, he gives a very 
elaborate and excellent paper on the distri¬ 
bution of “ Primula elatior in Britain,” in 
which he discusses the relationships of the 
three types above mentioned. The synony¬ 
my of the botanical names is very confusing 
even to the best informed ; but as in the 
case of Abies, Picea and Pinus, the best 
plan is to fall back upon the popular or 
English names, which most people can 
understand and follow. 
The chief or only difficulty with the com¬ 
mon names is that a few cultivators may 
still be liable to confuse the true or “ Bard- 
field” Oxlip with the common, spurious or 
Hybrid Oxlip, which may occur in a state 
of nature as well as in cultivation. We 
think it a good plan to speak of the Hybrid 
Oxlip as the Polyanthus, for it is a yellow 
form that is hardly, if at all, distinguishable 
from garden forms of Polyanthus of the 
same colour. The Primrose has a flat or 
expanded lamina with raised corrugations 
or wrinkles round the eye. The wild Cowslip 
differs by having smaller, nodding, cup¬ 
shaped flowers elevated on a common stalk. 
The true Oxlip has flowers that are open in 
the throat, that is, without wrinkles, and 
elevated on a common footstalk. The 
Polyanthus agrees most closely with the 
Primrose, and differs chiefly by having its 
umbels of blossom supported by an elong¬ 
ated or common footstalk. There are other 
minor differences in the foliage, the leaves 
of the Primrose tapering more regularly to 
the base than in the case of the Cowslip 
and Oxlip. 
All the three species are shown by Mr. 
Christy to form hybrid unions, the one with 
the other two, as well as reverse crosses, 
producing perplexing intermediate forms, 
which he regards, nevertheless, as true 
hybrids. Occasionally the Primrose pro¬ 
duces an elongated peduncle elevating the 
umbel of flowers; but he is somewhat 
doubtful whether this should be regarded as 
a hybrid or otherwise. The Primrose is 
the most widely distributed species in 
Britain The Cowslip, although nearly as 
widely disseminated, is more restricted in 
its habitats, being partial to open meadows. 
The true Oxlip is confined in Britian to two 
districts, namely, that lying between Bis¬ 
hop’s Stortford in Hertford,running through 
Essex to Stowmarket in Suffolk ; and a 
small district in Cambridge. It is also 
found at two points further north, one in 
Suffolk and the other in Norfolk. 
- i »- 
Mr William Johnson, who entered Kew in April 
1896, has been appointed acting curator for six 
months at the Botanical Station, Aburi, Gold Coast, 
as locum tenens for Mr. Charles Humphries, who is to 
be released for a six months' holiday. 
Greenwich Park.— Fifteen acres of land, hitherto 
attached to the Ranger's Lodge at Greenwich Park, 
have been added to the latter, and laid open to the 
public. This is another of the many acts of the 
Queen to commemorate the past year. 
Hard on Dame Nature. —According to American 
Gardening, " nature will have to bustle if she is to 
keep up with the modern horticulturist.” In view of 
the recently discovered existence of the " perfectly 
green Rose ” and the “ Rose as big as a cartwheel ” 
this is not inapt. 
The Old Kew Palace —It was announced on Tues¬ 
day last that the Queen had graciously consented to 
throw open the old Kew Palace as a public museum. 
The grounds surrounding Queen Anne’s Cottage at 
the far end of Kew Gardens from the main entrance 
are also to be thrown open to the public. Every 
corner of the extensive gardens will now be a free 
promenade to the public, with the exception of the 
nurseries and the reserve ground in which the pri¬ 
vate pits, glasshouses, and offices are situated, to 
which no one could reasonably expect admittance 
except on business. The Queen has been pleased to 
do this by way of commemorating the Diamond 
Jubilee year that has just closed, and her subjects 
cannot be otherwise than highly gratified. 
Lewes Chrysanthemum Society —The annual meet¬ 
ing of the Lewes and District Chrysanthemum 
Society took place at the King’s Head, Southover, 
Lewes, on the 4th inst., when there was a capital 
attendance. Mr. Adames read the report for the past 
year, which, subject to an amendment as to thanks 
to the special prize donors, was accepted. The 
balance sheet showed a deficit on the year’s working 
of £5 17s., but the society had a balance of 
£38 is. 3d. at the bank to meet it. Passing to the 
election of officers the whole of the staff was re¬ 
instated, with the addition of the Mayor (Councillor 
Gates) as vice-president. A hearty vote of thanks 
was accorded to Mr. Adames for his services, and to 
the other officers. A special meeting to arrange the 
schedule for 1898 was fixed for the 19th inst. Mr. 
Sbrivell's offer of a lecture on March 2nd was unani¬ 
mously accepted. 
Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Associa¬ 
tion.—There was a good attendance of the craft at 
the meeting of this society on the 6th inst., to hear 
an address delivered by Mr. Alexander Dean, of 
Kingston-on-Thames, on “ Edible Stem Vegetables." 
This designation he applied to such subjects as 
Seakale, Celery, Rhubarb, and Asparagus, the leaf¬ 
stalks of which are blanched in the case of Celery, 
while those of Seakale and Rhubarb are both forced 
and blanched. He is one of the lecturers employed 
by the Surrey County Council, and he explained 
that he was in the habit of grouping those vegetables 
that required somewhat similar treatment. Mr. 
Dean illustrated his remarks with some excellent 
diagrams showing how to proceed and what to avoid 
in the propagation and raising of those vegetables 
from seeds or cuttings of the roots or rootstock, 
according to the kind under consideration. His 
address led up to a lively discussion afterwards, but 
the allotted time was too short for all those who 
were desirous of speaking to take part in the same. 
The lecturer was accorded a hearty vote of thanks at 
the close of the discussion. 
