March 13, 1909 - THE GARDENING 
WORLD . 
Sweet Pea ]V[fs. Charles JVIastets 
otting is completed. Press the soil 
ither firmly and then water it down with 
rosed watering pot. After this opera- 
on no more water should be given until 
le soil shows that it is really getting 
ry. When the plant is in full growth 
nd the weather warm a good amount of 
ater may be given. During autumn 
nd winter less water will be required, 
ut the soil should be kept just damp, 
therwise the foliage will suffer irrepar- 
ble harm if the roots are allowed to get 
ry for any length of time. 
The New Zealand Flax (Phormium 
enax) is a splendid subject for the sea- 
hore, being among the most wind-resist- 
ng of foliage plants. It has been proved 
iardy as far north as Scotland. 
iledlars Popular Again. 
Medlars seem to have regained the 
>opularity they lost for more than a cen- 
urv. The Romans, who probably intro- 
luced the Medlar tree into South Bri- 
ain, ate the austere fruit unmellowed by 
lecay; but they also appreciated the fla- 
our of Sloes, as we know from the stones 
ound in their baths at Silchester. Apart 
: rom the fruit, which some Frenchman 
las neatly named “un fruit de fantasie,” 
he Medlar is remarkable for the fantastic 
appearance of its tortuous branches, its 
handsome foliage, and beautiful white 
blossoms. 
-- 
The accompanying illustration of Mrs. 
Charles Masters we think indicates good 
cultivation rather than that the five 
flowers on a stem are in any way fixed. 
That is, from a batch of seedlings none 
of them may show this peculiarity in the 
following season. At the same time we 
think these five flowers crowded together 
at the end of the stem show up well in 
the matter of size by comparison with a 
stem which bears only three flowers. All 
of them are considerably reduced below 
the natural size, but the size of the five 
flowers may be determined by comparison 
with those on the three-flowered stem. 
It is not a wavy petalled variety, as the 
standards are rounded and of the usual 
form, being naturally flat and erect, with 
the exception of the natural fold in the 
middle of the standard. This part of the 
flower is of a bright salmon-rose. The 
wings are cream-coloured and suffused 
with the faintest rose. It would, there¬ 
fore, be regarded as a bicolor, we pre- 
sume, although not so pronounced in that 
respect as many others. Still it is a 
handsome flower, and well worthy of a 
place in a collection. We consider bi¬ 
colors very superior to striped and flaked 
flowers when colour effect is the con¬ 
sideration. Although there are two 
colours in the flower, they are not mixed 
but confined to different parts of the 
flower. This is another new. variety of 
the grandiflora type, which has been 
raised and selected for its good points by 
Mr. Henry Eckford, Wem, Shropshire, 
and now being put into commerce for the 
first time. 
-- 
Nettle sprouts have recently been on 
sale in London. They are tender and 
palatable. 
A Generous Donor. 
At the annual meeting of the South 
Shields Floral and Horticultural Society 
a deficit was reported on the year’s work¬ 
ing of -£34 4s. 6d. A cheque, to cover 
this adverse balance, was sent by the 
president of the Society, Mr. James 
Kirkley, who was re-elected president. 
- The Culture of - 
Gladiolus Brenchleyensis. 
♦ 
The brilliant scarlet flowers of Gladio- 
us Brenchleyensis are in great request 
:or house decoration in the early autumn. 
They are so beautiful, and withal so easy 
}f culture, that they should be grown by 
all, be their garden ever so small. 
In winter trench or deeply dig the 
ground, forking in a quantity of half- 
iecayed manure as the work proceeds. 
The manure should be about one foot be¬ 
low the surface. Do not rake the surface 
level, but leave it rough, so that frost may 
pulverise and sweeten it. 
Early in March choose a dry day, w T hen 
the soil is in a friable condition, in which 
to plant. First go over the ground with 
the hoe, breaking up the clods, and mak¬ 
ing the surface level. This done, the 
:orms may be planted at once. Plant 
about 4 ins. deep and 1 ft. apart, in 
| clumps of three or six together. If the 
soil is heavy it will be advisable to sur¬ 
round each corm with sand. 
When the leaves appear hoeing will be 
necessary to keep down weeds and to aerate 
the soil. As the flower spikes show, a 
stout stake should be fixed to each one. 
A dressing of sulphate of ammonia, about 
2 oz. to a clump of three plants, will en¬ 
sure a brilliant colour in the flowers. If 
the soil is at all dry, a good watering 
should be given before applying the am¬ 
monia. A glorious display of flowers ex¬ 
tending over -several weeks will be the 
result of this treatment. 
At the end of October the plants should 
be lifted with their leaves intact to re¬ 
main over the winter. 
Northumbrian. 
Sweet Pea Mrs. Charles Masters. \ALaclaren and Sons^ 
