August 8, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
5 2 3 
Sweet Peas at Westminster. 
ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF THE N.S.P.S. 
The eighth annual exhibition of the 
National Sweet Pea Society was held in 
he Royal Horticultural Hall, Vincent 
iquare, Westminster, on the 24th ult., 
nd was the finest we have yet seen. If 
iot the largest, it was certainly large 
:nough, as it filled the whole of the hall, 
deluding both annexes. The show was 
avoured by fine weather; indeed, it was 
ather too warm to be pleasant, the tem- 
jerature standing at 80 degs. in the shade. 
Nevertheless, the flowers stood splendidly 
hroughout the day except in a few cases 
;here flowers were, fixed up in very small 
.olders for decorative purposes and where 
he water had no doubt been mostly used 
.p. The size and the quality of the 
looms generally was splendid and in a 
•ood many of the classes were exhibits 
f splendid merit. Such an array of 
weet Peas would no doubt be monotonous 
0 those who are only partly infected with 
re true Sweet Pea enthusiasm. There 
r as, however, an attempt to relieve the 
lonotony of flatness by a grand arch of 
weet Peas just inside the entrance and 
nother circular trophy in the middle of 
re hall, which we consider decided im- 
rovements on former years, 
rade Excluded. 
Of all national societies, we get no 
reater number of amateur exhibitors, 
erhaps, than at the National Sweet Pea 
ociety’s shows. These amateurs really 
ring out the finest flowers. When we 
all them amateurs, we may advise 
raders that they may be, and frequently 
re, the wealthy classes with private estab- 
.shments and having gardeners. They 
re not traders, however, and that is the 
istinction. They grow their flowers for 
le love of them. 
In the special audit class for fifteen 
unches of Sweet Peas, distinct, the pre¬ 
fer honours were secured by Sir Ran- 
olf L. Baker, Bart, (gardener, Mr. A. 
1 • Usher), Ranston House, Blandford, 
>orset, who had a magnificent exhibit for 
.ze of bloom, colour, quality and long 
:alks. The varieties exhibited were 
rank Dolby, Jeannie Gordon, Navy 
lue, Dorothy Eckford and King Edward 
II.. in the back row; in the middle row 
e had Helen Lewis, Sybil Eckford, 
Ielen Pierce, Black Knight and Countess 
pencer, and in the front row he had Mrs. 
1 . Sykes, John Ingman, Mrs. W. Wright, 
merica, and Mrs. Collier. The colours 
f all these are pretty well known to most 
t our readers. The Sutton Silver Chal- 
mge Cup and Gold Medal of the society 
0 with the first prize in this class. The 
?cond prize was secured by Mr. T. Jones, 
uabon, the third was taken by Mr. T. 
teienson, gardener to E. Mocatta, Esq., 
itoburn Place, Addlestone. Mr. • T. 
ickers, gardener to W. H. Rawnsley, 
! S( K Alford , Lines., was fourth. Mrs. 
Iigwell, Harrow View, Greenford, 
lime m fifth. Seeing that the two cham- 
•ons of previous years, Mr. Jones and 
T Stevenson, were second and third. 
,, !s needless to say that the exhibits were 
t ° f if Ver ' r order of merit, 
n the class for twenty-four bunches of 
Sweet Peas, distinct, Mr. T. Vickers came 
to the front with a’very fine lot, including 
Mrs. Alfred Watkins, Horace Wright, 
Etta Dyke, Helen Lewis, Cream Spencer, 
Mrs. Walter Rawnsley, James Grieve, 
Emperor, Henry Eckford, Sutton's Mar¬ 
bled Blue, Evelyn Hemus, Lord Nelson, 
etc. The Silver Medal of the Society 
went with the first prize. This exhibitor 
was followed by Mr. John T. Tubb, Oak- 
bank, Seal, Sevenoaks, and Mrs. A. J. 
Norris, Longshaw, Chipstead (gardener, 
Mr. S. Horscroft), m this order. 
There was great competition in the 
Henry Eckford memorial class for twelve 
bunches of Sweet Peas, distinct, the pre¬ 
mier award being secured by F. Welles¬ 
ley, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. Hopkins), 
Westfield, Yv okmg, with a splendid ex¬ 
hibit. In former years we have known 
him as a champion Carnation grower in 
the amateur classes, but now that he has 
turned his attention to Sweet Peas, he is 
evidently equally successful. He had a 
splendid stand of John Ingman, Mrs. Col¬ 
lier, Prince of Asturias, Helen Lewis, 
Lord Nelson, Mrs. H. Sykes, Audrey 
Crier, Frank Dolby, King Edward VII., 
Helen Pierce, Nora Unwin and St. 
