THE GARDENING WORLD . April 24, 1909. 
which are better relieved of these suckers, 
whether it is intended to retain the latter 
or not. Fig. A in the accompanying 
sketches shows a sucker thus removed 
from an old plant, and if inserted in a 
suitable sized pot and given a larger one 
when it fills that, it should be fit for 
flowering next winter, that is, if the sucker 
was of the size represented. Those who 
withhold water from the plants after they 
finish flowering do so with the object of 
getting rid of old leaves, which soon die 
down. The soil is then shaken away from 
the tubers, w'hich are similar to those re¬ 
presented at B, and they are potted up 
singly in 6 in. pots, which is a suitable 
size for one flowering tuber. A tuber of 
R. elliotiana is shown at D, which, of 
course, may be treated in the same way as 
the common Arum Lily. 
The diagram at E shows a compost in 
which either of these Arum Lilies may be 
grown advantageously. It consists of 
three parts of good fibrous loam, one of 
leaf mould, one of well decayed cow 
manure and half a part of sand. If the 
tubers are relatively large, even for a 
6 in. pot, a very rich compost may be 
used consisting of good fibrous loam and 
nearly as much cow manure, well rotted 
and rubbed through a half inch sieve. 
Sufficient sand should be given to keep 
the soil porous. A considerable quantity 
Sweet Peas. 
Work for April, 
The Best Sweet Pea. 
A contemporary gardening journal re¬ 
cently asked fifty-six trade experts and 
amateur enthusiasts which Sweet Pea they 
would choose if they were restricted to 
growing one variety only. In reply, Mrs. 
Hardcastle Sykes was named by fourteen, 
Countess Spencer by ten, Evelyn Hemus 
by seven, Constance Oliver by six, Mrs. 
Henry Bell by three, and Elsie Herbert, 
Dorothy Eckford, and Etta Dyke were 
each named by two persons. No other 
variety received more than one vote. 
Of course, much, must depend upon in¬ 
dividual taste, and either of the first four 
or five varieties might have stood first 
without occasioning any surprise, for they 
are almost equally worthy of the honour. 
It will be noticed that almost all the 
voters chose a pink or partially pink 
variety, and that all the varieties, except 
perhaps Elsie Herbert, were obtainable 
last year in fixed strains. I fancy that if 
we had fixed strains of Audrey Crier and 
Olive Ruffill they would make bold bids 
for popularity. 
May Still be Sown. 
Sweet Peas can still be sown with fair 
prospects of success, although results are 
hardly likely to be quite equal to those 
from earlier plants. 
Plants raised under glass should now be 
planted out as soon as possible. Frosts 
certainly may come, but if the plants have 
been well hardened off they will receive 
little harm. Those who are doubtful of 
the ability of their plants to stand the 
cold may cover the plants with newspaper 
at night, or adopt some such device. 
of water may be given the plants during 
the summer months after they commence 
growing, even in this rich compost, but 
the operator should wait until the compost 
is well filled with roots before giving a 
full-supply of water. 
There is another very good method of 
growing Richardias which may be adopted 
by those who have not very much house- 
room to spare foi them during the sum¬ 
mer months. The plan is to dig trenches 
in good soil in an open part of the gar¬ 
den, to dig some manure into the bottom 
of these trenches, and to plant out the 
Richardias 1 ft. apart along the bottom 
of the trenches. 
As soon as they commence growing 
liberal supplies of water should be given 
them, especially in hot weather, and the 
plants will make excellent progress. 
About the middle of September, and be¬ 
fore there is any danger of frost, the 
plants should be lifted and potted up 
singly in pots which will conveniently con¬ 
tain them. If larger plants are desired 
three may be got into larger pots. A 
little soil will of course be lifted along 
with the plants and the amount of 
roots will also require some accommo¬ 
dation. Rich soil may be used on this 
occasion, as very little of it will be 
wanted unless the pots- are of unusual size. 
Keep the Hoe Going-. 
Of much more importance is the use 
of the hoe. The soil round the plants 
should constantly be stirred and should 
not be allowed to become caked. If the 
soil is kept loose, evaporation will be 
checked and artificial watering will, ex¬ 
cept in exceptional weather, be quite un¬ 
necessary for some few weeks yet. 
