740 
1'HE GARDENING WORLD 
July 21, 1900. 
and the more decided the better, are the 
principal points. The trial at Kelvedon 
included all the types, and in making 
selections of the best sorts very tew had a 
good word to say for such monstrosities as 
Red Ridinghood, Snapdragon, and 
Oddity, which rve hope will soon be ex¬ 
cised from all lists. As far as form is con¬ 
cerned, there are two well-marked types 
worthy of preservation and cultivation, 
namely, those having a hooded standard or 
top petal, and those having a flat, erect one 
or nearly so. Beautiful hooded flowers 
are Blanche Burpee, Duchess of Suther¬ 
land, Queen Victoria, Coquette, Lady Mary 
Currie, Lady Grisel Hamilton, Lady Nina 
Balfour, Modesty, Fascination, Venus, 
Sadie Burpee, Admiration, and others. 
The standard of this type is usually well- 
developed, broad and rounded at the 
apex, with very little if any notch. The 
base of the standard is usually truncate 
or even inclined to be heart shaped. 
These varieties with the hooded standard 
have a peculiar grace and fascination about 
them, which some would describe as modest 
or retiring; though the real cause of it is 
the amplitude of the development or 
breadth of parts. The absence of a notch 
at the apex prevents the broad standard 
from becoming neatly folded in bud, and 
then spread out flat when the blossom 
opens. 
On the other hand, the flat standard is asso¬ 
ciated with a notch at the apex, of greater 
or less depth. At one period of Sweet 
Pea development certain cultivators were 
inclined to multiply the hooded forms, and 
to discard the varieties having a flat standard. 
Others wanted to go to the other extreme. 
Happily both sections are well supported by 
the public generally, and we are all the more 
satisfied at this result, because it enlarges 
the scope for variety. The standard being 
spread out flat shows the whole breadth at 
one view, thus giving the bloom a bold and 
open-faced appearance. The erect or flat 
standard is well shown in Emily Hender¬ 
son, which may be regarded as the best 
white flowered representative. In virgin 
soil of a finely retentive character, and 
without any special preparation, we have 
seen the stems run up to 6 ft. or more with 
three or four large flowers on a footstalk. 
Others having the erect standard noted in 
this trial are Queen of England, Mrs. 
Sankey, Mrs. Eckford, Lottie Hutchins, 
Lemon Queen, Mrs. Gladstone, Princess 
Beatrice, Mrs. Dugdale, Lady Beacons- 
field, Triumph, Little Dorritt, Earliest of 
All, Blanche Ferry, Daybreak, Mrs. J. 
Chamberlain, Countess of Powis, Gorgeous, 
Lady Penzance, Princess Victoria, Prince 
Edward of York, Brilliant, Mars, Boreat- 
ton, Duchess of Westminster, and others, 
which are really handsome and well worthy 
of extended cultivation. Besides these two 
well marked sections another list might be 
given in which the standards are inter¬ 
mediate in character, that is, not very de¬ 
cidedly hooded, yet not altogether flat. 
Some of these are Hon. F. Bouverie, 
California, Prima Donna, Lovely, Apple 
Blossom, Splendour, Fashion, Monarch, 
Captain of the Blues, Countess of Cado- 
gan, Countess of Radnor, Princess May, 
New Countess, Lottie Eckford, Juanita, 
and others. All of these three types or 
sections are well represented in this great 
trial. Each of them is again divisible 
into groups, according to their particular 
colour or arrangement of different colours. 
The result of the work of the Sweet Pea 
Conference will be to reduce the number of 
really good varieties, but so great is 
the difference in taste amongst the 
general public that some varieties 
will be preferred to others, indepen¬ 
dently of all organised selection. Soil, 
variety of Sweet Pea, and the character of 
the season as to moisture or otherwise will 
also continue to act and react upon one 
another, so that the same variety cannot be 
relied upon to give uniformly satisfactory 
results in each successive year. 
The Cupid section met with a fair 
amount of favour by reason of their suit¬ 
ability for pot culture and conservatory or 
greenhouse decoration. Some of the best 
are the original Cupid, which is white; 
Primrose, primrose ; Firefly, crimson; 
Boreatton, maroon; and Pink, which may 
really be regarded as a dwarf; Little Dor¬ 
ritt or Painted Lady having a rosy-carmine 
standard, and very pale wings. 
