1050 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 19, 1903. 
the bunch, and 'evidently belonging to the giganteum section. 
Some flowers of Cypripedium insdgne were also of excellent tex¬ 
ture, showing that Mr. Dollery understands the treatment re¬ 
quired by Orchids as well as' other types of vegetation, every 
one of which was well grown according to its kind. The 
Cyclamens were particularly fine, with long stalks, showing 
that they could be pulled off the plants and used for cut-flower 
purposes. 
The retarded Lily of the Valley was also as fine as we have 
seen this commodity, the flowers being accompanied by well- 
developed leaves of a light green colour, while the flowers were 
sweetly scented, and numbered from twlve to fourteen on a, 
spray. Primula oboonica. was represented by flowers of large 
size, varying from light to dark pink, and quite close in the 
bloom or slightly over-lapping. Chrysanthemum Mrs. Craw¬ 
ford isi grown in the bush form, and not disbudded. Under 
these conditions the buds are of a rich bronzy hue, and all the 
inner florets retain this colour for a long time, gradually giving- 
place to yellow or a paler bronzy hue as thei flowers expand. 
It is evident that flowers are plentiful and good at Weet- 
wood Grange. 
SOCIETIES. 
NATIONAL SWEET PEA SOCIETY. 
Annual General Meeting. 
At the Hotel Windsor on Tuesday, December 8th, this society 
held its annual meeting, the President, Mr. George Gordon, 
Y.M.H., occupying the chair. There was a fair attendance ot 
members, including several from the' provinces, as well as those 
residing in or around the metropolis. The report presented by 
the committee must be regarded as eminently satisfactory, while 
the financial position, showing a slight improvement upon the 
previous year, is excellent. We give the report in full : — 
“ In presenting to the members of the society the third annual 
report, the committee is gratified that it should be so satisfactory. 
The past season has been the most important in the society’s brief 
history. A controversy arose, through a misunderstanding, out 
of your committee’s action in regard to the judges for the last 
exhibition. Fortunately, this was only momentary, and the 
arrangements for 1904 will be submitted for approval at the 
annual meeting. 
“ The past summer was wet and cool, with the result that Sweet 
Peas flourished grandly, though the coldness of the spring put a 
severe handicap upon the plants in their early stages. In many 
places the plants attained to the exceptional height of 10 feet, 
and produced flowers which were remarkable alike for colour, 
size, and substance. The exhibition held in Prince’s Hall, Earl’s 
Court, was a magnificent success, and your committee’s only re¬ 
gret is that the exhibition authorities failed to adequately 
advertise the gathering. Apart from this the authorities were 
most courteous, and did all they could to make the exhibition a 
success. The thanks of the society are specially clue in this 
matter to Henry Hartley, Esq., the managing director, and to 
Mr. Bond, the clerk of the works. 
“ The exhibition was so extensive that it was found imperative 
to remove the barrier at the one end of the large hall with a view 
to securing an extra 360 square feet of space, and even then the 
tables were in some places a trifle crowded. The general effect of 
the show was excellent, though a little flatness was apparent in 
the centre tables. This your committee will endeavour to over¬ 
come at future exhibitions, as it is veiy desirable that every 
advantage should he taken of the excellence of Sweet Peas for 
decorative effects. 
“ In 1902 the society conducted a classification of Sweet Peas, 
and it was thought that this might be annually revised. At a 
meeting of your committee held on June 9th, it was, however, 
Considered that an audit of the varieties shown would be valuable 
as indicating the best sorts to grow, and the honorary secretary 
was instructed to arrange for this. Mr. Charles H. Curtis was 
eventually requested to undertake this decidedly onerous task, 
and the results of his labours were placed before the meeting. 
The tabulations show to what a remarkable degree the classifica¬ 
tion of the previous year was correct, as the present audit sub¬ 
stantiates it in all salient points. Your committee would 
especially commend this audit to the trade, to whom it is bound 
to prove of immense assistance in determining the varieties most 
worthy of retention in catalogues ; and it would also draw the 
attention of cultivators to the colour list in the audit, a-s this is 
certainly a list of the very best varieties. The thanks of the 
society are due to Mr. Curtis for the exhaustive manner in which 
the audit is prepared. 
“Your committee would again draw the attention of members 
to the 
“ Properties of the Sweet Pf.a. 
“ Form. —The standards must be erect, waved, or only slightly 
hooded. The standard, wings, and keel to be in proportion to 
each other as will constitute a harmonious and well balanced 
flower. 
