350 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 29, 1905. 
The Enemies of the Sweet Pea. 
(Concluded from 'page 327.) 
During the flowering period, with one exception, there are 
no enemies which are to be feared. It is true that cateipillars 
are sometimes found on the plants. 55 hen they are seen they 
should be picked off, but I ha.ve never known them to come in 
sufficient numbers to do any appreciable damage. Green-flies 
also sometimes take possession of a growing shoot. these 
should be rubbed off gently with the-hand, ana the shoot should 
then be syringed with some reliable insecticide. After this, 
operation has been performed, the plants should be sprayed 
with clear water to> cleanse them. Like the caterpillars, the 
green-flies are little to be feared, for they do not seem to attack 
vigorous shoots, but seem to prefer those which are sickly. 
The exception to which I have referred is a really dangerous 
foe. Indeed, if it made Its attacks more frequently we should 
even have to reverse our dictum that the -Sweet Pea is easy to 
grow. I refer to the Pea spot disease. This is in reality a 
parasitic fungus, known to pathologists, I believe, as Asccchyta 
Pisi. It generally shows its presence when the Sweet Peas are 
in the height of their glory.. Pale spots appear on the blossoms, 
foliage, and stems. These blemishes increase in number and 
in size until, the .plant is .ruined. Sometimes the disease takes 
a.slightly different form, and instead of spots,.streaks appear ; 
but whatever the symptoms, the result is the same'—the speedy 
collapse of the plants affected. Both the spotty and streaky 
diseases are highly contagious, and wo© betide the gardener 
whose plants are attacked. Some growers, perhaps, have never 
seen the disease. They are more fortunate than the writer has 
been, for last.year his plants were severe sufferers. The first, 
plant to be attacked was one of Black Knight, situated in the 
centre of a row. The first sign was a. slight streakiness in one 
of the blossoms. This increased until the flowers lost the 
beautiful metallic lustre which is characteristic of this variety. 
At the same time the foliage was attacked, the leaves turning 
nearly brown. The blossoms decreased in size, and the .grow¬ 
ing shoots lost their vigour. Indeed, the whole plant totally 
collapsed. Meanwhile, the disease spread rapidly. First one 
stem of a plant was attacked, and then another branch was 
seized. Then it was the turn : of the next, plant, until at last 
that which originally resembled Paradise became fnore like an 
abode.of leprosy. 
The effect on different varieties was interesting. King 
Edward YII. lost its brilliancy and became a dull, deep car¬ 
mine. Lady Grizel Hamilton was no longer shining, but was 
a dirty light blue. The wings of Jeannie Gordon became, in¬ 
stead of cream, an ugly pink. Dorothy Eckford lost its purity 
and became a dirty light, cream. In fact, all varieties first 
lost their colours and then died. It is with deep regret that 
one owns that as yet no cure for this' disease has been dis¬ 
covered. Probably sulphide of potassium renders plants 
immune from its attacks, but this ha® hardly been proved. 
Some growers spray every fortnight with this solution, using 
1 o-z. of potassium to 3 gallons of water. If a plant, is seen to 
be affected, it. should be destroyed, and if situated near many 
other plants, all those within 6 ft. should share the same fate. 
Do not let the dead plants remain on the-ground, but bum 
them as soon as possible. Although the disease does not., as 
a rule, appear until the plants are several months old, it is yet 
possible that germs are carried on seeds. To. guard against 
this possibility, the gardener should procure his seeds from a 
reliable source. There is little more to' be said which would 
be of aid in fighting this enemy. Probably my readers will 
some of them suffer from its attacks. If so, they will have a 
fine field for research. It is with the hope that they will con¬ 
tribute to the knowledge of this subject that I leave them. 
The editor will certainly welcome any hints which their expe¬ 
riences may enable them to' give, and the Sweet Pea. world 
will o-ladlv honour them if they discover a. cure' for this in- 
sidious foe. 