-— «i— -- 
Weather in London.—Since last week the weather 
has been excessively warm. On one or two succes¬ 
sive days the heat has been so great as go°, 93 0 , and 
95 0 in the shade. Travelling in railway carriages, 
especially underground, is a mild form of stewing. 
Everybody is lazy, and " limp.” 
“ The English Flower Garden and Home 
Grounds.”—This book has been out of print for 
some time, but we understand that a new and 
revised edition (the eighth, apart from reprints) will 
be issued to the booksellers this week. In this the 
trees and shrubs are included. 
Messrs. John Peed & Son at Hanley. — In our 
report (p. 732) of the Hanley Horticultural Fete, on 
the 4th and 5th inst., it is stated that Messrs. John 
Peed & Son, Roupell Park Nurseries, West Nor¬ 
wood, London, S.E., received a Silver Medal for 
their exhibit, whereas, they were really awarded a 
Gold Medal. 
Success of Swanley Students.—At the examina¬ 
tion, recently held by the Royal Horticultural 
Society, thirty-four students from the Swanley 
Horticultural College, Swanley, competed, and 
secured places in the first class, except one. The 
first, second, and fifth places were taken by Swanley 
students. Out of 236 competitors we think the 
successes attained by the College folks is most 
encouraging. 
Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society’s Show. 
—The second annual summer show of the •• Cale¬ 
donian ” Horticultural Society was held on Wednes¬ 
day, July nth, in Dowell’s Rooms, 18, George 
Street, and was well attended. Roses, of course, 
formed the chief feature of the show, and most of 
the leading firms were prominent here as at the 
Scottish Horticultural Association’s show the day 
before. Among private gardeners who exhibited we 
found Mr. Alex. Macmillan, gardener to Mrs. Currie, 
Trinity Cottage, Trinity, who sent Campanulas and 
Roses. Sweet Peas came from Mr. Alexander, gar¬ 
dener to Mrs. Wauchope, Niddrie. Mr. R. Lindsay, 
Murrayfield, had an exhibit of rare alpines and other 
hardy plants, including the "Plymouth Strawberry.” 
Mr. D. Lornie, Birds’ Mill, Broxburn, showed some 
half-a-dozen vases of summer-flowering Chrysanth¬ 
emum Morning Star. A fruiting branch of Arau¬ 
caria imbricata was sent by Mr. Crosbie, Drymen. 
Mr. Geo. Balmer, Ettrick Road, Edinburgh, had a 
splendid group of Gloxinias. Mr. C. Connachie, 
Ayton, showed a seedling MeloD, " Beauty of Kelso.” 
Of the trade exhibitors, Mr. Henry Eckford, Wem, 
was strong in Sweet Peas ; Messrs. Dobbie & Co., 
Rothesay, N.B., exhibited Carnations, &c.; Messrs. 
Hugh Dickson & Sons, Belfast, staged 40 ft. of Roses. 
Mr. W. Cuthbertson, Rothesay, had Sweet Peas ; 
Mr. John Downie, of Princess Street, set up a 
decorative foliage and flowering group. Messrs. 
Laing & Mather, Kelso, had beautiful Carnations ; 
while Phloxes, Pentstemons and Delphiniums came 
from Mr. Charles Irving, Jedburgh. Messrs. Cun¬ 
ningham & Fraser, Comely Bank, Edinburgh, set up 
a collection of cut herbaceous flowers ; and a like 
collection came from Messrs. James Cocker & Sons, 
Aberdeen. Rose exhibits were put up by Messrs. 
D. & W. Croll, Dundee, and Messrs. T. Smith & 
Sons, of Stanraer. Fruit exhibits were not so 
plentiful as one could have wished On the whole 
the exhibition was a success. 
The Ulex or Furze question.—The words 
" Sapientum octavis " as quoted by C. B. G, in your 
last issue do not occur in Horace nor, so far as I am 
aware, in any other Latin author. With this I, for 
my part, close the correspondence.— J. C. Stogdon. 
