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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  28,  1899. 
SWEET  PEAS. 
.c  weet  Peas  are  now  so  extensive  in  variety,  and  so  useful,  that 
ivery  possessor  of  a  garden,  whether  he  be  a  duke  or  a  cottager,  must 
grow  a  collection.  Truly  it  is  a  flower  for  the  enthusiastic  amateur, 
lor  what  is  there  in  the  whole  range  of  summer  flowers  that  gives 
such  a  return  for  an  equal  amount  of  labour  ?  So  popular  have 
Sweet  Peas  become  that  almost  every  schedule  of  prizes,  of  even  the 
smallest  show,  contains  a  class  or  classes  for  so  many  varieties.  So 
numeroitsly  were  they,  contributed  at  the  late  Shrewsbury  Show  that 
one  large  tent  was  almost  occupied  with  them  alone. 
The  culture  of  Sweet  Peas  is  very  simple.  Deeply  dug,  or  v  hat  is 
better,  trenched  ground,  with  plenty  of  manure  a3  a  foundation,  and 
abundant  supplies  of  liquid  manure  during  the  season  of  growih,  are 
the  salient  points  to  be  observed.  Add  to  this  ample  space  fer  the 
plants  to  grow  ir,  and  the  daily  removal  of  seed  pods  until  eaily  in 
September,  and  surprise  should  be  expressed  if  success  does  not  follow. 
Now  that  varieties  are  so  numerous  it  is  well  to  grow  none  but 
the  best,  as  the  inferior  sorts  require  as  much  care  in  cultivation. 
1'  or  the  benefit  of  those  who  wish  to  keep  an  up-to-date  collection  by 
a  yearly  revision  ol  their  list,  or  those  who  are  beginners,  I  have  care- 
hilly  prepared  a  selection  of  the  best  vadeties  for  consideration  in  the 
se  ison  of  1900.  One  poin  t  in  cultivation  I  omitted,  that  of  early  sowing, 
this  is  highly  important,  as  the  plants  are  thus  enabled  to  secure  a 
linger  season  of  growth  through  getting  them  firmly  established 
before  hot  and  dry  weather  is  experienced  in  June  and  July. 
As  indicating  the  number  of  Sweet  Peas  now  cultivated,  Messrs. 
W.  At'ee,  Burjree  &  Co.,  Philadelphia,  catalogued  this  year  no  less  than 
145  v  iritties.  In  addition  to  this  number  Mr.  H.  Eckford  has  many 
novelties  to  offer  of  sterling  merit.  Mr.  G.  Foster,  Brrckhampton 
Nurseries,  Havant,  has  introduced  several  varieties  that  will  occupy  a 
leading  position  in  the  near  future.  Altogether  there  are  quite  200 
more  or  less  distinct  varieties,  and  as  they  annually  increase,  the 
work  of  selection  and  eliminating  inferior  or  too  much  alike  varieties 
is  becoming  much  more  difficult.  In  time  a  special  conference  of 
experts  will  be  required  to  classify  the  varieties  and  place  the 
nomenclature  of  all  on  a  firm  basis. 
I  lie  following  sewn  varieties  are  to  be  sent  out  next  season  as 
novelties,  and  thoie  who  would  desire  to  be  in  the  front  rank  as 
exhibitors  would  do  well  to  include  them  in  their  colli  ctien.  Lorel 
Kenyon,  deep  rose  shaded  with  puce  or  put  pie,  heavily  veined  with 
a  deeper  tint,  an  extremely  fine  variety.  Duchess  of  Westminster, 
pink  shaded  bronzy  salmon,  a  pleasing  and  effective  novelty. 
Countess  of  Lathom,  pale  pink  self,  an  improvement  on  Venus, 
lamination,  purple  lilac  standard,  rich  blue  keel,  a  most  striking 
and  beautiful  blending  of  colour.  Calypso,  standard,  crimsen  flushed 
purple,  wings  mauve.  Cream  of  Brockhampton  is  an  improvement  on 
Airs.  Eckford,  in  that  it  is  more  deeply  coloured.  Wideawake,  dark 
ciimson,  standard  faintly  striped  purple,  wings  heavily  tinged  purple, 
a  bold,  full  sized  bloom. 
Sadie  Burpee  must  now  be  classed  as  the  finest  white  Sweet  Pea 
m  cultivation.  The  blooms  are  hooded  in  form,  la'ge,  bold,  and 
han  Isome  in  every  way.  Countess  of  Powis,  glowing  orange,  suffused 
with  light  purple,  with  a  satin  polish,  is  novel  in  the  extreme. 
