July iJl, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
741 
Devon and Exeter Gardeners.—On Saturday, 
July 14th, the Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Associa¬ 
tion had a capital day’s outing. The company 
numbered about sixty all told, and drove first of all 
from Exeter to Lyme Regis in brakes. This drive 
was magnificent, for lovely Devon was at its best. 
A round of inspection was made to various objects 
of interest in Lyme Regis, and refreshments were 
obtained. A journey was thereupon made to Pinhay, 
an estate of Wilson Allhusen, Esq., over which the 
party were escorted by Mr. Bloye, bailiff and head 
gardener. At Pinhay there were many beautiful 
and interesting features to see. Sir Cuthbert 
Peek’s seat at Rousdon was then made for. The 
gardens at Rousdon, under Mr. Bailey ’s charge, were 
most creditable, and quite charmed the visitors. By 
the kindness of Mr. Grover, Sir Cuthbert’s astrono¬ 
mical assistant, the party were able to view the 
bright star Archurus through the telescope, though 
the sun was shining brightly. The course after this 
time was steered for Seaton, where tea was partaken 
of, and at 9.20 the train for home was utilised. The 
arrangements were in the hands of Mr. Andrew 
Hope, hon. secretary, and Mr. W. Mackay, hon. 
treasurer, and were so fully considered as to satisfy 
everyone of the party. 
--s*- 
HOW TO GROW BEGONIAS WITHOUT 
A GREENHOUSE AND FRAMES. 
Those having a little spare time should make a bed 
as for Cucumbers. Get some shallow boxes and 
half fill them with ashes. Mix some loam, leaf 
mould, and sand, filling the boxes nearly up to the 
top, and then make them perfectly level with a flat 
board, putting them into a pail of water to moisten 
them thoroughly. Then sow the seed evenly, but 
no not cover. Shade with glass and brown paper, 
turning the dry side every day towards the soil; but 
as soon as the seedlings show rough leaves, carefully 
water and remove the paper and glass, and slightly 
shade with an old mat, giving a little air for the first 
week. After giving more air to them day and night, 
a good sprinkling with a rough rose can should be 
given. Continue to keep them growing until frost 
sets in, and they show signs of ripening. Put them 
where the frost will not touch them until spring. 
Then thin out and box or pot, and start in a gentle 
hot-bed or cold frame in April, watering carefully 
until started. Having tried many Begonia growers, 
I recommend getting the seed from J. R. Box, 
Croydon, East Surrey, having had some of the best 
blooms from his seeds, doubles and singles 
measuring 6 in. to 7 in. across, and of various 
colours.— Licscombe Cousins, gardener, 46, Lisson Grove, 
Mutley, Plymouth. 
GLOXINIAS AND BEGONIA REXII. 
Now is a suitable time for propagating any good 
varieties of Gloxinias or Begonia Rexii. Cover the 
bottom of a seed pan with crocks, lay in 1 in. of 
sphagnum, and fill up with a mixture of fine sandy 
peat or leaf mould, finishing with silver sand. Take 
some good sized leaves off the sorts intended to be 
multiplied, cutting them almost through just below 
the ribs or vines. Make a small opening across the 
pan, and place the leaves in it, rib part downwards ; 
level up, and go on similarly until the pan is full, 
just as one would lay in seedling trees. Water 
them and place in a propagating pit or stove, where 
they can be kept close with a moist bottom heat. 
Bulbs will be formed at the bottom in about a 
month, and will begin to throw out young growths, 
when they may be potted off and kept growing in a 
warm place until the approach of winter. Water 
must then be withheld from the Gloxinias, which 
must be allowed to ripen, then stored till spring. 
The varieties of B. Rexii are best shown to advan¬ 
tage in a fernery, although the stove is the place to 
bring out the fine metallic colouring. They flower 
chiefly in winter, and although not showy are by no 
means unattractive. They, too, are the better of a 
short rest, giving only sufficient water to keep them 
from flagging in December and January.— John C. 
Dick, The Gardens, Champfleurie, Linlithgow. 
