4 
THB GARDENING WORLD 
..January .2, 19a 
lens, which we may call lens system M, 
and the second negative with the supple¬ 
mentary lens in position, which we may 
briefly designate as lens system N. 
We first focus the object with the lens 
N, and ascertain the stop required to get 
the subject in the necessary degree of 
sharpness. Let us assume that on the 
lens tube this is marked f/32. We now 
mark along the edge of a calling card 
fine ink dots ^ inch apart, lay this on 
the ground glass and so measure the 
length or breadth of certain well-defined 
parts of the image. Say from the tips 
of the outermost parts at the right and 
left sides. 
Removing the supplementary lens we 
get the small scale image and again 
measure the selected features with the 
card scale. In this way we get the degree 
or ratio of magnification. By way of 
example let us suppose that lens N gives 
us a picture six times as long or six times 
as wide as lens M, that is to say, 36 times 
the area of the small picture. 
I may assume that the worker knows 
what exposure his subject would require 
with lens M and stop f/32. If he does 
this with the same stop and lens N he 
will require to give 36 times as long as 
with lens M. 
If the magnification be four times as 
long the exposures would be in the pro¬ 
portion of four times four (i.e., the square 
of magnification or relation area). This 
rule is not strictly accurate according to 
theory, but in practice it comes out all 
right. At the same time I always give a 
little extra than this rule indicates for the 
magnified image. 
For example, suppose that with lens 
M and f/32 the exposure was ten seconds, 
and that the magnification was 5 dia¬ 
meters, i.e., 25 times the area; then with 
lens N and f/32 the rule indicates 25 
times 10 seconds. But I should probably 
stretch this 250 seconds to 270 or perhaps 
300 if the colour of the object was at all 
dark. 
-- 
Brassocattleya Cliftonii. 
The sepals and petals of this hybrid 
are of soft blush-lilac. The lip is large, 
fringed and of a paler hue with a very 
large deep yellow blotch covering all the 
central area, with a small purple blotch 
close to the apex. These characteristics 
have been produced by C. Trianaei Up¬ 
lands Var.- and Be. digbyano-Mossiae. 
First-class Certificate by the R.H.S., 
when shown by Messrs. Charlesworth and 
Co., Haywards Heath. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident 
Society. 
The monthly committee meeting of this 
society was held at the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Hall, Vincent Square, Westminster, 
on Monday evening, December 14th, Mr. 
Chas. H. Curtis, in the chair. Four new 
members were elected, making a total 
of 75 for the year. The death of a mem¬ 
ber was reported, who joined the society 
four years ago. Only 7C3 had been paid 
by him to the Benefit Fund; he has re¬ 
ceived £^1 sick pay and the balance to 
pay to his nominee was £2 6s. rd. The' 
committee are doing their best to get two 
children of members who recently died on 
the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
Any votes sent to V . Collins, q. Martin- 
dale Road, Balham, would be thankfully 
received and properly dealt with. 
In most cases during this period there 
is a lull in the proceedings in the garden. 
The true enthusiast, however, will keep 
the programme for next year well in 
mind, and will consider in what manner he 
can improve on previous years. It is sea¬ 
sonable, then, to discuss the general plan 
of campaign to be followed, and to con¬ 
sider the main principles'governing the 
successful cultivation of the Sweet Pea. 
Soil and Position. 
In the first place, the position and soil 
should be the best that can be afforded, 
for the Sweet Pea deserves and pays for 
the choicest site in the garden. The 
deeper and the more fertile the soil, the 
better will be the results. The position 
chosen should be neither draughty nor ex¬ 
posed to high winds, but excellent flowers 
can be obtained from plants grown in 
partial shade, although it is a mistake to 
expect the best results under trees. 
Trenching- and Manuring. 
The ground should be trenched in the 
autumn, and horse or cow manure worked 
in, but the top soil should not be buried. 
The manure, although mixed with the 
soil, should not be kept too near the sur¬ 
face. When the ground is trenched, the 
work should be performed early, to allow 
the soil to settle down before it is planted 
with Sweet Peas. If delayed until after 
Christmas, the soil should be stamped 
down a little to make it firm-, but this 
can only be done when the soil is in good 
condition for working. Bone meal and 
superphosphate of lime, a handful to the 
yard, are great helps to the Sweet Pea, 
and a dressing of lime, newly slaked, is 
very useful on some soils. 
If the soil is treated as I have indicated, 
no more manure will be required until 
the plants are flowering, when weak liquid 
manure can be given. 
In her catalogue, Miss Hemus says that 
deep careful cultivation of the soil during 
the winter will give better results than 
an excessive use of manure. This is the 
whole matter in a nutshell, and should be 
remembered by all. 
Some growers will not be able to trench 
their ground. This may be a disad¬ 
vantage, but if the plants are well treated- 
in other respects, excellent results may 
still be obtained. 
Sowing in Pots or Boxes. 
Seeds of new and expensive varieties 
ate best sown in pots or boxes, but it is 
essential that they are not forced, but are 
given abundance of light and air. They 
should be planted out as soon after the 
end of March as the soil is in a fit condi¬ 
tion to receive them. 
The results from seeds sown straight 
into the positions where they are intended 
to flower are often nearly as good as 
those from plants raised in pots. Where 
experience shows-that autumn sowing can 
be successfully carried out, it is gener h 
the case that this method of cultur is 
the best. 
Sowing in the Open. ' 
Where the seeds are sown in the chi 
ground in the spring, the earlier they - e 
planted the better. In some' cases is 
may be done in the latter half of Fe' r 
ary, but March is the more gen fi 
month. Miss Hemus, who grows sev i] 
acres, says that she has, found it us-t ;s 
to sow seeds later than March. Th: i; 
hardly the universal experience, but i, 
certainly a general rule that the earl a 
sowings give the best results. 
The commonest fault among amatt s 
is to grow the plants too closely togetl -. 
Where they are grown well, each pi 4 
should have from six inches to a fix - 
some growers put them further apart ti n 
that. The row's should be six feet- ap :. 
The hoe should be used regularly v n 
the sun becomes powerful, and the 
face of the soil kept loose. A mulch f 
horse manure, grass mowings, or sc e 
such material should be given about M . 
Treatment for Exhibition. 
To get the best possible results for - 
hibition, it is a help to remove e 
laterals, allowing only about three she s 
to each plant. This restriction of gro i 
must not be carried to an excess, or e 
growth will not be well balanced, ;i 
although excellent- stems may be p - 
duced, the quality of the flowers will ; 
sure to suffer.. 
In the foregoing remarks I.have stai 
the general rules by which exhibit 1 
Sweet Peas are grown, and a good g- 
dener, following the instructions, will 3 
sure to succeed. Details are given fn 
time to time in this journal, but althoih 
they help, experience must aid in e 
making of every good gardener, and i s 
only bv learning the lessons of. mif 
failures and many successes.that real - 
cellence can be attained. Soil and - 
mate are variable, and it is only the go 
gardener, on the spot, who ran kiv 
exactly what is required, and when t 
should be given. 
The Best Novelties. 
Most grotvers like to grow the best rd 
most up-to-date varieties that they can >- 
tain, and although the prices of novel s 
may be high, it is not infrequently e 
case that money has to be returned by 0 
seedsman because the variety requirecs 
sold out. There are some growers, h<r- 
ever, who through lack of funds, r 
through distrust caused by previous - 
perience of unfixed or unworthy novelt-, 
do not care to grow varieties the first y r 
that they are introduced. For sucH 
will mention the best.of the novelties <j- 
tributed during last -winter. Owing tos 
fixity- and the novelty of its markih 
Evelyn Hemus should probably recede 