George. For size and colour his would 
have been difficult to beat. This may be 
understood when we say that he beat Mr. 
T. Jones and Sir Randolf L. Baker, Bart., 
who were second and third respectively. 
The Henry Eckford Memorial Challenge 
Cup, value fifty guineas, has to be won 
three times in direct succession before be¬ 
coming his absolute property. The Gold 
Medal of the society goes with the first 
prize. The Silver Medal of the Society 
goes with the second prize. 
The Horace Wright Challenge Bowl 
was offered for nine bunches of Sweet 
Peas suitable for garden decoration and 
confined to certain varieties. This was 
won by Mr. A. Basile, gardener to the 
Rev. T. McMurdie, Woburn Park, Addle- 
stone, whose Peas were notable for the 
length of their stems. 
Open to AM. - 
The classification class is a very im¬ 
portant one to the Society, and all inter¬ 
ested in the colours of Sweet Peas, as 
it is intended to illustrate colour distinc¬ 
tions in the society’s classification, and 
so bring into prominence the best types 
of the respective colours. This class was 
for eighteen varieties and the lead was 
taken by Sir Randolf L. Baker, Bart. 
The varieties he exhibited (commencing 
at the left hand of the back line) were 
Evelyn Hemus, Horace Wright, Jeannie 
Gordon, Romolo Piazani, Helen Lewis, 
Marbled Blue, Mrs. W. Wright, America, 
Lady Grisel Hamilton, John Ingman, 
Sybil Eckford, Countess Spencer, Mrs. 
H. Sykes, Dorothy Eckford, Black 
Knight, Helen Lewis, Queen Alexandra, 
and Dora Breadmore. The flowers were 
splendidly coloured, and served to show 7 
the range of colour amongst Sw r eet Peas. 
Of course there are numerous varieties 
in each colour, differing more or less in 
size, form or shade of colour. The above 
were the most representative lot on this 
Summer Warning 
Repeated. 
At this time of the year 
the stomach rebels 
against ordinary foods. 
There is nothing more refreshing 
after a long walk on a hot summer’s 
day than a cup of Dr. Tibbies’ Vi- 
Cocoa, which will be welcome alike to 
parents and children, as besides being 
most pleasant to take, it will speedily 
remove all trace of fatigue. Mothers 
with fractious children well know how 
a cup of this delicious food-beverage 
will speedily calm them. 
Tourists should never omit to put a 
tin of Vi- Cocoa in their bag. It is 
easily made, ready for any emergency, 
and ever welcome. Early and late, 
and in the heat of the noonday sun, it 
will prove equally acceptable, and can 
be taken rvhen the stomach may rebel 
against other foods. 
Vi-Cocoa, better than any other 
food-beverage, supplies 
in the highest degree 
the stamina necessary 
to enable one to cope 
with the heat of summer, 
when this becomes ex¬ 
cessive, and for this reason alone it is 
invaluable to members of the Territorial 
Army when undergoing their annual 
training. Sixpence spent on a packet 
of Vi-Cocoa will prove the best invest¬ 
ment you ever made. 
occasion. Other prizes in the order 
named went to Mr. Charles W. Bread- 
more, 120, Hight Street, Winchester; 
Messrs. Saltmarsh and Son, Chelmsford ; 
and Messrs. G. and A. Clark, The Nur¬ 
series, Dover. 
In a class for fourteen bunches contain¬ 
ing two bunches each of Mrs. Alfred Wat¬ 
kins, E. J. Castle, Nora Unwin, Evelyn 
Byatt, Gladys L T nwin, A. J. Cook, and 
Frank Dolby, the leading award was 
taken by Sir Randolf L. Baker, Bart., 
who made his mark at this show in a won¬ 
derful manner. He was followed by Mrs. 
A. Tigwell and Messrs. Jones and Sons, 
Shrewsbury. 
For twenty-four bunches, distinct, Mr. 
Charles W. Breadmore came to the front 
with a very fine lot, consisting largely of 
little-known varieties such as Lavender 
George Herbert, Tweedy Smith, Mrs. C. 
W. Breadmore. Navy’ Blue Spencer, 
M aved Kenyon. York Jubilee. King 
Alfonso, etc. 
Mr. Silas Cole, gardener to Earl 
Spencer, K.G., Althorpe Park, North¬ 
ampton. had the best twelve bunches of 
Sweet Peas, distinct. Most of his varie¬ 
ties seem to be of his own raising as 
they included Miss Delia Spencer, 
Gladys Cole, Earl Spencer (like a waved 
