424 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  17.  IbOO. 
Sweet  Pea  Bicentenary  Celebration. 
Seldom,  if  ever,  has  a  proposed  exhibition  of  a  special  flower 
received  such  general  support  as  that  of  the  Sweet  Pea,  to  be  held  on 
July  20th  and  2l8t  next.  At  the  present  time,  about  two  months  ahead 
of  the  exhibition  and  conference,  financial  matters  are  in  a  most 
satisfactory  condition,  while  the  applications  for  schedules  serve  to 
indicate  the  widespread  interest  that  is  being  taken  in  this  popular 
flower  and  its  exhibition.  On  Friday,  the  11th  inst.,  the  Executive 
Committee  met  at  the  Horticultural  Club,  Hotel  Windsor,  Mr.  G. 
Gordon,  V.M.H.,  presiding,  when  it  was  reported  by  the  hon.  sec., 
Mr,  Richard  Dean,  V.M.H.,  that  the  whole  of  the  north  nave  of  the 
Crystal  Palace  would  be  devoted  to  the  forthcoming  exhibition,  and 
that  a  suitable  room  would  be  provided  for  the  conference  proceedings. 
The  trade  displays  will  form  a  border  around  the  competitive  exhibits, 
and  these  latter  will  be  relieved  by  tables  of  plants.  One  great 
improvement  promised  is  that  the  tables  will  be  draped  with  green 
baize,  and  consequently  there  will  be  no  unsightly  array  of  boxes  and 
other  impedimenta  below  the  flowers. 
In  connection  with  the  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for 
papers  to  be  read  as  follows  : — “  The  History  of  the  Sweet  Pea,”  by 
Mr.  S.  B.  Dicks  ;  “The  Evolution  and  Improvement  of  the  Sweet  Pea,” 
by  Messrs.  J.  Eckford  and  C.  H.  Curtis;  “  Classification  of  Sweet  Peas,” 
by  Mr.  W.  P.  Writiht;  ‘‘ Sweet,  Peas  in  America,”  by  the  Rev.  W.  S. 
Hutchins;  and  “ Some  New  Points  in  the  Cultivation  and  Decorative 
Use  of  the  Sweet  Pea,”  by  Mr.  H.  Dunkin.  Fifteen  judges,  including 
three  ladies,  were  selected  for  the  competitive  exhibits,  and  it  was 
decided  the  Exhibition  Committee  should  judge  the  trade  exhibits. 
Applications  for  space  must  be  made  to  Mr.  R.  Dean,  Ranelagh  Road, 
Ealing,  as  the  entire  arrangements  for  the  show  are  in  the  hands  of  the 
committee.  Intending  exhibitors  and  others  will  be  interested  to  learn 
that  a  cold  luncheon  will  be  provided  at  the  Crystal  Palace  on  July 
20th,  tickets  5s.  each,  including  wine.  Breakfasts  will  be  provided 
earlier  in  the  day  at  Is  6d.  per  head. 
With  a  view  to  securing  as  large  an  attendance  as  possible  the 
executive  committee  is  calling  a  general  committee  meeting  for  four 
o’clock  on  Thursday,  May  2tth  (the  second  day  of  the  Temple  Show), 
at  Anderton’s  Hotel,  Fleet  Street.  It  is  hoped  that  all  committeemen 
in  town  will  make  a  special  effort  to  attend  and  receive  the  report  of 
the  executive  body. 
- >  ■ - 
Flowering  Trees  and  Sljrubs. 
Beautiful  as  are  the  several  flowering  trees,  with  many  others,  to 
which  brief  allusion  was  made  on  page  376,  the  shrubs  that  are  grown 
for  the  attractiveness  of  their  flowers  are  even  more  popular.  This 
arises  from  two  facts;  1,  the  greater  diversity  of  flower  and  habit,  and 
2,  the  greater  utility  of  these  smaller  growing  plants.  There  are  few 
if  any  places  so  completely  stocked  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  find 
room  for  a  number  of  shrubs,  whereas  with  flowering  trees  the  matter 
is  different.  Many  of  the  latter  do  not  attain  to  sufficient  size  to  be 
decidedly  ornamental  for  some  years  after  planting,  while  shrubs  are 
immediately  effective  if  they  are  employed  judiciously.  So  wide  is  the 
selection,  and  so  different  are  the  characteristics  of  the  plants  that  can 
be  drawn  within  the  category  of  flowering  shrubs,  that  a  thoroughly 
complete  and  yet  representative  choice  is  well  nigh  impossible,  but  a 
few  may  be  referred  as  standing  absolutely  in  the  front  rank  for 
general  utility. 
