o60 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
December  9,  1897. 
who  w'as  on  a  visit  here  in  1879,  and  he  was  the  first  to  give  publicity  to 
iny  idea.  Subsequently  mention  has  been  made  of  it  approvingly 
in  Barron’s  “  Book  of  the  Vine,”  and  also  in  Wright’s  “  Fruit  Grower’s 
Guide,”  two  gentlemen  whose  opinions  should,  like  that  of  John  Gilpin, 
carry  weight. — W.  MiLLEK. 
[The  illustration  (fig.  82)  from  the  “Fruit  Grower’s  Guide”  clearly 
depicts  Mr.  Miller’s  procedure.  It  is  a  comparatively  simple  matter  to 
get  one  or  more  bunches  on  a  Vine  by  the  system  recommended.] 
SWEET  PEAS. 
^Concluded  from  page  524.) 
I  HAVE  said  nothing  about  the  fragrance  of  the  Sweet  Pea.  In  addition 
to  its  beautiful  flowers  of  so  many  colours,  its  charming  and  graceful 
habit,  its  delightful  perfume  can  be  enjoyed  liy  all,  as  it  is  within  the 
reach  of  high  and  low.  Some  sayit  is  honey  scented,  others  the  fragrance 
of  the  Orange  blossom  with  a  dainty  touch  of  the  Rose.  Whatever  its 
composition,  we  love  it,  and  look  upon  it  as  one  of  the  greatest  and  most 
refreshing  pleasures  cf  the  garden. 
The  value  of  Sweet  Peas  for  cut  flower  arrangements  in  rooms  and 
for  dinner  table  decorations  is  excelled  by  very  few.  In  separate  colours 
they  are  more  striking  than  in  mixture,  and  when  lightly  arranged  with 
their  own  foliage  and  tendrils  cannot  fail  to  please.  The  fragrance  is  not 
too  strong  in  rooms,  as  is  the  case  with  some  sweet  scented  flowers.  One- 
of  the  prettiest  dinner  table  arrangements  I  ever  saw  was  done  with  a 
pink  Sweet  Pea. 
I  now  come  to  the  varieties.  In  dealing  with  them  I  shall  fancy 
myself  back  on  a  .Inly  evening  among  the  many  little  rows  of  our  con¬ 
veniently  arranged  collection.  Drawn  towards  them,  perhaps,  by  their 
more  inviting  fragrance,  from  the  many  other  interesting  studies  of  the 
garden,  I  soon  get  absorbed,  but  not  so  much  so  as  not  to  notice  and  pull 
out  here  and  there  a  rogue  from  whei-e  it  has  no  business.  We  have 
seifs  of  all  colours,  striped  of  many  colours,  bicolors  atid  versicolors. 
Among  the  white  varieties  are  Blanche  Burpee,  Emily  Henderson, 
Queen  of  England,  Mrs.  Sankey,  and  White  Eagle.  The  first  named  is 
the  best,  closely  followed  by  Emily  Henderson.  In  proportion  to  other 
colours,  the  whites  should  be  more  largely  grown,  as  there  is  more 
demand  for  them.  Those  which  nearest  approach  a  yellow  are  Primrose 
and  Mrs.  Eckford,  very  nearly  alike.  This  much  -  desired  colour 
is  more  intense  in  the  forward  bud  than  in  the  expanded  flower.  It  is 
still  many  shades  removed  from  what  we  hope  presently  to  get.  Queen 
Victoria  belongs  to  this  section,  and  has  much  finer  flowers,  but  is  more 
of  a  cream  colour. 