The red spider does not often appear on Sweet Pea. plants, 
but when it does come it causes considerable trouble, and if 
not attended to, may completely destroy the plants. Steps 
should be taken directly it is seen, for it quickly spreads, and 
it is much easier to' deal with before it has obtained a hold. 
Like the green-fly it seems to attack the weaker plants. It 
seems also. to. be most energetic during dry and hot weather. 
If the plants are syringed during such weather, the red spider 
is unlikely to appear. If it does appear, however, it should be 
treated as the green-fly is treated. It- can be destroyed by 
almost any of the reliable insecticides, but perhaps the best 
method of all, if care is taken, is to. spray with Fir-tree oil. If 
one spraying does not complete its destruction, the process 
should be repeated. After using the oil it is beet to cleanse 
the plant® by syringing with clean water, 
G. F. Dratson. 
Pot Annuals. 
(Concluded from page 330.) 
Mignonette is favoured both in the outside and inside 
O ... . 
garden. It acts in a peculiar fashion, growing without any 
great care in some gardens, and the reverse in other places. 
For pot work, a good strain is essential and cool treatment. 
The roots will not. allow disturbance. Sew a few seeds in 
small pots and repot intact. Compost: Loam, soot and sand. 
Pot firmly. I annex a list adapted for indoor gaiety, without 
divulging their individual culture. Sow in March and April 
in a warm house, exercise judgment to harden off, and aim to 
secure sturdy growth. Pot annuals : Martynia fragrans, sweet 
scented ; Kochia scoparia or Summer Cypress, Grammanthe.s. 
Impatiens, Balsams, Browallia Hoezlii, and Datura chlorantlia 
fl. p.l. 
The Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica) is a very tender green¬ 
house annual ; the correct- sensitive plant, however, is Mimosa 
sensitiva. What plant is more symbolical of its name? The 
graceful fronds close at the least touch. It is a plant not cul¬ 
tivated generally in private gardens. The general public 
would readily purchase these interesting subjects if it were 
possible to produce good plants. The novice may have a very 
limited list of plants to Ills knowledge, but the sensitive plant 
is one concerning which inquiries are made of the gardener, if 
this wonderful phenomenon is to be viewed. Some of the 
Acacias resemble the Mimosa, both in leaf and the minute ball¬ 
shaped flowers 1 . So if the Acacia is- of easy access indoors, it 
is keenly scrutinised and experimented on by our friends, but 
it fails to be sensitive. Acacias and Mimosa are both of the 
same order—leguminosae. 
The rarity with which M. pudica is observed may be owing 
to the difficulty-of cultivating it. or its little worth in private 
gardens. I have never found it to be easily grown. The. most 
effective way is to sow a. few seeds in small pots and single out 
to one plant; repot without reducing the ball of soil. A stove 
heat- all summer is necessary to obtain root-bound plants. My 
opinion of it is that a stove heat is more allied to its habitat 
than a greenhouse annual. 
How can it be said that annuals are worthless? Dispel them 
from the garden, and their vacancy would soon be realised. 
The endless improvements we witness in our catalogues. Schi- 
zanthus wisetonensis, a recent, attraction, is now being dis¬ 
placed by Nicotiana Sanderae, illustrated in catalogues and 
gardening papers to- no small extent. It. is worthy of all 
praise. It will be premature to suggest any new “ bacca,” 
cigar, or cigarette from our neav Tobacco plant. New Orchids 
and choice indoor plants, or even a new Grape, only reach the 
commodious or wealthy garden ; but annuals are cultivated by 
all classes. A. 5 r . 51. 
Wishaw. 
Daffodils from Sfaldixg.— For some time past the consign¬ 
ments of flowers from Spalding in Lincolnshire have been con¬ 
spicuous for their yellow colour, due to the prevalent shade 
amongst the Daffodils. 5Vhite flowers are, however, now be¬ 
ginning to take their place, and in the course of a week or two 
the white will be the prevalent form. These flowers consist 
of varieties of Narcissus poeticus, of which N.p. recurvus is 
usually remarkably plentiful in May, for which reason the 
variety has also been named N.p. majalis. 
