392 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 19, 1898. 
THE SEED ORDER 
Feas.— Amongst what may be termed the higher 
class vegetables there is none more delicious than 
the garden Pea. Wonderful improvements have 
been effected in it of late years, and there is really 
no comparison between the grand modern varieties 
and those that used to be grown many years ago ; for 
the former are so immeasurably superior, not only in 
the quality of the produce, but in the cropping 
powers and general behaviour of the plants. In no 
vegetable, with perhaps the possible exception of the 
Potato, is there a more bewildering list of good things 
to choose from; indeed there is no list of varieties 
that can be given, unless it is to assume very lengthy 
and cumbrous proportions, but would do an 
apparent injustice to varieties which have not 
been mentioned, and which, according to some 
opinions, are fully equal in every way to others that 
have been included. Opinions vary, of course, and 
it is as well that they should, and we can only re¬ 
iterate the advice to individuals who have found a 
variety that does well in their particular locality to 
stick to it. 
The varieties may be broadly divided into three 
sections—viz., early, mid-season, and late, and this 
rough classification will be sufficient for us to group 
the sorts required to keep up a succession from the end 
of May, in a favourable seasoD, until the beginning 
of October, that is to say, a period of five months or 
thereabouts. 
For yielding the earliest crop out of doors most 
gardeners prefer one of the dwarf varieties. The 
seed is sown under glass, and the young plants put 
out in a warm border or other sheltered corner of 
the garden as soon as the weather permits. Dwarf 
varieties are especially suitable for this kind of work, 
as protection can easily be given them if sharp 
weather comes, although some of the taller-growing 
sorts do very well under this kind of treatment. 
American Wonder has long been a favourite for 
early work, but as far as our experience goes we 
prefer Chelsea Gem, which is fully as early as 
American Wonder, and has the additional merit of 
being a heavier cropper. The pods, which are pro¬ 
duced in pairs, are longer than in the first-named 
variety and hold more peas. The plants run from a 
foot to 15 in., in height according to the season and 
the character of the soil in which they are planted. 
Carter’s Lightning is a taller variety which attains 
a height of about 2J ft. For naturally wet or cold 
soils it may be highly recommended, and in some 
localities it will turn in before either Chelsea Gem or 
American Wonder. It is a very heavy cropper, and 
the pods are always well filled. It is a great 
favourite with many gardeners, and deserves to be 
widely grown. Amateurs who have gardens where 
the soil is very cold will do well not to lose sight of 
it. 
Sutton’s Improved William 1st is a real improve¬ 
ment upon the well-known William 1st which has 
been largely grown in gardens for years past, as an 
early tall growing sort. The “improved" form is 
rather dwarfer in habit, being about 3 ft. in height 
in an ordinary season. A choice may be made be¬ 
tween this and Veitch’s Exonian. 
For a second early variety to succeed the foregoing 
the cultivator cannot do better than try Carter’s 
Early Morn, a Marrowfat of great excellence both 
from the quality as well as from the cropping point 
of view. It is a comparatively new sort but has won 
golden opinions wherever it has been tried. It was 
produced by crossing Lightning and Daisy. The 
height was 3 ft. The pods are large and handsome, 
and the peas last a long time in condition. 
For the main or general crop Carter’s Daisy can¬ 
not be beaten for a dwarf variety. The plants attaia 
a height of from 15 to 18 in. in heigh*, and crop very 
heavily, the pods each containing eight or nine large 
seeds, the quality of which is everything that could 
be desired. For a tall variety a good stock of Duke 
of Albany will always give good results, and for ex¬ 
hibition purposes there is no finer sort. The quality 
is first-class, and the plants crop heavily, the pods 
being large and handsome. The height is 5 ft. 
Telephone and Stratagem are standard sorts ot great 
merit, and both of them are 5 ft. in height. Master¬ 
piece is a grand marrow pea 3 ft. high, that has 
many admirers and can be confidently recommended. 
If only two sorts are required Daisy and Telephone 
will make a capital selection. The other sorts may 
be included if space permit and if the amateur pro¬ 
poses to exhibit,the claims of Duke of Albany, and 
Alderman especially should not be forgotten. 
Late Peas are not so extensively grown as they 
might be. It is true that they have a good many 
enemies to contend against, and have not, on that 
account, the chance that the earlier crops have of 
acquitting themselves well. To commence with, the 
late plants have the drought of summer to contend 
against, and this in itself is a serious matter, 
although the difficulty may be overcome to a very 
great extent by deep cultivation and judicious atten¬ 
tion. Mildew is a sore pest to the enfeebled plants 
and usually makes it appearance to some extent, 
while it often runs riot. The birds too seem 
to have sworn enmity to the Peas and peck at and 
ruin the pods at an alarming rate unless prevented 
by nets. Despite all these difficulties a few dishes 
of late Peas are always appreciated. 
One of the very best varieties for late work is 
Autocrat, a blue wrinkled marrow Pea of exceedingly 
robust habit, a good bearer, and one that puts up 
well with protracted periods of drought. The height 
is 4 ft. in an ordinary season,but this will be found to 
vary considerably according to the special character 
of the season, whether dry or wet. Sutton’s Latest 
of All is well described by its name, for pickings may 
be had from it in November—a sufficiently advanced 
time of the year to suit any and everybody. The 
plants commence to set their pods close to the ground 
so that there is very little of the haulm wasted. The 
height is 3 ft. 