We  can  revel  in  crimson  and  crimson  scarlets.  In  Salopian,  Mars, 
Firefly,  Cardinal,  and  Ignea  we  have  a  splendid  choice.  Salopian  is 
perhaps  the  best,  and  tbe  others  would  not  disappoint  an5'one.  In  the 
darker  blues  Madame  Carnot,  King  of  the  Blues,  Imperial  Blue,  and  Blue 
King  are  good.  In  the  more  purple  shades  are  Purple  Prince,  Indigo 
King,  and  the  deepest  of  all,  Shahzada,  which  I  think  dark  enough  for 
anybody.  Madame  Carnot  is  a  favourite  blue,  but  rather  weakly  in 
constitution.  King  of  the  Blues  is  also  good,  but  with  us  a  little  inclined 
to  sport.  Captivation  and  Duke  of  Clarence  are  clear  claret  coloured  ;  the 
latter  is  the  darker,  and  I  think  the  better. 
Included  in  the  deep  bronzy  maroon  varieties  Boreatton,  Stanley,  and 
^Monarch  are  conspicuous.  Boreatton  is  still  our  favourite,  and  one  of  the 
most  distinct  of  Sweet  Peas.  The  pale  blue  and  kindred  shades  have 
many  admirers  -  Countess  of  Radnor,  Celestial,  Princess  May.  Dorothy 
Tennant,  Emily  Eckford,  New  Countess,  and  Lady  Nina  Balfour  include 
some  very  fascinating  kinds.  Among  rose  coloured  varieties  Lady 
Penzance,  Princess  Beatrice,  Her  Majesty,  Adonis,  Ovid,  and  Royal 
Rose  are  the  best. 
In  pinks  we  have  some  really  charming  shades,  Prima  Donna,  Mrs. 
Gladstone,  Royal  Robe,  Peach  Blossom,  and  several  others.  Venus  is  a 
very  pretty  varietyof  a  salmon  bufF,  and  Lady  Beaconsfield  is  somewhat 
near  it.  Orange  Prince,  Meteor,  and  Countess  of  Powis  are  among  the 
most  beautiful  Sweet  Peas.  Their  orange  salmon  standards  are  exquisite, 
but  unfortunately  are  liable  to  get  touched  by  the  sun.  Countess 
of  Powis  is,  I  think,  one  of  the  best  of  the  new  varieties.  These, 
and  the  pink  colours,  light  up  at  night  better  than  any  others,  and 
are  consequently  more  effective  for  dinner-table  and  other  indoor 
decorations. 
The  bicolor  section  must  always  be  grown.  The  varieties  include  Duke 
of  York,  Blanche  Ferry  (perhaps  the  earliest  of  Sweet  Peas),  Little  Dorrit, 
Apple  Blossom,  Empress  of  India,  American  Belle,  and  Painted  Lady, 
which,  besides  being  still  a  good  variety,  ought  to  be  respected  for  its 
great  antiquity.  The  striped  section  has  become  a  large  one,  and  is 
very  distinct  and  popular.  Queen  of  the  Isles,  Gaiety,  Princess  of  Wales, 
Senator,  Grey  Friar,  Mrs.  Joseph  Chamberlain,  and  Aurora  are  good. 
A  rather  peculiar  class  is  shown  in  Vesuvius,  Carmen  Sylva,  and  Etna. 
They  are  variously  coloured,  shaded,  and  spotted,  rather  pretty,  but 
small  and  little  grown. 
The  various  colours  found  in  Sweet  Peas  run  so  near  and  into  each 
other,  that  it  is  impossible  to  draw  a  line  between  them.  I  once  tried,  by 
request,  to  shade  down  the  colours  or  grade  them,  beginning  with  the 
palest  pink,  gradually  deepening  into  the  darkest  crimson,  and  the  same 
with  the  lightest  to  the  deepest  blue,  but  it  was  not  altogether  a  success. 