Lovely,  a  pleasing  shade  of  pink  with  delicate  rose  wdngs.  is  a  grand 
flower  and  should  be  in  every  collection.  Lady  Mary  Currie,  a  deep 
orange  pink  delicately  shaded  with  rosy  lilac,  is  a  charming  flower  of 
much  brilliancy.  Queen  Victoria  is  of  a  most  difficult  colour  to 
describe.  Soft  yellow,  subtly  overlaid  with  faint  purpE,  which 
imparts  a  desirable  lustre.  The  blooms  are  exceptionally  large,  and  it 
is  one  of  the  best. 
►Salopian  is  one  of  the  finest  of  bright  coloured  Swreet  Peas.  It  is 
deep  crimson  tinged  with  mulberry  red,  and  suffused  with  rich 
orange  scarlet.  The  blossoms  are  large  and  finely  formed.  Prince  of 
A  ales  is  a  bright  rose  self  of  intense  colour  and  fine  bold  form, 
ft equently  bearing  three  and  sometimes  four  blooms  on  a  stem.  Duke 
of  V  est  minster,  a  deep  rose  matoon,  overlaid  with  bright  shining 
violet,  is  quite  distinct  from  any  other  variety,  and  is  an  acquisition. 
Stella  Morse,  of  which  the  flowers  when  opening  exhibit  a  suggestion 
of  yellow,  which  with  age  becomes  paler,  and  about  the  third  day 
delicate  shaded  I  rmrose,  with  an  edging  of  pale  pink  or  salmon.  It 
is  a  hooded  variety  with  three  and  four  blooms  on  a  stem  Mrs. 
Dugdale,  bright  rose,  shaded  primrose,  pale  pink  keel,  is  a  bold 
handsome  flower.  Othello  is  of  colour  almost  unique,  dark  brown 
chocolate  red  with  a  satiny  black  shade,  very  free  bloomer,  and  strong 
habit  of  growth.  & 
Lady  Grisel  Hamilton  in  colour  is  a  shining  pale  lavender,  most 
difficult  to  accurately  describe.  It  belongs  to  the  giant  flowering 
class.  Black  Knight  is  the  best  of  the  dark  maroon  type.  The 
standards  have  a  metallic  lustre.  Aurora  I. regard  as  an  improvement 
on  Airs.  J.  Chamberlain,  and  may  be  considered  the  best  of  flaked 
\aiieties.  dhe  ground  colour  is  white  with  heavy  flakes  and  stripes  of 
brjght  orange  salmon.  Maid  of  Honour  is  of  the  palest  of  lavender 
with  a  deep  violet  edging,  a  very  pleasing  and  distinct  variety.  Mars 
is  bright  fiery  ciimson  which  deepens  with  age.  Hon.  F.  Bouverie 
has  standards  of  coral  pink  with  wings  a  shade  lighter  tint.  It  is  a 
charming  flower  of  grand  shape  and  substance. 
Gorgeous  was  sent  out  this  year  by  the  American  firm,  and  well 
deserves  its  name,  as  its  colour  is  most  striking,  rich  orange  salmon 
standards  deepening  in  the  veins  ;  wings  deeper  in  shade  than  the 
standard,  keel  pale  lilac;  a  magnificent  variety  in  every  way.  Fashion 
is  of  the  same  origin,  and  is  a  sport  from  Captivation.  It  is  deep 
rose  with  purple  flushed  standaids  and  purple  rel  wings.  Countess 
Cadogan  is  a  bright  shining  violet  overlaid  with  light  sky  blue,  wings 
pure  sky  blue  ;  a  full  size  hooded  flower.  Colonist  is  usually  threc- 
flowered  on  stout  stems ;  soft  lilac  overlaid  with  bright  rose.  Prince 
Edward  r  f  York  is  one  of  the  largest  flowered  varieties  we  have.  The 
standaids,  when  fully  expanded,  are  of  a  charming  shade  of  scarlet 
with  deep  rose-coloured  wings.  Triumph  is  well  named  in  point  of 
size,  as  the  blooms  are  exceptionally  large.  The  standard  is  orange 
pink,  wings  white  flushed  purple. — E.  Molyneux. 
LONDON  GARDENS  OYER  FIFTY  YEARS/ 
No.  13. 
