743 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Single Ghrysant^emum 
CROWN JEWEL IMPROVED. 
[Maclaren and Sons. 
Single Chrysanthemum Crown Jewel Improved. 
November 23, 1907. 
The Father of Sweet Peas. 
Although California is so favoured as 
a seed-producing country, England has 
always led the way in the improvement 
of the Sweet Pea. This is largely due 
to the energies and genius of the late 
Henry Eckford—the grand old man of the 
Sweet Pea world. Eor many years our 
countryman raised nearly all the im¬ 
proved varieties that were raised, and it 
is only within the present century that 
success has attended the labours of other 
English raisers. 
The Americans themselves are far from 
backward in owning their indebtedness 
to our late countryman, for Mr. Burpee, 
a foremost American seedsman, refers to 
him in his catalogue as the “Father of 
Sweet Peas.” 
Valuable Novelties from America. 
A few valuable varieties, however, have 
originated from America, amongst them 
Navy Blue, Emily Henderson, Gorgeous, 
Janet Scott, America, and Aurora; all of 
these, in their day, have been in the very 
front rank, and Helen Pierce, a unique 
variety, is still indispensable. This year 
also is seeing the introduction of a cream 
and a white form of Countess Spencer, 
from the same source. These will have 
to be taken more or less on trust, and it 
is doubtful whether the white is better 
than, or, indeed, different from, Etta 
Dyke, a white form of Countess Spencer 
that is in the hands of several English 
raisers. Nora Unwin is not so much 
waved as the latter, but it seems to have 
gained a hold on the public. 
As to the cream variety, several Eng¬ 
lish growers have it, but I doubt if any 
have it fixed enough to distribute, so the 
American stock, if it comes true, will be 
a most welcome addition. 
Foreign and English Seed. 
In considering the present subject, the 
question will naturally occur whether 
foreign grown seed gives results equal to 
that of the English. As a matter of fact, 
there is very little difference, although 
I have heard it suggested that plants from 
American seed grow rather taller. On 
patriotic grounds, however, many readers 
may prefer to grow from English seed. 
Novelties for 1908. 
Except for clearing up, and, when the 
soil is in suitable condition, preparing 
for next season, there is now little actual 
work to be done; but next month plans 
will be commenced for the season of 1908. 
By then some little information of the 
varieties that will be offered will be avail¬ 
able. Undoubtedly it will be a record 
year for novelties. From news already at 
hand, I estimate that as many as eighty 
novelties will be launched on the market. 
All will agree that this is far too many. 
The majority, perhaps, will be of little 
value, and in some cases, probably, the 
same variety will be sent out under 
several different names. There is no 
doubt, however, that several novelties, 
especially of the Countess Spencer form, 
will .come to stay, although during the 
first year or so much disappointment may 
be caused by unfixity. 
G. F. Drayson. 
-- 
Sahara is not such a barren waste as 
is generally supposed, for on the oases 
there are 1,500,000 date palms. 
Improvements continue to be made 
also amongst single Chrysanthemums, 
both in the large-flowered and small- 
flowered types. The bloom represented 
by the accompanying illustration belongs 
to the large-flowered type, and when 
slightly disbudded measures about 4 in. 
in diameter. The florets are broad and 
stand out horizontally, thus showing off 
the beautiful arrangement or combina¬ 
tion of colours to advantage. The bulk 
of the flower is of a beautiful soft bronzy- 
red with a slight rose or violet flush when 
seen in certain lights, and a narrow yel¬ 
low zone round the orange disc. A First- 
class Certificate was awarded this fine 
variety by the National Chrysanthemum 
Society at the Crystal Palace on Novem¬ 
ber 6th when exhibited by Messrs. John 
Peed and Son, Roupell Park Nurseries, 
West Norwood, London. 
-- 
Cyclamen latifolium fimbriatum giganteum. 
The above is the name of a strain of 
Cyclamen derived from the giganteum 
strain of the greenhouse Cyclamen, 
crossed with the Continental strain 
Papilio. The segments and the corolla 
are nearly orbicular, spreading out hori¬ 
zontally and fringed at the margin. 
They vary in colour, such as blush, pink, 
rose, etc." Award of Merit by the R.H.S. 
when shown by Mr. T. Jannoch, Der- 
singham, Norfolk. 