“ Number of Blooms on a Stem. —No variety shall be recog¬ 
nised that has not at least three blooms on a stem, gracefully 
disposed. 
“ Colour. —Distinct and clear self colours are most to be 
desired, and therefore striped, watered, and edged flowers will 
not be awarded certificates of merit unless they present quite new 
and remarkable combinations. 
“ Exceptions. —Perfectly distinct new colours, such as 
approaching the blue of Salvia patens, the yellow of Coreopsis 
grandiflora, or the scarlet of the zonal Pelargonium shall be re¬ 
cognised, even if the variety shall fall short of the foregoing pro¬ 
perties. 
“ Upon the completion of the judging on the first day of the 
exhibition, the committee met to consider the merits of the new 
varieties of which some two or three dozens were shown. First- 
class certificates were awarded to Florence Molyneux (Dobbie and 
Co. and E. Molyneux), Cupid Her Majesty, and Cupid Lottie 
Eckforcl (H. Camiell and Sons), Scarlet Gem and King Edward 
VII. (Henry Eckford). The following varieties were highly com¬ 
mended t^Cupid Mrs. J. Chamberlain, Cupid Royalty, and 
Cupid Captain of the Blues (H. Cannell and Sons), Bolton’s 
Pink (R, Bolton). Mr. John Ingpian, from Mr. Silas Cole, the 
committee desired to see again. "The silver medal of the society 
for the finest novelty of the year was unanimously awarded to 
Scarlet Gem, which, although in some cases having only two 
blossoms on the stem, was so remarkable in colour as to bring it 
well within the scope of the last clause in the ‘ Properties of the 
Sweet Pea ’ set forth above. 
“ The financial position of the society is satisfactory, for, not¬ 
withstanding the fact that the expenses at the show were 
slightly higher, the balance at the hank is rather higher than last 
year. The support given by the trade was most excellent, and 
your thanks are due to those who gave special prizes, as well as 
to the many friends who helped with annual subscriptions. The 
number of members again shows a substantial increase. 
“ The thanks of the society are especially due to Mr. Charles 
E Shea and Mr. George Gordon, V.M.H., president, foi the 
assistance they rendered in adjudicating upon the several 
splendid exhibits contributed by the trade. Their awards 
were - —A large Gold Medal to Messrs. Hobbies, Limited, Dere¬ 
ham ; Gold Medals to Messrs. C. W. Breadmore, Winchester, 
and H. Cannell and Son, Swanley; Silver Medals to Messrs. 
Dobbie and Co., Rothesay, and Henry Eckford, Wem ; large 
Silver Meclal to Messrs. Jones and Son, Shrewsbury ; Silver 
Medal to Messrs. E. W. King and Co., Coggeshall; and a small 
Silver Medal to Mr. J. Williams, Ealing. Your thanks are also 
due to Mr. Cecil W. Greenwood for invaluable assistance ren¬ 
dered to the honorary secretary in the management of the 
show, and also to the several members of the committee who 
acted as stewards.” 
Receipts. 
Balance in hand.. 
Subscriptions 
Donations.. .. 
Advertisement in schedule 
Hire of space at show .. 
bottles „ 
BALANCE SHEET. 
Expenditure. 
£ 
s. 
d. 
£ 
s. 
d. 
29 
19 
2' 
Hcnorariam to Mr, 11. Dean .. 
5 
5 
0 
75 
3 
6 
„ Mr. H, J.Wright 
5 
5 
0 
46 
16 
0 
Prizes awarded. 
(S IS 
u 
i 
5 
0 
Prep ration of audit 
3 
3 
0 
9 
3 
9 
Assistance at show 
1 
S 
9 
4 
1 
8 
Ii ire of vases . 
1 
14 
9 
Printing and stationery 
17 
1 
11 
Hire of rooms . 
0 
6 
J udges' fees . 
Luncheons to judges, com- 
s 
8 
IS 
0 
mittee, and others 
s 
3 
Silver medal 
0 
14 
6 
Advertising . 
3 
10 
0 
Secretary’s expenses 
9 
9 
0 
Bank charges . 
0 
4 
9 
Balance at bank. 
30 
8 
0 
£16o 
9 
1 
£166 
9 
i 
In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mi. 
Gordon referred to the general excellence of the exhibition and 
to the number of entries. He also called particular attention 
to the audit of the whole of the varieties exhibited, which the 
society had had prepared, and was firmly of the opinion that 