Sugar Peas.—These have not been popularised to 
any great extent in this country, but are highly 
thought of and largely grown upon the Continent, 
France notably, where they are known as Pois sans 
Parchcmin. The whole of the pods are cooked in the 
same way as a young French or Runner Bean, and 
they form a delicious vegetable, and one that is 
deserving of a little attention. The tough, striDgy 
membrane that is present in the pods of the ordinary 
shelling Peas that we have been discussing is absent, 
and its place is taken by a succulent substance that 
is perfectly sweet and tender when cooked. The 
catalogues of many seedsman contain no mention of 
these edible-podded Peas, but the seed can be 
obtained, if specially asked for, at pretty reasonable 
prices. Those amateurs who would like to have a 
little novelty may well invest in this direction. 
French Beans.—When grown in pots under glass 
the dwarf French Beans form a very valuable vege¬ 
table during the earlier months of the year. The 
system of forcing is a simple one and need not give 
any trouble to an amateur who has a glasshouse in 
which he can command a temperature of about 
6o° Fahr. For forcing purposes either Osborn's 
Forcing, or Ne Plus Ultra will answer admirably, 
and there is very little to choose between the two 
varieties in point of forcing, although that little is 
rather in favour of Ne Plus Ultra. This variety, too, 
is equally good out of doors for first crops, as it is 
naturally early, and commences to crop when the 
plants are yet small. 
For a general crop Canadian Wonder is everything 
that can be desired. It is a most prolific bearer and 
the pods are of great length and size as well as being 
of first-class quality when cooked. If only one 
variety is to be grown this is the one to choose. 
The Climbing French Beans constitute an interest¬ 
ing and useful section. The pods are like those of 
the " dwarfs ” in general appearance,being long and 
relatively narrow, but the habit resembles that of the 
" runners,” from which they differ, however, in their 
exceeding earliness. Tender and True is one of the 
best varieties. 
The Butter Beans represent a type having a 
peculiar buttery flavour, which is much admired by 
some connoisseurs. Sutton’s Golden Waxpod is a 
safe variety to experiment with. It is very dwarf in 
habit and a free and continuous bearer.— Rex. 
- m*m - 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
A nyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
" Amateurs' Page ” on the top of their letters. 
Roman Hyacinths. — Oral : The Roman Hyacinths 
so much cultivated are not the offspring of 
Hyacinthus romanus, as you suppose, but of a 
variety of H. orientalis named albulus. 
Chrysanthemum Cuttings Damping.— P. L .: It 
is sometimes difficult to assign an exact reason for 
Chrysanthemum cuttings damping. You have pro¬ 
bably given too much water and have neglected to 
give air now and again. 
Erica Carnea.—This is the Heath you speak of, 
Shrubs. It is one of the finest hardy plants we have, 
and always blooms early in the year. There is a 
white form of it (E. c. alba), which is equally pretty 
and valuable. 
Daphne Blagayana. —Shrubs : It is certainly very 
early for this pretty Daphne to be so far advanced. 
Perhaps your plant is very much sheltered, and this 
would account for its precocity in flowering. The 
season seems out of gear at present. 
Pollenising Primulas — C. Bent: You will require a 
soft camel’s-hair brush to pollenise the flowers of your 
Primulas. Push the brush gently down the tube of the 
corolla until it touches the stamens, give it a gentle 
twist round, takiDg care not to be too heavy-handed, 
and you will find the pollen adhering to the brush 
when it is withdrawn. Brush the stigmas, or female 
organs, over very lightly, for to bruise them would 
be fatal to the result. 
Curious Primula. — S., Shipston-on-Stour, forwards 
a flower of a Chinese Primula which has the calyx 
developed into a leaf. This is certainly a curious 
but not a unique production, for Messrs. Jas. Carter 
& Co., of Holborn, have a variety called Bouquet 
which always does this. The foliaceous calyx has, 
ia the case of this variety assume! the proportions of 
quite a large leaf. 
Apples on Wet Land. — E. A.: Your neighbour is 
simply courting failure in planting the Apple trees 
on wet, undrained land of the kind you mention. It 
should certainly have been drained before planting 
was attempted. You will at least have an object 
lesson in how not to plant. 
Plant for a Front Garden— D. W.: If you will 
send the measurements of the ground and the 
approximate shape, we should be in a much better 
condition than now to advise you as to the number, 
size, and shape of the beds. You should lose no 
time in doing this, as the season for planting will 
this year be a short one, and it is advancing apace. 
Turf would be a much more expeditious way of 
forming a small lawn than sowing down with grass 
seed, but it would also be more expensive, for you 
must have good turf. 
Rhubarb Roots. — C. C .: After Rhubarb roots 
have been lifted and forced as yours have been they 
are fit for nothing but throwing away, as they are so 
much weakened that it would take too long for them 
to recuperate themselves. 
Border Carnations. —I intend potting up and 
flowering under glass in a cool house some of the 
finest sorts of my border Carnations. Please tell me 
the best time to pot the plants and the soil to use. 
Any hints will be appreciated.— Reader. 
The end of this month will be a good time to pot 
your plants up, for with the early season they will 
by that time have made a decent start. For soil 
you may use three parts of good loam, mixed with a 
fourth part of dried horse or cow manure rubbed 
through a sieve. To this add plenty of coarse 
river sand, and a small sixty pot of scot to each 
bushel of soil. Mix the whole well together. Pot 
fairly firmly, and drain the pots well. After 
potting consign the plants to a cold frame having a 
bottom of ashes, which keeps the plants clean and 
moist. The frame should be kept rather close for 
about a week subsequent to potting, but after the 
expiration of that time air should be admitted in 
increasing quantities until the plants are in full swing, 
when they should be grown as hardy as possible. 
Setting Grapes.— Reader : It is not necessary to 
brush the bunches over in order to get the berries to 
set, as has to be done with early Peaches and Straw¬ 
berries. A gentle tap on the rods in the middle of 
