6difomal. 
5k Swatf, ?aa jtotiual. 
The above book is the official organ of 
the National Sweet Pea Society, and runs 
to 80 pp., including a list of subscribers 
to the Society. With the literature 
already published by the society one 
would think that almost the last word had 
been said about Sweet Peas that was worth 
writing. That is by no means the case, 
judging by the 1907 issue of the society’s 
“Annual.” It contains, as usual, chapters 
by various people relating to Sweet Peas 
in different parts of the world. Mr. C. 
Harman Payne opens with bibliography 
of the Sweet Pea, and mentions ten works 
that have been published within quite re¬ 
cent years, commencing with the little 
book of the Rev. W. T. Hutchins in 
1.894. Since the bicentenary celebration of 
the Sweet Pea the works have greatly in¬ 
creased, and practically each succeeding 
number serves to keep the history of the 
subject up-to-date. Very little mention has 
been made of the Sweet Pea in old books, 
although it has been cultivated in this 
country for 207 years. Phillips, in his 
“Flora Historica,” has a poem in which 
he includes some lines relating to Sweet 
Peas quoted from Keats. Mr. Payne also 
mentions an old chapbook of 1794 in 
which there is a poem in which reference 
is made to the “scented Pea.” 
A chapter on “Sweet Pea Tendrils” is 
given by Mr. William Cuthbertson, J.P., 
and another on “Sweet Peas in British 
Columbia,” by Mr. James A. Bland. Two 
illustrations in this chapter show Sweet 
Peas of magnificent growth. A man 
standing on a five-step ladder is not quite 
so tall then as the Peas, and it is evident 
if he wanted to gather flowers from the top 
he would require quite that height of 
ladder. “Success in the Black Country ” 
is another chapter by Conway Morgan. 
Table decorations are dealt with by 
NOTICES. 
To Readers and Correspondents. 
“THE GARDENING WORLD” is published by 
Maclaren and Sons, 37 and 38, Shoe Lane, London, E.O. 
Telegrams and Gables: ‘‘Buns," London. Telephone 
Number: 097 Holborn. 
“THE GARDENING WORLD” is published every 
Tuesday, and dated for the following Saturday. Price 
One Penny. Annual Subscription (prepaid), post free, 
69 . 6 d. United Kingdom ; 8 s. 8 d. Abroad. Cheques and 
remittances generally should be made payable to 
Maclaren and Sons, and crossed Londou City and Midland 
Bank. 
Advertisement Orders should be addressed to the Pub¬ 
lishers. The insertion of advertisements cannot be 
guaranteed for the following issue unless received by 
Saturday before date of publication. 
EDITORIAL.—Letters for publication, specimens for 
naming, requests for information, manuscripts and 
photographs must be addressed to the Editor. Corre¬ 
spondents should write on one side of the paper only, 
and give name and address as well as nom-de-plume. 
The Editor will not be responsible for loss of unaccepted 
manuscripts, photographs, etc., but if stamps be enclosed 
ordinary care will be exercised to ensure return. If 
payment for photographs or text is desired, the price for 
reproduction must be distinctly stated, and it must be 
understood that only the actual nhotographer or owner 
of the copyright will be dealt with. All contributions 
of any kind in the Prize Competitions become the 
property of the Proprietors of "THE GARDENING 
WORLD.” The Editor's decision in Prize Competitions is 
final. 
SPECIMEN COPIES.—The Publishers will be pleased 
to send specimen copies of “THE G 1 RDENfNG WORLD 
for distribution amongst friends, and will appreciate the 
services rendered by readers in this connection. 
GARDENING WORLD. 
Lily of the Valley, 
Dorothy M. Oliver, while “Sweet Peas in 
Algiers ” are taken in hand by the Rev. 
Eclwyn Arkwright. “ Hibernia ’ deals 
with the Irish Sweet Pea Show in the form 
of poetry. The examinations of the Sweet 
Pea trials are also dealt with and illus¬ 
trated by photographic views, while the 
Sweet Pea trials at Reading are dealt with 
by Mr. Charles Foster, of the Horticul¬ 
tural Department, Reading College. 
Several other chapters furnish a variety 
of information, and there is a chapter of 
opinions from all quarters relative to the 
Sweet Pea. 
- +++ -- < 
A Giant Sunflower. — Everything big 
and record-breaking seems to come from 
America. In the State of Maine last 
season there was raised in Millinocker a 
common Sunflower, the flower-head of 
which measured 56 inches in circumfer¬ 
ence. 
Bean Pod Cankf.r. — In some fields and 
gardens the pods of Scarlet Runners and 
French Beans are liable to suffer from the 
attacks of fungus, the result of which is 
what is named canker. In Leaflet No. 1S5 
the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries 
advise the Bordeaux mixture of half its 
usual strength as a preventive measure. 
This should be used on the plants until 
young pods are set, after which sulphide 
of potassium at the rate of ioz. in 4 gallons 
of water should be used. This practice 
should be discontinued when the pods are 
about half grown. 
THE . . . 
liily of the Valley. 
Home grown Lily of the Valley will be 
much more easy to force into growth 
now than it was before Christmas. In¬ 
deed, since the refrigerator came into use 
for this particular work, crowns or' pips 
of the previous winter which had been re¬ 
tarded are employed solely for furnishing 
the required supply of Lily of the Valley 
up to the New Year. 
After this growers can reckon upon 
forcing the crowns that were developed 
last summer. If these were dug in the 
autumn, the large flowering crowns picked 
out and potted firmly and rather thickly, 
the pots could then have been plunged in 
a bed of cocoanut fibre out of doors, not 
for the purpose of starting the crowns into 
growth, but for the purpose of exposing 
them to frost. The action of the latter 
upon the crowns or pips seems to have 
the effect of maturing them by bringing 
about a complete cessation of growth. 
Pips that have been subjected to frost in 
this way are more easy to start into 
growth than those which have not been 
frozen. 
Those who'" require a supply of Lilies 
of the Valley should thus make prepara¬ 
tion six weeks or so in advance of the 
time they intend to put them in heat. 
January 26, 1907. 
THE 
