700 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 3, i.904. 
On the Editor’s Table. 
Sweet Peas from Wem. 
It is now late in the season for Sweet Peas, in the south of 
England at least, but, a splendid collection; of out flowers 
reached us from Mr. Henry Eckford, Wem, Salop, on 23rd ult. 
It includes some of the finest of his recent acquisitions, and a, 
few of the newer ones raised by others. While digging into the 
box, one of the first to attract our attention was Scarlet Gem, 
noted for the brilliant hue of its flowers,, and which are cer¬ 
tainly a® near scarlet as any that ha.ve yet been, raised. The 
brilliant crimson King Edward VII. was also in, splendid form, 
with flowers, if anything, a, trifle larger than: those of Scarlet 
Gem. Salopian still remains one of the most popular crimson, 
varieties we have, and the flowers were remarkably fresh. 
Coecinea wa,s first named on the assumption that the flowers 
were scarlet, but, they are more properly described a® cerise, 
and certainly unique of their kind. Gorgeous is one of the 
finest amongst the orange shades,, but the new Henry Eckford 
is certainly finer. Miss Willmott is: several shades: paler, but, 
the flowers certainly are of' magnificent size. Lord Rosebery 
is another grand form with rich rose flowers. Prince of Wales 
is also: a popular variety allied to the last, but of decidedly 
a different shade. 
The richest and most handsome of the blue varieties was 
Countess, Cadogan. Navy Blue is generally placed on the top 
of the list for a, blue variety, but, there are difference® of 
opinion owing to, the brighter hue of the wings: of Countess 
Cadogan when, in good form. The lightest of the varieties 
sent, us, and in our opinion the, finest, of the lavender shades 
was Lady Grizel Hamilton, which is: usually very constant to 
colour and possesses a, wonderfully broad standard scarcely 
at all notched. 
Quite of another type was the rich bronzy-maroon Black 
Knight, which was in remarkably fine form with gloissy and 
metallic-looking standards. We pass several shades, before 
coming to the Duke of Westminster, which has a, very dark 
purple standard and much paler wings: and all in good form. 
The new Mrs:. Walter Wright has, something to, recommend it 
in the, soft mauve-purple standard, and the still paler lavender- 
purple wings. It is a, new variety which has, quickly risen in 
popularity amongst cultivators', and very frequent on ex¬ 
hibition tables. 
In, our estimation 1 , Prima Donna still remains a, very choice 
and delicate variety amongst the pinks, and will long be 
received with favour. 
Two, very cliarming bioolor® were sent us in the collection:, 
including the well-known Triumph, with large flowers- of a 
rich orange-cerise on the standard, and much paler, almost 
blush-coloured, wings. Altogether different was- Jeannie 
Gordon, with a much paler standard, netted with rose and 
shaded with orange in the earlier stages. The wings, may be 
described as, a, creamy-buff, more or less tinted with blush, 
especially on the edges. The large rounded standard is almost 
without, a notch. It is: very popular on exhibition stands. 
More handsome is the new variety Janet Scott, with soft 
rosy-pink standards, tinted with salmon in the half-open state. 
Countess Spencer had flowers of handsome size, but, somewhat 
paler than earlier in the' season,. The wavy standard is several 
shades, darker than, the delicate pink wings. Lovely still re¬ 
mains a, veiy handsome variety with a rounded standard, but 
is several shades paler than: Countess: Spencer. The flowers 
of Mrs. Knight Smith were practically as large as- those of 
Countess Spencer, and notable for the beautiful pink hue of 
the back of the standard and the paler face of the same, which 
is almost uniform in! hue with the wings. 
Dainty might very well stand at the top of the list of the 
Picotee edge varieties, as the- creamy-white flowers are tinted 
with rosy-pink on the back of the, standard, and usually dei- 
cidedly marked all round the edge with this hue. The wings 
are paler, and the edges likewise. Lottie Eckford was the o-nly 
blue-edged variety sent us, and was veiy dainty in form. 