Feeding Sweet Peas. 
The old question of feeding or manur¬ 
ing the plants is constantly coming up, 
and 'as a result of the popularity of the 
Sweet Pea, many artificial manures speci¬ 
ally prepared for the growth of that flower 
are now being offered. Doubtless seve¬ 
ral, if not all, of these are very useful 
if used according to instructions, but do 
not be deceived into thinking that double 
doses mean superior results. Where an 
excess of manure is used} the plants are 
often much worse off than if they had 
never been manured at all, and sometimes 
are so badly damaged as never to com¬ 
pletely recover. 
At present it is too early to commence 
feeding, and it will be a wise policy to 
withhold all manure until another seven 
or eight weeks have passed. 
Staking. 
In many gardens- the Peas will now 
require staking, and it is wise to complete 
this operation early, for not only do the 
sticks shield the young plants, but when 
the Peas are staked late there is a danger 
of the roots being injured. Be careful to 
provide plenty of small twiggy branches 
near the ground, for in the young stages 
there is often -great difficulty in getting 
the tendrils to cling, and if the onlv 
branches within reach are thick, this diffi¬ 
culty is increased. Some good gardeners 
even go to the trouble of tying each plant 
separately to its stick, but where many 
are grown this will be found rather ex¬ 
pensive of time. 
Wire Netting and other Supports. 
Wire netting as a support for Sweet 
Peas is becoming increasingly popular. 
The initial outlay is certainly greater 
than for the ordinary sticks, but the net¬ 
ting will last for years. Several of our 
noted exhibitors now use this material, 
while, on the other hand, it is used where 
Sweet Peas are grown commercially. 
Where the netting is used, small twigs 
should be used for the first six inches from 
the ground, and a wide mesh will then 
be suitable. The supports should be firm 
and strong, and the wire netting should 
be drawn as tightly as possible. Tanned 
netting (used for fish nets) can be used 
as an alternative. 
Eckford’s and other firms now offer 
special wire supports for Sweet Peas, and 
these should prove both useful and effec¬ 
tive where the gardener can afford to pay 
for them. 
Probably an ingenious man will be able 
to manufacture some such supports for 
himself. 
G. F. Drayson. 
-4~M- 
The Sacred Lily. 
This is really a species of Polyanthus 
Narcissus, and is sometimes called the 
Good Luck Lily of China and Japan, from 
which countries it is imported. Other 
names are sometimes given it, such as 
Jos Flower, Flower of the Gods, or Water 
Fairy Flower. It is a very charming white 
flower and most fragrant. It should be 
grown in bowls filled with small pebbles 
and water. Place several bulbs in each 
bowl and put in the greenhouse or win¬ 
dow, but protection must be afforded from 
frost. Its growth is very rapid, and it can 
soon be forced into bloom. Several flower 
spikes are produced from each bulb, and 
to those who require a novelty this can be 
recommended, as it is of such easy cul¬ 
ture. Bulbs can be obtained from any 
seedsman, and the bowls for growing them 
in, or they can be grown in pans which 
have been made to hold water. 
A. R. G. 
-- 
Cypripedium delbekeanum. 
La Tribune Horticole gives a full page 
photograph of the above new Cypriped¬ 
ium and says it is perhaps the largest 
flower that has been produced in a genus 
so fertile in marvellous hybrids. What 
chiefly makes it interesting is its extra¬ 
ordinary dimensions, united with a perfect 
form, the most elegant and glistening 
tones with the most seducing effect. All 
the segments are of a creamy white, 
marked with numerous dark purple and 
very lively red spots. This acquisition of 
the first order has been obtained by cross¬ 
ing C. mastersianum and C. Gertrude 
Hollington, which is itself a hybrid be¬ 
tween C. bellatrdum and C. ciliolare. 
The variety presented at the meeting of 
Brussels, on 20th March, by M. Firmin 
Lambeau is unique. It is the first time 
it has figured at an exhibition and its 
possessor would not part with this jewel 
for 5,000 francs (^208 6s. 8d.). We may 
add that this marvellous hybrid obtained 
a diploma of honour and that it is dedi¬ 
cated to M. Delbecke, Minister of Public 
Works. 