CLERODENDRON THOMSONAE VAR. 
BALFOURIANA. 
This beautiful plant, although belonging to a family 
of stove plants, can be grown with success in an in¬ 
termediate house, if placed in the warmest part. 
The most suitable soil is a mixture of peat and 
loam, with the addition of a little sand. It delights 
in an abundance of water when growing, and an 
occasional dose of liquid manure or some reliable 
fertiliser, such as Clay’s, may be used with advan¬ 
tage. About the end of August water should be 
given less frequently, and more air to ensure 
thorough ripening of the wood. When this is 
accomplished, it should be removed to a cool house 
if possible. In February tie in all the wood there is 
room for, and spur prune the remainder ; it should 
then be placed in its warm quarters. They are very 
easily raised from seed. I once gathered some seed 
from a plant and placed it on one side previous to 
sowing, but when sown not one came up. On 
another occasion I plucked some, and placed them 
in some shingle, on a stage set apart for Orchids 
(and therefore kept constantly moist), with the 
result that everyone germinated, was duly potted 
up, and all have now made nice plants. This seems 
to point to the fact that they should be sown as 
soon as gathered.— G. Robins, The Gardens, Dudley 
House, Springrove, Isleworth. 
-- 
FREESIAS 
Are one of the most useful, and, I might say, one of 
the favourite winter flowers. They can be had with 
very little forcing from Christmas until April (their 
perfume being not too strong), by selecting the 
strongest bulbs now, and potting from nine to 
twelve bulbs in 48-size pots, using compost consist¬ 
ing of turfy loam, leaf soil, and plenty of sharp 
sand. Place the bulbs half an inch beneath the soil; 
partly cover the soil with silver sand ; place them in 
a frame, water, and give plenty of air. As the bulbs 
advance in growth remove a few pots to the green¬ 
house, on the front shelf. Keep the flowering stems 
up by using neat sticks. The small bulbs should be 
grown on in shallow pans, and when well treated 
will make good bulbs for the following season. 
When the bulbs are at rest keep them in their pots 
or pans in a shed on the shelves. Care must be 
used in watering not to get the soil soddened or the 
foliage will turn yellow. Use plenty of drainage, and 
do not force too hard, but bring them on gently. 
Some of the pots can be placed in wire frames. 
Cover with moss and train the flowering stems over 
the sides. They last much longer in flower than a 
great many of our other Cape bulbs, and they are 
most useful for cuttings.— J. Wallace, King's Lynn. 
-«*■- 
HISTORY OF THE SWEET PEA.* 
It has been suggested by Mr. Gilbert Beale, our 
general manager, that in view of the Bicentennial 
Festival to be held at the Crystal Palace next week 
in connection with the Sweet Pea, that some of you 
who will no doubt attend that exhibition will find it 
more interesting if you are in possession of some 
knowledge on the history of this popular and beauti¬ 
ful annual. 
I want to tell you what Messrs. Carters’ firm have 
done towards its improvement. We don’t pretend to 
say that it is to our house alone the present position 
it occupies in the public fancy is due, but I do want 
to impress upon you the fact that Messrs. Carter 
hold a very important link in the chain between 
Sweet Peas of seventy years ago and the Sweet 
Peas of to-day. 
I am obliged to go into the dim and distant past 
to put the matter in a complete manner before you. 
You may not be aware of the fact that the first 
Sweet Pea came from Sicily, an island 
close to the southern shores of Italy, and the first 
record I have been able to trace of it, is from the 
work of Francisci Cupani, an Italian botanist, dated 
from Naples in 1696. It is printed in Latin, and 
entitled “ Hortus Catholicus Neapolitans.” His 
description, literally translated, reads somewhat as 
follows:— 
1696. Lathyrus two-fold, broadleaved, hairy, soft, 
very tall growing and flowers sweet scented, 
native of Sicily, and grown in gardens. 
