THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 22, 1907. 
416 
Sweet Peas. 
WORK FOR JUNE. 
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Sdifopiol. 
“ Rock aud JUpuu 
The above is the title of a book which 
deals with plants suitable for the purpose 
indicated, and runs to 81 pp., including 
an index of English names of plants suit¬ 
able for rock gardening. After an intro¬ 
duction to the subject in general, the 
book goes on to deal with the choosing 
of a site for a rockery or rock garden. 
A chapter on selecting the material for 
the rockwork will be found useful for 
those who are casting about for material 
of which to construct a rockery. Hints 
are then given on the building of a 
rockery or rock garden, and in this the 
author is at home, for in his professional 
duties he has superintended the building 
of and planted many a high-class 
rockery. 
The author is Mr. Henry Hemsley, of 
Crawley, and is a foreman in that de¬ 
partment of Messrs. J. Cheal and Sons 
nursery, Crawley, Sussex. Choosing a 
site is also another important feature 
which should be well thought out before 
commencing, as it cannot afterwards be 
rectified without the entire removal of 
the rockery. Wall gardening is also 
dealt with,’ and the author gives advice 
on planting, with hints on watering. 
Various other desirable and necessary in¬ 
formation is furnished, after which suit¬ 
able plants for the rockery are briefly 
described, including the best for the pur¬ 
pose. 
The book is well illustrated with photo¬ 
graphic reproductions printed on separate 
sheets of paper, so that the pictures come 
out beautifully. At the end of the book 
a number of lists of • plants are given, 
suitable for the different soils, different 
aspects for shaded situations, also for 
bogg/ or marshy situations, and other 
purposes which the intending rock 
builder will find very serviceable. 
By the end of last month Sweet Peas 
that had been sown under glass had, in 
perhaps the majority of districts in the 
southern half of England, commenced to 
grow strongly; and during this month 
they may be expected to flower. Autumn 
sown plants were in flower at the end of 
May, and on June 3rd a gentleman at a 
committee meeting of the N.S.P.S. 
brought some blooms of Burpee’s Earliest 
White from the open ground, the seeds 
having been sown under glass during the 
second week of February. This variety 
lacks much as regards purity, size, and 
form, but it is very valuable on account 
of its precocity. 
Haulm and foliage are reported from 
most districts as being very strong this 
year, and the fear has been expressed that 
the growth has a tendency towards rank¬ 
ness. The weather has been so cold and 
wet recently that in many cases the com¬ 
mencement of flowering will be delayed 
until after the usual date. What is 
needed is a week’s warm sun. 
There were some very fine exhibits of 
Sweet Peas at the Temple Show, several 
growers showing flowers two inches across 
the standard. With the exception of a 
few from autumn sown stock, these were 
all raised under glass. The method of 
culture most generally adopted seems to 
be to plant the Sweet Peas straight into 
the soil in the greenhouse, and not to 
grow them in pots, although good results 
can be obtained from the latter method. 
An important cultural point is to allow 
plenty of fresh air. At this show several 
novelties made their first bow to the pub¬ 
lic, but it is rather early yet to estimate 
their value. Mention might be made, 
however, of Mr. Breadmore’s Achieve¬ 
ment, a dwarf growing plant about a foot 
high, with flowers very much like those 
of Countess Spencer. Unfortunately the 
stems were very short. I understand that 
Mr. Unwin has found plants of similar 
growth among some seedlings from Coun¬ 
tess Spencer, and it is possible that other 
growers may have to report a similar oc¬ 
currence. 
Varieties that were very much in evi¬ 
dence at the Temple Show were Helen 
Lewis, John Ingman, and the white form 
of Countess Spencer. The two men¬ 
tioned first will indubitably be in great 
vogue at all the shows this year, and those 
who have been careful to obtain true 
stocks of these varieties are to be highly 
congratulated, for although it is early in 
the season, I have already seen flowers 
that have not come true. A large num¬ 
ber of pink varieties of the Countess 
Spencer form were on view, and as it is 
certain that this year will see many more 
exhibited as distinct varieties, but vary¬ 
ing only very slightly, if at all, the gar¬ 
dening public should be pleased that the 
N.S.P.S. has decided to instruct its Floral 
Committee to draw up lists cf varieties 
that are too much alike. 
Another important decision of that 
Society is that it will not give its First 
Class Certificate to any variety that has 
not been tested in the Society’s trial 
ground at Reading. This will ensure that 
no variety will receive that award before 
it is fixed. 
When considering the question of water 
ing Sweet Peas it is well to remember tha 
some of the large growers are unable t< 
water at all, but yet the} * I * * * * * 7 8 produce magni 
ficent flowers. On the other hand, hare 
water, and water that is much colder thai 
the soil, is likely to do more harm thai 
good. In spite of these facts, however 
experience seems to teach that in hot, dr- 
weather, watering frequentlv does th 
plants a great deal of good. Whe: 
watering, remember that no benefit is de 
rived from a sprinkling that only goes tw 
inches down. The soil should b 
thoroughly soaked. The frequency wit 
■which water should be given depends upo: 
the character of the soil, but about one 
every four days will do for fairly retentiv 
soils. Where possible, rain water shoul 
be used, for it is always safe; but w’her 
this cannot be obtained, and -where ta 
or spring water is used, it is sometime 
beneficial if the water can be exposed t 
the air in an open vessel for twenty-fot 
hours. 
I mentioned last month that a mulch < 
long litter is of great service to the plant 
especially when they are not watered, bi 
it is so important that it bears repetitioi 
The end of May is a suitable time, bi 
the great thing is to get it on before th 
hot, dry weather sets in. 
Sweet Peas may be greatly benefite 
by the wise application of manure, bi 
great harm may be done by over-dosin 
with strong chemicals. If the soil hx 
previously been well manured, no furth< 
food need be applied until the plants ai 
coming into bloom, then feeding ma 
commence. Where the practice is t 
water the plants, the manure should h 
given in the water, but where no water 
applied, the manure can be given in wea 
liquid form, after rain. 
Animal manure and soot tied in a ba 
and soaked give a very useful, and at th 
same time, a safe, liquid manure, but 
should be diluted until it is quite clea 
Clay’s, and other fertilisers, and Guar 
have also been used with success, but th 
temptation to use them more strong] 
than is directed should be resisted. 
Nitrate of soda and sulphate of an 
monia are sometimes used, but so potei 
are they that their use requires great can 
If given in an ordinary watering, 1 oz. t 
8 gallons of water is sufficient. Sulphm 
of iron had, as a rule, far better be le 
alone. Chemical manures should not h 
allowed to touch the foliage. 