Taking  into  consideration  that  we  are  now  in  the  month  of  May 
the  pGce  of  honour  must  be  given  to  Rhododendrons,  for  these  are 
essentially  flowers  of  May.  In  every  garden  they  are  represented, 
but  in  varying  degrees.  In  some  places  they  are  grown  to  form 
complete  gardens  with  the  nearly  relafed  Azaleas ;  while  in  other 
estates  one  finds  immense  banks  of  them  bordering  sweeping  lawns 
of  soft,  green  turf.  For  such  positions  as  the  latter  it  is  of  course 
necessary  that  the  lawns  be  of  considerable  extent,  or  they  will  appt^ar 
overwhelmed  by  the  gorgeousness  of  the  shrubs  that  flank  them. 
Generally  speaking  the  commoner  varieties  are  used  for  banks,  but 
where  what  are  usually  termed  American  gardens  are  contemplated 
the  vastly  improved  newer  forms  ought  to  be  chosen.  To  enumerate 
the  best  varieties  is  beyond  the  scope  of  geneial  notes  such  as  these, 
but  planters  may  safely  leave  the  selection  in  the  hands  of  some  of  our 
first-class  nurserymen  who  keep  their  stocks  right  up  to  date  in  all 
respects.  Rhododendrons  are,  of  course,  employed  to  an  enormous 
extent,  but  more  Azaleas  might  advantageously  be  planted,  as  they 
have  a  beauty  and  grace  that  cannot  be  excelled  by  any  other  kind 
of  flowering  shrubs.  With  these  a  more  careful  selection  is  requisite, 
as  some  are  much  hardier  than  others,  and  the  tenderer  ones  must 
obviously  have  the  most  favoured  situations  as  regards  shelter  from 
keen  frosts  and  biting  winds. 
The  Ribes  or  Flowering  Currants  make  a  really  charming  display  in 
the  later  spring  months,  and  they  are  quite  indispensable  in  borders  or 
beds  of  shrubs.  Individual  specimens  of  the  older  forms  are  not 
particularly  attractive,  as  the  colours  are  inclined  to  be  “washy,”  but 
the  newer  varieties,  such  as  atrosanguinenm,  are  splendid,  either 
planted  singly,  or  what  is  unquestionably  preferable,  in  clumps. 
R.  aureuni  on  a  wall  is  singularly  pretty  at  the  end  of  April,  but  with 
me  it  has  not  proved  satisfactory  in  the  open,  though  possibly  it  might 
be  so  in  more  favoured  positions.  Of  Garrya  elliptica  I  have  nothing 
to  add  to  my  note  on  page  395,  and  I  am  waiting  with  much  interest 
the  views  of  other  contributors  to  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  as  to  its 
hardiness  ;  certainly  if  it  will  succeed  in  the  open  it  should  be  grown 
as  well  for  its  handsome  leafage  as  for  its  catkins. 
Where  is  the  garden  without  its  share  of  Lilacs  ?  Such  a  one 
would,  I  venture  to  affirm,  be  very  difficult  to  find.  This  is  as  it  should 
be,  for  amongst  the  several  varieties  we  have  now  a  wide  range  of 
colouration,  and  fortunately  the  majority  of  them  are  deliciously 
fragrant.  Some,  of  course,  are  sweeter  than  others,  but  one  can  hardly 
go  far  astray.  In  gardens  where  flowering  shrubs  are  cherished  the 
Weigelas  are  almost  invariably  accorded  a  conspicuous  position,  as 
their  distinctive  beauty  is  acknowledged  and  appreciated.  Yet  there 
are  gardens  in  which  Weigelas  are  represented  by  perhaps  one  or  two 
miserable  specimens,  that  are  barely  worthy  the  name  of  plants.  In 
the  grounds  of  Gunnersbury  House,  and  also  of  Battle  Abbey,  there  are 
some  of  the  finest  specimens  of  Weigelas  that  it  has  ever  been  my  lot 
to  see.  In  each  of  these  places  the  branches  are  simply  loaded  with 
fiowers,  which  hang  down  with  the  weight  of  their  charming  burden. 