1700. The next reference is that given in Dr. 
Leonard Plukenet's work entitled" Almagesti 
Botanici Mantissa.” I have seen the dried 
specimen at the South Kepsington 
Museum comprising leaves, flowers, and 
pods, that he evidently obtained from 
Sicily, with a written description attached 
* Read by a member ot Messrs. Carters’staff at Mortlake. 
July 13,1900, 
similar to that in Cupani. He was a man 
of education, but fortune seems to have 
been fickle to him, when he obtained 
through the assistance of Queen Anne, the 
superintendency of Hampton Court, with 
the title of Royal Professor of Botany. He 
was one of the first botanists to give 
personal names to plants. 
1704. Mr. John Ray was another clever botanist of 
this time, who, from humble circumstances, 
rose to be an eminent tutor at Cambridge, a 
F.R.S., and a great traveller. He published 
several horticultural works, including that 
monument of industry entitled " Historia 
Plantarum Generalis,” the first volume of 
which appeared in 1686. The Sweet Peas, 
however, are only mentioned in volume 3, 
which came out in 1704, and it is there de¬ 
scribed Lathyrus major of Sicilae, with very 
nearly the same additions as are contained in 
Cupani, although he is supposed to have 
obtained his information from Boccone’s 
book. This great man died at Great Nolley. 
in Essex, in 1705. 
1713. In vol. 28 of the " Philosophical Transactions 
of the Royal Society ” is a paper prepared 
by Mr. James Petiver, upon the ” Rare 
plants in several curious gardens around 
London and particularly at Chelsea.” He 
refers there to the Sweet Pea—of course in 
Latin, which I translate to read somewhat 
in the following terms:—He calls it 
Lathyrus siculus flore odorato—Sicilian 
chickling, flowers very abundant, sweet 
scented ; standards red with lipped petals, 
surrounded with blue, and having a pod like 
a Pea. 
He also describes another variety—broad¬ 
leaved, very tall, and purple in colour ; and 
he adds in English : " This elegant sweet¬ 
flowering plant I first observed in Dr. 
Uvedale’s most curious garden at Enfield, 
and since elsewhere.” 
This same Petiver was an apothecary in 
Aldersgate Street, but interested himself in 
natural history, collecting all sorts of plants 
through sea captains and others from 
abroad. He wrote many books on plants, 
and prepared many papers for reading 
before the Royal Society. He died in 1718, 
leaving fifty pounds to the Charity School 
of St. Anne’s, Aldersgate Street. 
1724. The next reference I am able to trace is that in 
the seed catalogue of Mr. Benjamin Towns¬ 
end, who describes himselt as late gardener 
to Lord Middleton. His seeds were 
obtained by writing to him to the " Three 
Crowns and Naked Boy,” over against the 
new church in the Strand, He simply 
quotes, amongst other flower seeds; Sweet- 
scented Peas. 
1775. A long spell this from the last date, but I have 
not been able to find anything between. 
In Weston's " Flora Anglicana” I find— 
Sweet Scarlet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus 
coccineus). 
1778. In the catalogue of Mr. W. Malcolm, seeds¬ 
man, of Kennington Turnpike, is ofiered 
White, Purple, and Painted Lady Sweet 
Peas. Note the name of the latter, which I 
have not observed before. 
1794. Messrs. Dicksons, of Edinburgh, offers Lathy¬ 
rus odoratus siculus and Lathyrus zeylani- 
cus. This latter descriptive name has led 
many to believe that one variety of the Sweet 
Pea has come from Ceylon; but there is 
evidently some mistake here. It seems 
that a Continental writer of the early part 
of the eighteenth century, named Burmann, 
in preparing an index of the plants of 
Ceylon for the Horticultural Academy at 
Leyden in Holland, referred in some 
manner to the Sweet Pea, but with no 
intention of describing it as coming from 
Ceylon. [The confusion existing about a 
Sweet Pea coming from Ceylon, may have 
arisen from the fact of various seeds and 
plants from Ceylon and Sicily having been 
imported at the same time to Dutch nur¬ 
series, and these having become mixed.— 
Ed.] 
1795. Messrs. A. Dickson & Sons, Hawick, N.B., 