Sweet Pea Bi-centenary Exhibition.—To a 
well-attended meeting of the Executive Committee, 
held at the Horticultural Club on July 13th, the hon. 
secretary, Mr. R. Dean, V.M.H., reported that the 
entries to date for the forthcoming exhibition of 
July 20th and 21st would necessitate the hire or pur¬ 
chase of nearly three thousand vases; as three 
thousand bunches of Sweet Peas would make a very 
attractive show the committee considered matters 
were progressing favourably, especially as two days' 
entries would have to be added. A very large 
amount of space available for non-competitive and 
trade displays had already been applied for. The 
programme for the celebration was arranged as 
follows:—Friday, July 20th, judging to commence 
punctually at eleven o'clock; opening ceremony by 
Alderman and Sheriff Sir W. P. Treloar, president 
of the celebration, at one o’clock ; luncheon at half¬ 
past one p.m.; conference proceedings open at four 
p m., when the papers to be read are “ History of 
the Sweet Pea,” by Mr. S. B. Dicks; "Classification 
of Sweet Peas,” by W. P. Wright; and “ Some 
Points on the Culture and Decorative Uses of the 
Sweet Pea,” by Mr. H. Dunkin. On Saturday 
morning the Classification Committee, which consists 
of the members of the executive, together with 
Messrs. Leonard Sutton, H. Hicks, P. Waterer, J. 
Eckford, G. Stanton, and the Rev. W. T. Hutchins, 
commence their duties of classification and selection 
at half-past ten a.m.; at two p.m. the conference 
proceeding will be continued, the papers to be read 
being " Evolution and Improvement of the Sweet 
Pea,” by Messrs. J. S. Eckford and C. H. Curtis; 
"The Sweet Pea in America,” by the Rev. W. T. 
Hutchins; and " Perfume in Sweet Peas," by Mr. 
W. Cuthbertson. The Executive Committee 
decided upon a small neat silver and blue enamel 
badge for the committee and officers, but arrange¬ 
ments will be made so that those who wish to secure 
a copy of this commemorative badge may do so at a 
small cost. 
Newport Horticultural Association has sprung 
up like a Mushroom on the banks of the Tay. 
Although only in existence a year and a half, it has a 
membership of seventy-five, who take a deep interest 
in the lectures and papers at the monthly meetings. 
The association has been a long felt one to the com¬ 
munity, and is now doing good work under the able 
management of the president, Mr. George Masson, 
and the energetic labours of the hon. secretary, Pro¬ 
fessor Waymouth Reid, who takes a deep interest in 
all that pertains to the welfare of the association. 
Unusual interest was taken in the meeting on the 
10th inst., when the hon. treasurer, Mr James Bethel, 
read a paper on " The Hardy Flower Border as a 
Source of Supply of Cut Flowers.” From every 
point of consideration the paper was a delight and 
an education to listen to. It was sufficiently tech¬ 
nical, but never beyond the capacity of amateur 
hearers; and Mr. Bethel’s account of the different 
suitable flowers and their seasons was enriched with 
observations that evinced the speaker's taste and 
critical discrimination. At points Mr. Bethel's paper 
assumed an excellent literary and picturesque form, 
as when he described the cheering effects of certain 
flowers in early spring, the significance and value of 
the old flower customs, and the beauty of the Iris 
which has been so much neglected. With a touch 
of true poetry he described the flowers of the opening 
spring and summer, and gave helpful hints as to the 
culture of the choice kinds for decoration. Particu¬ 
larly he insisted on the informal style of arrangement 
as against the stiff, crowded ways of the past. Mr. 
Bethel had on view a large and beautiful assortment 
of cut flowers, which in extent and richness con¬ 
stituted a veritable flower show. Among the exhibits 
were: —Delphiniums, Lilies, Chinese Paeonies, 
Baptisia.Dipsacus, Campanula, English and Spanish 
Iris, and Roses. Mr. Bethel was cordially thanked. 
Great interest was taken in two competions. These 
were, first, for six vases of hardy flowers from the 
open border (for amateur growers only), the prize 
won by the hon. secretary, Professor E. Waymouth 
Reid ; and second, for twelve Roses (six Tea and six 
hybrid perpetuals)—the first prize taken by Mr. 
Macdonald, and the second by Mr. Halley. Mr. 
James Laird kindly acted as judge in both cases. 
