756 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 28, 1900. 
wild plant ? If this plant had ever crossed 
the equator, even during the glacial period, 
it would no longer have been the Sweet 
Pea, as it must have so altered in character, 
constitution, and probably form, that it 
would no longer have been Lathyrus 
odoratus, but some other species. The 
record must have been a mistake, and all 
good botanists and many practical 
gardeners now disbelieve the story of a 
home in Ceylon for the Sweet Pea. The 
variety was recorded by Miller as the 
Painted Lady. Might not the Sweet Pea 
have been taken to Ceylon by some of the 
early travellers, and the seedlings have 
given rise to this striking variety as a 
result of the difference of temperature and 
climate upon its constitution ? As far as 
we remember, no one has put forward this 
suggestion. In any case, we believe that 
differences in climate or even in season, soil 
and environment, have a marked effect in 
inducing changes in the colour of the 
flowers and the constitution of the plant. 
Certain it is that the Sweet Pea has 
never before in its career as a cultivated 
plant during the past 200 years stood so 
high in public favour over the length and 
breadth of the British Isles ; and the story 
of its Bicentenary Celebration will be handed 
down as the first great climax of its popu¬ 
larity in history. Where a few pounds of 
seed were sold a few years ago tons pass 
through the hands of seedsmen in¬ 
dependently of those saved by amateurs and 
gardeners for their own use. The en¬ 
thusiastic American amateur already 
mentioned, and who has already done so 
much for the literature, as well as the 
cultivation of the Sweet Pea in the United 
States, said that it is grown in every state 
of the Union, that planting is carried on 
during the rainy period, stretching from 
November to June, “ from the semi tropical 
belt cf Gulf States to the Canadian lati¬ 
tude.” For the last decade, and from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific—a distance of 3,000 
miles—every garden has had its row of 
Sweet Peas. What greater popularity for 
his favourite flower could the warmest 
enthusiast desire ? The growers and seeds¬ 
men of the United States handle something 
between 125 and 150 tons of seed during 
the year. This may be described as a 
wave of feeling of vast magnitude for one 
flower alone. In some places the popu¬ 
larity practically amounted to a craze, but 
by the time this subsides, the steady culti¬ 
vation .of the flower will be well established 
in the land. When the next Sweet Pea 
exhibition will be held in this country it 
would be difficult to prophesy, but ad¬ 
mirers are not wanting who think that its 
destiny as an annual institution is already 
assured. 
Within the last few years and weeks the 
history of the Sweet Pea has been given at 
greater or less length in different publica¬ 
tions, including The Gardening World, 
and the evolution of the same was discussed 
at the conference in a paper prepared by 
Mr. John S. Eckford and Mr. C. H. Curtis. 
To a considerable extent the history and 
evolution of the flower are bound up to¬ 
gether, and the discussion showed that the 
speakers had a difficulty in keeping them 
separate. Nevertheless the stages by which 
the Sweet Pea has advanced both in size 
and colour were interesting. The evidence 
of history and the plants themselves testify 
that Lathyrus odoratus, as a species, 
remains intact and unmixed ; and the trend 
of the discussion, including that of Mr. 
Plenry Eckford himself, went to show that 
seed sowing and selection has been the 
most important factor in the evolution of 
the flower. As far as we can make out 
artificial cross-fertilisation has not been a 
potential agent. Some affirmed, however, 
that results do not begin to show them¬ 
selves till the second year. Still further 
careful experiments are needed to prove or 
disprove this view. It is difficult to see 
where improvement can now be expected, 
although many advances are still desired 
and hoped for. 
As in the past so in the future we must 
patiently wait and watch for desired 
features, seize upon the same and fix them 
in the usual way well known to raisers. 
Nothing strikingly new was advanced for 
1900. The classification committee had 
many knotty points to settle on the second 
day of the conference, in classifying the 
varieties in groups under their respective 
colours or alliances of colour. The science 
of colour is so little understood that diffi¬ 
culties on this point are of frequent 
occurrence, and the giving of examples of 
each colour is to be recommended for the 
guidance of the general public. A very 
general expression of opinion was that the 
multitudinous colour varieties of the Sweet 
Pea were greatly in excess of requirements, 
that the cultivation of the whole was im¬ 
practicable, and their indistinctness 
rendered it undesirable. The work of 
selection and reduction to fifty or even 100 
will be a formidable task. Some varieties 
are certain to excell others in certain 
seasons, and many cultivators will have 
their own particular preferences, which the 
seedsman cannot ignore. It seems to us 
that a number of years must elapse before 
the weeding out system can become 
thoroughly effective. The classification 
committee had a turn at this work in the 
Trial Grounds of Messrs. Hurst & Son, as 
mentioned by us last week. A full report 
of the show is given on other pages of this 
issue, and a condensed report of the con¬ 
ference as far as space permitted. 
-Og-T-- 
The Midland Carnation and Picotee Society.— 
Owing to the excessive heat of the past fortnight, it 
has been thought desirable to again alter the date of 
the above society’s show. This is now definitely 
arranged for the original dates, viz., the 1st and 2nd 
of August. 
Pilea muscosa in Jadoo. — Since the use of fire 
heat was discontinued in the greenhouses of Col. 
Halford Thompson at Eastcliff, Teignmouth, the 
Pilea muscosa or Artillery Plant has ceased to come 
up. It may be remembered that it came up in 
Jadoo Fibre after that bad been boiled in the process 
of manufacture. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
flower show of the Royal Horticultural Society will be 
held on Tuesday, July 31st, in the Drill Hall, James 
Street, Westminster, when special prizes will be 
offered for " Cacti.” A lecture on •' Cherries and 
Plums” will be given by Mr. H. Somers Rivers, at 
3 o’clock. 