Amongst striped varieties sent us, America stood out as the 
most distinct, on account of the rich crimson scarlet on the 
back of the standard, and the rich markings generally. The 
palest of the striped varieties was Aurora, and the nose mark¬ 
ings on a white ground were both distinct and pleasing. 
Altogether different was Jessie Cuthbertson, a beautiful striped 
variety flaked with red and purple on a creamy ground, having 
a more or less decided yellow tint while still in the bud state. 
It pretty frequently appears in stands of striped Sweet Peas. 
Several lovely fancy varieties were sent us, including Agnes 
Johnston, having -a salmon-pink, standard and cream wings 
more or less tinted with salmon,, especially during the earlier 
stages of the flowers. It is- a new variety, and ha® rapidly 
come to the front. The same might be said of Grade Green¬ 
wood, which has generally paler flowers, less decidedly tinted 
with salmon as, a rule, and displaying differences between the 
standard and the 1 wings, but judging from the flowers sent us 
the standard is sometimes decidedly of a deeper shade. Another 
lovely new variety was- M. of Cholmondeley, having a very 
large istandard without a notch, and consisting of a, subtle 
blend of salmon and apricot. The wings are also of a soft 
apricot, and the white flower isi lighter in colour than the 
previous two. The rosy-salmon blotch characteristic of Lottie 
Hutchins was- greatly faded with the end of the season, leaving 
the flowers, almost fit to place amongst the yellow and buff 
shades. 
The yellow varieties, were well represented in Sue Earl, a 
new variety having large flowers, well rounded standards, and 
of a, pale creamy-apricot or yellow hue tinted with a subtle 
shade of lavender on, the back of the standard. Another yellow 
that pleased us was Golden Rose, having a flush of rose on 
the back of the large rounded standard. The Hon. Mrs. E. 
Kenyon, is: one of the: most popular of the yellow varieties on 
account of the large size of its flowers, well rounded standard, 
the persistency of the colour, and the long stalks to the flower. 
It is very popular for exhibition purposes. 
Amongst the white varieties, Dorothy Eckford now easily 
takes the first place by reason of the large size and pure, white 
colour of the flowers: when: fully expanded. Like the rest of 
it® kind, however, it, has buds that are distinctly tinted with 
yellow, this shade completely disappearing as the flower be¬ 
comes fully expanded. Next in point of merit- amongst white 
varieties sent was S-a-die Burpee, whose flowers were pure white 
in the expanded stage, but distinctly smaller than those of 
Dorothy Eckford. Blanche Burpee is, still a white variety to- 
be reckoned upon on account of the less'hooded character of 
the standard and the almost, complete absence of a notch. The 
three whites are certainly veiy fine of their class by reason of 
the advanced and refined character of their flowers. 
The flowers were delightfully fragrant when taken from the 
b-o-x, and considering the advanced period of the year we were 
quite surprised to find flowers with such long stalks. A large 
proportion of them measured 12 in', or 14 in. in length. 
Alstroemeria revoluta. 
Although the above has been known to botanists for many 
years, it does not seem to have been introduced to this, country 
until recently in the live state. About the beginning of July 
it flowered in a border at Kew, where it had been received from 
Chili in, 1902. The stems grow from 12 in,, to, 16 in. in, 
height,, and terminate in a loose panicle of flowers, branching in 
tern,ate- fashion—that is, each stem divides into three. These 
stems are furnished with lanceolate, twisted and wavy leaves. 
The flowers are bright orange, with purple tips to the segments, 
and the two upper one® are beautifully lined or feathered with 
crimson. The general features of the plant are similar to those 
of A. pulchella, and A. haemiantha, though the flowers and their 
general appearance, when ,seeni in the live state, are distinct. 
The bulb® had been planted! at, the foot of a wall with an 
eastern aspect, and beyond this shelter they do not seem to 
have had any special attention. 