One  of  the  memorable  events  of  last  spring  was  the  very  satis¬ 
factory  transaction  by  which  the  time-honoured  Apothecaries’  Garden 
at  Chelsea  was  secured  for  the  public  benefit  thenceforth.  It  is  a 
matter  of  rejoicing  to  botanists,  gardeners,  and  also,  I  should  think, 
to  many  in  the  medical  profess;on,  as  this  old  garden  has  for  a 
considerable  time  been  under  dangerous  circumstances.  Speculators 
have  long  had  tl  eir  eyes  on  this  ‘  eligible  plot,”  so  suitable  for  the 
erection  of  mansions  which  would  command  grand  views  of  the 
Thames  and  of  Surrey  opposite.  ’Tis  but  a  small  space,  originally  a 
little  over  three  acres,  the  Embankmint  has  added  half  an  acre,  yet  it 
may  have  within  its  bounds  much  that  will  be  of  interest  to  after 
generations  if  rightly  managed. 
The  board  in  whose  care  this  garden  is  to  be  placed  is  of  a  composite 
nature,  and  necessarily  there  will  be  differences  of  opinion,  but  I  hope 
this  will  check  any  development  of  fads.  We  would  not  wish  to  see 
the  greater  part  of  the  ground  covered  with  glass,  or  witness  a  display 
of  flow,  r  beds  of  the  latest  fashhn.  Changes  mnst  be  made,  no  doubt, 
since  we  want  a  botanic  garden  up  to  date  so  far  as  the  space  permits, 
but  I  deprecate  any  undue  interference  with  the  present  aspect  of  the 
gardin.  Let  us  keep  while  we  can  those  features  which  remind  us  of 
the  Georgian  era. 
Certainly  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  when  he  granted  this  part  of  his 
Chelsea  manor  to  the  Apothecaries  Company,  gave  them  land  in  a 
very  suitable  locality.  For  was  not  Chelsea  long  called  the  “village 
of  palaces?”  Here,  during  the  Middle  Ages  and  after,  lived  various 
kings  or  nobles  of  high  rank.  In  their  old-style  gardens  were  to  be 
seen  curious,  beautiful,  or  rare  medicinal  plants,  brought  home  by 
travellers  from  eastern  lands  as  gifts.  But  when  w7e  first  read  of  this 
pilot  it  was  just  a  bit  of  meadow,  and  in  1673  the  Company  took  it  to 
build  thereon  a  house  for  their  state  barge.  They  had  a  term  of  years, 
and  then  it  occurred  to  the  Court  that  the  place  would  do  well  for  a 
ph)  sic  gatden,  so  they  removed  to  it  a  small  collection  of  plants  from 
Westminster.  John  Watts,  who  had  interested  himself  in  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  it,  became  manager  in  1680,  and  shortly  after  he 
appears,  from  Evelyn’s  account,  to  have  made  one  of  the  earliest 
attempts  to  supply  artificial  heat  to  plants  during  the  winter.  The 
garden  slowly  progressed,  brought  to  it  visitors  from  distant  countries, 
and  then  Sloane,  in  1722,  generously  handed  over  the  land  to  the 
Company  for  £5  yearly,  and  fifty  new  plants  reared  in  the  garden. 
The  delivery  of  the  plants  went  on  till  1774,  by  which  date  2550 
species  had  been  presented.  This  action  of  his  was  all  the  more  kind 
1  ecause  the  apothecaries  had  abused  him.  With  some  of  the 
physicians  he  had  taken  part  in  starting  provident  dispensaries  for 
the  poor,  a  scheme  apothecaries  thought  prejudicial  to  them. 
This  second  half  of  the  century  has  not  brought  many  visitors  to 
the  Chelsea  Botanic  Gardens,  but  it  has  been  kept  in  fairly  good 
order,  the  plants  grown  being  chiefly  those  of  medical  value.  The 
old  greenhouse,  more  than  once  figured  in  descriptive  books  of 
Chelsea,  was  removed  about  forty-five  years  since,  with  some  smaller 
structures,  which  were  venerable  but  dangerous.  To  those  passing 
along  the  Thames,  the  Cedars  near  the  river  bank  were  familiar  objects 
for  a  long  period.  In  1750  the  feur  trees  were  flourishing  and  of 
good  size;  between  1770  and  1780  two  decayed,  and  had  to  be 
removed;  the  third  succumbed  in  1878;  the  last  is  now  dead,  I  am 
informed.  A  splendid  Oriental  Plane,  one  of  the  finest  in  London, 
was  killed  by  the  formation  of  the  Embankment.  The  ancient 
Pomegranate  has  gone,  and  the  Magnolia  grandiflora,  that  was  one  of 
the  earliest  specimens  planted  in  London.  But  I  believe  there  yet 
remains  the  Styrax  officinale  on  the  wall  by  Swan  Walk,  the  Maiden¬ 
hair  Tree,  the  Pistachia,  with  other  notable  trees  I  saw  a  few  years 
since.  Amongst  the  many  illustrious  men  who  have  been  associated 