A  really  good  form  of  W.  rosea  is  very  hard  to  excel,  especially  when 
the  colour  becomes  so  intense  as  it  does  in  some  soils  and  situations. 
W.  alba  is  also  peculiarly  well  adapted  for  certain  positions  in  the 
borders. 
Differing  in  every  respect  from  either  of  those  that  have  been 
enumerated  are  the  Brooms,  of  which  again  the  selection  is  wide. 
For  certain  positions  on  banks  the  Spanish  Broom  is  absolutely 
unrivalled,  and  I  have  in  my  mind  at  the  moment  of  writing  a  bank 
at  Lockinge  that  is  simply  gorgeous  when  the  plants  are  flowering. 
Personally,  I  know  no  place  where  the  Spanish  Broom  has  been 
utilised  to  greater  advantage.  There  are  other  Brooms  differing  in 
colour  from  the  Spanish,  and  perhaps  not  quite  so  showy ;  but,  at  the 
same  time,  they  are  of  the  utmost  value  for  certain  positions.  Some 
of  the  forms  of  Gorse,  too,  must  not  be  despised,  as  they  are  distinct 
from  all  other  shrubs,  and  will  luxuriate  where  the  majority  of  plants 
would  do  no  more  than  eke  out  a  wretched  existence.  Then,  again, 
we  must  in  justice  place  in  the  forefront  of  flowering  shrubs  the 
Berberis,  which  in  several  species  and  varieties  is  really  superb. 
There  was  a  time  when  B.  Darwini  was  the  prime  favourite,  but  now 
it  must  take  second  position  to  B.  stenophylla,  which  as  a  flowering 
shrub  is  absolutely  perfect.  The  long  arching  branches  clothed  in 
bright  yellow  inflorescences  produce  a  unique  effect,  and  one  which 
never  fails  to  attract  close  attention  and  elicit  expressions  of  admiration. 
This  plant  is  admirably  employed  in  the  gardens  of  Syon  House,  where 
full  advantage  has  been  taken  of  its  striking  individuality. 
There  is  certainly  no  garden  from  which  the  Mock  Oranges 
(Philadelphus)  can  be  excluded  ;  they  produce,  especially  when  such 
varieties  as  P.  Gordonianus  is  employed,  a  grand  display,  andi 
fortunately  for  shrub  lovers,  one  which  cannot  be  provided  by  any 
other  plant.  The  wanderer  from  garden  to  garden  comes  across 
many  instances  of  .  their  value  for  ornamentation,  but,  so  far  as  I 
have  seen,  the  specimens  in  the  drive  of  Summersbury  Lodge,  near 
Guildford,  would  be  difficult  to  excel.  This,  so  far  as  my  experience 
goes,  is  not  a  particularly  satisfactory  town  plant,  but  I  have  only  tried 
it  under  the  most  unfavourable  conditions  with  respect  of  fogs  and 
smoke,  so  that  too  condemnatory  terms  would  not  be  justifiable.  Who 
does  not  grow  in  town  and  country  the  fragrant  Mezereon,  or  to  apply 
to  it  the  botanical  name  Daphne  mezerenm  ?  It  may  not  be  showy 
when  compared  with  others  that  have  been  enumerated,  but  it  has  a 
modest  charm  that  enchains  attention  and  insures  the  admiration  of 
almost  everyone,.  Add  to  this  a  most  pleasing  perfume,  and  no  one 
can  marvel  for  one  moment  at  the  plant’s  popularity.  It  is  a  shrub  as 
well  for  the  cottager’s  garden  as  for  the  princely  estate,  and  thrives 
alike  in  both. 
Amongst  shrubby  plants  that  might  be  more  freely  planted  in 
gardens  are  several  of  the  Spiraeas,  which  are  decidedly  handsome.  In 
