138 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 13, 1904. 
as this grass has; and still I find it has some redeeming 
qualities, which is to prevent the washing of steep hanks. Six 
years ago I wrote to several different seedsmen for seeds, but 
found nonei who kept it. Therefore I dug and planted it in 
rows 2-1 ft. apart by 12 in. in rows; also at same time seeded 
with Timothy and Redtop. In two years’ time the other 
grasses were run out. and the Witch-grass held the fort., and 
also the banks, but we have not been troubled with any wash 
since. Our banks were sand, but. graded up 1 with street alley 
rubbish, then, covered with 4 in,, to 6 in. of cheap 1 loam, and in 
this the roots were planted. Where and how to buy grass 
seed? We will take Kentucky Blue (Poa. pratensis). While 
14 lb. makes a. legal bushel, yet it can be bought weighing 
from 27 lb. to 30 lb. per bushel; the best is. none too good. 
If there are no merchants near you who buy seeds of Henry 
Nungessor and Co.., 65, Pearl Street, New York City, write to 
him for prices on what you want and weight per bushel. 
I must add a few words about, the California. Privet winter 
killing (well, let it kill). I cut ours 1 back to the ground, and 
it now stands 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, green and beautiful. 
A. P. Gapen. 
As Mr. Stillman is sick with typhoid fever, he will be unable 
to write anything this timei. Mrs. Amos Stillman. 
Boston, Mass., August 26th, 1903. 
This “ Bulletin ” having come to my hands accidentally, I 
have a little story to add before I start it. on, its journey again. 
I was. recommending the much-talked-of “ Couch grass ” for a 
place where I thought nothing else 1 would do well, and was told 
the following: A North End Sunday-school teacher was 'hear¬ 
ing her class., and of a. small urchin she asked : “ Who made 
you 1 ” To. which she got the ready reply : “ Oh! come off, 
ain’t there trouble enough about, that at home.” 
The Secretary. 
This “ Bulletin ” has been before me for some time awaiting 
a parting word before going to the printer. 
It is to our friend, neighbour and fellow-member, Jackson 
Dawson and his family that I wish to. express the sympathy 
of this associationi in the recent death of Mrs. Dawson., followed 
a few weeks, later by that of his. son diaries. Mrs. Dawson 
had been more or less an invalid for several years, but. her 
sudden death came a.si a. shock to her many friends in. this 
community. Charles, or “ Charlie,” as he was popularly known, 
by most of our members., soon after’ 1 his mother’s death was 
taken sick with pneumonia,, but wa® convalescent when a. rei- 
lapse brought a fatal termination.. 
Mr. Dawson was about thirty-two years of age. Being 
brought up in the Arnold Arboretum, he had a, wonderful 
knowledge of hardy plants, treies and shrub®. He for several 
years had charge of the greenhouses of the Biisisey Institute, 
resigning to. take charge of the extensive planting which Mr. 
Pettigrew was just commencing in, the Boston Park System. 
After some two. years in the Boston. Parks, he was in, the 
Essex County, N.J., Parks, for several years, resigning his 
position to take, charge of thei business of the Eastern Nur¬ 
series, which had been established by hi® sister and himself. 
In his death horticulture ha® lost a true Mend who ever 
looked to the advancement of the beautiful. 
John W. Duncan. 
Secretary. 
Sweet Pea Culture. 
At a special meeting of the Dulwich Chrysanthemum Society 
Mr. Percy Waterer read a most interesting and instructive 
paper on “ Sweet Peas,” in which, after dealing with the history 
of the flower, he referred to the great variety of colour and 
many other good qualities possessed by the improved forms in¬ 
troduced since Mr. Eckford first began to take interest in them 
in 1879, and a few years later Mi'. Burpee. 
The lecturer dwelt on the necessity for a standard in form— 
for example, the hold, upright standard of Black Knight and 
the hooded standard and wings of Lady Grizel Hamilton. The 
double form was hardly desirable, but the Cupid and Bush 
varieties will no. doubt become popular. The importance of 
fonr flowers on a stem is over-estimated, as they are seldom 
evenly developed. 
Early planting is strongly advised, good root action being 
encouraged by cool weather, .and deep trenching is important. 
It is doubtful if change of soil is so important as generally con¬ 
sidered, but a change of seed is occasionally desirable. Natural 
manures are advised in preference to artificial, especially in a 
liquid state. 
After giving a list of desirable varieties, the lecturer sug¬ 
gested a selection of eighteen, consisting of Dorothy Eckford, 
Blanche Burpee, King Edward VII., Hon. Mrs. Kenyon, Prima 
Donna o>r Lovely, Coccinea,, Navy Blue, Lady Grizel Hamilton, 
Black Knight, Dorothy Tennant, Miss Willmott,Lord Rosebery, 
Prince of Wales, Triumph, Prince Edward of York, Lord 
Kenyon, Salopian, and America. The lecturer proceeded to 
Primula sinensis Brilliant King. (See p. 135.) 
advise planting seeds in pots first week in February, growing 
on and planting out after first week in April. 
The difficulty in. Sweet Pea® not always coming true is 
probably to be traced to incomplete fixing, as experiments 
showed that a variety often differed through difference of soil. 1 
It may also follow on the visit of a, speoies of bee, which is 
more common now than formerly. 
The Sweet Pea has advantages' and disadvantages in 
hybridising and crossing when compared with other plant®', as, 
for instance, the Chrysanthemum. When once a. variety has 
been fixed, it is practically inexhaustible; but, of course, it 
cannot be produced by bud propagation. 
The lecturer carefully explained the difficult points in culti¬ 
vation, and incited his hearers to endeavour at any rate by 
selection to improve the existing varieties as far as possible. 
Many difficulties which had presented themselves to mem¬ 
bers were satisfactorily smoothed away, and a, vote of thanks 
to Mr. Waterer and to the chairman (Mr. Humphreys), who was 
evidently an enthusiastic Sweet, Pea grower, closed the pro¬ 
ceedings. 
Readers’ Competition.— Particulars of Weekly Prize see 
centre page. 
