AUTUMN SOWN 
Sweet *?eas. 
LETTER 
January 5, 1907. THE GARDENING WORLD , 
TO THE EDITOR. 
I am afraid that " Grower” is out of joint 
vith the times when he states that autumn 
;owing of Sweet Peas does not find favour 
vith him That it is finding favour 
vith the general public therte is no shadow 
tf doubt. At least three firms advertised 
5 weet Peas for autumn sowing in 1906, 
ind I hear that they did well. 
Moreover, while talking with a big Sweet 
i’ea trader in November last, he told mle 
hat so many and so insistent were the de- 
nands made upon him by old- customers 
or Sweet Peas to sow in autumn that he 
vas. reluctantly, forced to give way and 
; upply them. When I met him he had 
I'old well over 500 packets without issuing 
l single advertisement. Such a fact as 
his speaks more eloquently than miles of 
>pinion. 
I certainly do not consider autumn sow- 
ng to be preferable to January or Febru¬ 
ary sowing when one has a greenhouse, 
tut where there is no frame or green- 
touse, I unhesitatingly recommend 
lutumn sowing for early flower produc- 
ion, always provided that the soil is not 
>f a very heavy nature. Where “ Grower” 
nakes a mistake is in regarding Sweet 
■’eas solely from an exhibition point of 
•iew. The general public care but little 
bout exhibitions, and like to have thefr 
lowers when they want them. This be- 
ng so. they are perfectly justified in sow- 
ng m autumn for early flowers'and in 
tpril for successional blooms, a practice 
can recommend with the greatest con- 
dence. 
plant. It seems a mystery where it comes 
from. I firmly believe that radiation has 
ji great deal to do with it, combined with 
■drought, and vehement fire heat, and 
it quickly spreads unless thoroughly taken 
jin hand. To exterminate this terror in¬ 
crease the temperature and keep the house 
horoughly wet with the syringe for a few 
days. Another good plan is to fumigate 
pith tobacco paper, placing on the top of 
he paper about half an ounce of cayenne 
pepper, but be sure to get out of the house 
is soon as put on, else one might not 
-each the door. A dusting with flowers 
ff sulphur is a good cure for slight attacks. 
Lewes. E. If. HallETT. 
Storing Celery. 
To prevent Celery from rotting towards 
:he end of the. season, the following plan 
s very effectual:—Level the ground 
vhere a trench has befen cleared and along 
t place two boards on edge, parallel, and 
ibout 21 inches apart. Drive in a peg 
U each end of the boards on the outside 
:o keep them in position. Carefully lift 
he plants and stand them roots down- 
vards, on the surface of the ground, three 
ibfleast, between the boards, at about 6 
nches apart. Work in some sand or 
ight soil between the plants. Earth up 
it either side and then withdraw the 
ooards and so on, till the work is com¬ 
pleted, Protect from frost by means of 
dry litter. C. C. 
Surrey. 
-f+4- 
Dioon pectinatum (Order Cycadaceae) 
is sometimes mentioned under the name 
of D. spinulosum, but I have reason to 
believe they are. tw r o distinct species. In 
the Palm House at Kew there are dis¬ 
tinctly named three separate species, 
Dioon edule, D. spinulosum, and D. 
pectinatum, which may previously have 
been known as imbricatum, as mentioned 
large as horse chestnuts. The natives 
powder them down into a sort of arrow- 
root. 
The foliage of D. pectinatum is very 
handsome, owing to the very numerous 
pinnae, and their close and regular ar¬ 
rangement. The texture is also firm 
and leathery, with a sharp, spiny point to 
each pinna, so, that the leaves as a whole 
are well calculated to resist a dry atmos¬ 
Daphxe Mezereum. —In the southern 
counties the above shrub, commonly 
knowm as the Mezereon, is already- in 
flower, thus conforming to an open 
autumn and earlv winter. It is earlier 
than the variety D.M. rubrum, which has 
darker flowers. The white one is also 
somewhat later than the type, though it 
was in full bloom by this time last year. 
During summer . the leaves are by no 
means attractive, but in early spring the 
flowers are deliciously scented, and these 
are followed by berries that are red in 
the case of the rose coloured flowers, while 
the white flowers are followed by yellow 
berries. 
Dioon pectinatum. 
in Johnson's Gardener's Dictionary. 
These Dioons, and especially pectinatum, 
are worthy of a place in cultivation, where 
suitable space can be afforded them. One 
could hardly wish for a more graceful and 
handsome cycad than D. pectinatum. 
Dioons do not require more than ordinary 
treatment, and are all natives of Me'xico, 
where the natives make use of the fruit 
or seeds of D. edule, which are about as 
phere after the young ones become fairly 
well matured. A rather dry stove is the 
best place to grow this plant, but those 
having a warm conservatory of some size 
would find it an appropriate and easily 
grown plant. The evergreen foliage 
necessitates water at the roots throughout 
the year, but much less is required in 
winter than in summer, especially when 
the new set of leaves is being produced. 
Dioon pectinatum In the Palm House, 
Cultivator. 