The Most Nutritious Fruit—I believe the Banana 
to be the most nutritious fruit grown. Its main con¬ 
stituent is.in the unripe state.starch,which in process 
of ripening becomes converted into sugar. Of very 
luscious taste, it is a wholesome and nutritious food. 
The tree yields, for the same extent of ground 
covered, more food than any other vegetable 
According to Humboldt, i,ooo sq. ft. of ground will 
yield of Potatos 462 lbs , of Wheat, 38 lbs., and of 
Bananas 4,000 lbs., and in a shorter period of time. 
About 6£ lbs. of the fruit or 2 lbs. of the dry meal, 
with \ lb. of salt meat or fish, form in tropical 
America the daily allowance for a labourer, whether 
slave or free. The unripe fruit keeps better than the 
ripe, because of the carbohydrate being yet starch, 
and when dried in this state forms a kind of bread. 
Meal is prepared by pounding and sifting the dried 
fruit. The leaves are used for thatching, basket 
making, &c., and the quantity of fibrous tissue in 
the stalks makes them useful for the production of 
flax. Manilla hemp is yielded by a tree of the same 
order (Musa textilis). — A. M. S. 
The Derivation of “ Ulex.”—If you are not tired 
of the subject I would venture to make a few com¬ 
ments on this controversy. J. C. S. says that " ac ” 
does not occur in Keltic. As I have no dictionary of 
that language I cannot dispute his statement. How¬ 
ever, I find in Skeat's Etymological Dictionary —an 
authority which I am sure J. C. S. will be the first to 
recognise—that " ak " is a Sanscrit root meaning 
“ to pierce,” whence the Latin acus, acumen, acid, &c. 
With regard to the " ex ” of Ulex, I find that " X " 
is an extended form of ” ak " = '■ aks." Greek 
“oxus ” sharp. No doubt in any description of the 
Furze its most prominent characteristic, the sharp¬ 
ness of the spines, would be reflected in its name. As 
regards the first part of the word “ ul ” which 
appears in “ ulmus,” “ ulva,” &c., the same authority 
derives it from the root " al," ‘‘to grow,” ‘‘to 
nourish.” With respect to the use of the word 
“ legendary ” as applied to Pliny, although I find 
that it may bear the meaning of “a writer of 
legends,” I submit that in its ordinary acceptation 
it means, as in the case of "a legendary Saint,” 
an individual whose existence is only known of by 
tradition. You do not speak of a writer of fables as 
“a fabulous” author. Finally, J. C. S. will fini 
“ sapientum octavus ” not “ octavis" in Horace’s 
Satires.— Sigma. 
Bournemouth and District Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association.—The 12th annual excur¬ 
sion of this society took place on Thursday, July 
12th, when about sixty members availed themselves 
of the opportunity of visiting the Royal Seed 
Establishment of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading. 
The party were met at Reading station by two of 
Messrs. Sutton's staff, and conducted to the seed 
warehouses, where they were very cordially wel¬ 
comed by the following members of the firm Mr. 
Arthur W. Sutton, Mr. Leonard G. Sutton, and Mr. 
M. Hubert Foquet Sutton. After viewing the ex¬ 
tensive warehouses and offices they mounted the con¬ 
veyances which were in readiness, and were driven 
to the Portland Grounds, where they saw much to 
interest them in the various houses devoted to the 
culture of Gloxinias, Begonias, and other flowers 
that are made a speciality by this firm. They were 
then conveyed to the seed trial grounds, where an 
excellent lunch was provided, to which ample justice 
was done. Mr. M. H. F. Sutton, who presided, ex¬ 
pressed in a few appropriate remarks the pleasure of 
himself and partners at meeting the members of this 
society on this occasion. At the conclusion of the 
luncheon a hearty vote of thanks was passed to 
Messrs. Sutton for their kind and generous 
hospitality. An inspection of some of the numerous 
varieties of flowers and vegetables grown for trial in 
these extensive grounds occupied the remainder of 
the afternoon. On returning to Reading the party 
partook of tea, and afterwards visited some of the 
places of interest in the town. A pleasant journey 
home in the evening brought to a close a most 
enjoyable and successful outing. 
Ealing and District Gardeners’ Society.—On 
the iSth inst., the annual excursion of this 
society took the form of a river trip from London 
Bridge to Margate. The party numbered about 
thirty, and met at London Bridge soon after 9 <Lm., 
whence they proceeded down the river by the 
"Southend Belle.” This fine paddle steamer is 
well appointed in every respect, the accommodation 
ample, and the catering of the best description. 
The arrangements, which were carried out to the 
entire satisfaction of the party, were negotiated by 
the chairman, Mr. C. B. Green; the vice-chairman, 
Mr. H. Burgess; and the hon secretary, Mr. W. 
Roberts, being also present. At Tilbury, S. A. 
Sewell, Esq, F.R.H.S., a former chairman of the 
society, came aboard, and much good feeling pre¬ 
vailed. The day was superb, and while the cheaper 
boats were crowded with passengers, the “ Southend 
Belle ” had room enough and to spare. At Margate 
a short stay was made and the brightest flower on 
the cliffs noted. This was the common Lady’s Bed- 
straw (Galium verum), the dwarf, dense, yellow 
panicles of which formed quite a “ golden dream. 
The return journey commenced at 4 p.m. The 
breezes from sea and river were most exhilarating 
after the sweltering heat of the previous days, and 
all went well until the boat neared North Woolwich, 
when a perfect Nasturtium (Nose-twister) was dis¬ 
covered in the shape of a guano factory, the products 
of which, though necessary in the garden, are 
certainly not nice in the nostrils. London Bridge, 
however, was reached by 9 p.m. without much more 
excitement, and great satisfaction having been ex¬ 
pressed with the steamboat arrangements, the party 
entrained for home. 