I  ought  here,  I  think,  to  mention  my  experience  of  the  dwarf  Sweet 
Pea  Cupid.  It  came  over  the  Atlantic  with  a  big  reputation  and  a  very 
florid  description,  which  have  not  been  verified  in  our  climate.  No  one 
can  say  it  is  not  a  novelty.  To  stoop  down  to  a  Sweet  Pea  is  not  natural, 
so  it  may  be  said  to  be  shorn  of  its  elegance.  "We  tried  it  in  various 
ways  the  first  season,  but  have  not  patronised  it  since.  Then  there  is  a 
pink  Cupid,  and  if  nice  coloured  varieties  can  be  raised  they  may  become 
useful.  * 
I  will  now  conclude  by  giving  what  I  consider  the  best  twelve  and 
the  best  twenty-four  varieties  : — 
Best  Twelve  Varieties.— Blanche  Burpee,  Salopian,  Countess  of 
Powis,  Madame  Carnot  or  King  of  the  Blues,  Lady  Penzance,  Prima 
Donna,  Countess  of  Radnor,  Queen  of  the  Isles,  Venus,  Primrose,  Duke 
of  York,  Boreatton,  Butterfly,  and  Princess  Beatrice.  I  have  named 
fourteen  to  the  dozen,  but  this,  I  think,  is  sometimes  done. 
Best  Twenty -four  Varieties.  —  Blanche  Burpee,  Salopian, 
Countess  of  Powis,  Madame  Carnot  or  King  of  the  Blues,  Lady  Penzance, 
Prima  Donna  or  Mi’s.  Gladstone,  Countess  of  Radnor,  Queen  of  the  Isles, 
Venus,  Duke  of  York,  Boreatton,  Butterfly  or  Lottie  Eckford,  Apple 
Blossom  Duke  of  Clarence,  Princess  Beatrice,  Empress  of  India  or 
Painted  Lady,  Queen  Victoria,  Firefly,  Dorothy  Tennant,  Her  Majesty, 
Lady  Nina  Balfour,  Princess  of  Wales,  Primrose  and  Mrs.  .loseph 
Chamberlain  or  Aurora.— (Pttper  read  by  Mr.  G.  Stanton,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Beading  Gardeners’  Association.) 
NOTES  FROM  DUBLIN. 
St.  Anne’s,  Clontarf. 
On  page  206,  vol.  xxxiii,  “Hardy  Plantsman's  ”  graphic  pen  depicts  this 
fine  estate  as  seen  on  a  .Tune  day  of  last  year  whilst  tripping  through  the 
Green  Isle.  Bent  thitherwards  on  a  winter’s  day,  with  a  chill  nor’-easter 
blowing,  one  feels  a  little  handicapped  as  the  memory  of  his  smooth¬ 
flowing  descriptive  notes  recur,  for  are  not  things  now  at  their  “  worst  ?  ” 
Yet,  where  gardening  is  carried  on  in  so  spirited  a  manner  as  here,  the 
“  worst”  (relative  to  interviewing  Nature  and  Art  on  a  winter’s  day)  is 
good,  and,  somehow,  the  critical  inspection  of  a  fine  place  at  its  “best," 
in  all  its  summer  glory,  with  its  embarras  des  riches,  is  trying  to  the  pen. 
However,  we  (there  are  two  of  us)  set  forth  from  the  city  following  the 
route  taken  by  our  accomplished  singer  of  the  praises  of  hardy  plants,  and 
flatter  ourselves  that  no  two  hardier  plantsmen  could  be  found  to  face  a 
nor’-easter  stiff  enough  to  delight  a  Kingsley. 
On  the  other  side  of  Dublin  Bay  the  mountains  loom  through  the  hazy 
distance  stern  and  white-capped.  ‘Tis  the  first  touch  of  winter,  and 
whilst  the  gale  of  wind  and  rain  was  recently  sweeping  the  country,  up 
there  on  the  hill  tops  the  ice  king  was  silently  spreading  his  mantle. 
My  friend  points  out  the  features  of  what  is  to  me  a  comparatively  new 
country,  though  often  viewed  from  afar,  and  bold  and  picturesque  as  is 
the  Hill  of  Howth  as  we  journey  nearer  to  it,  it  is  a  relief  to  gain  the 
shelter  afforded  by  many  Evergreen  Oaks  inside  the  demesne. 
About  the  dignity  of  the  stately  mansion,  or  the  satisfying  coup  d'oeil 
it  affords  in  its  clear,  classical  outlines,  wrought  in  polished  Portland 
stone,  we  need  not  descant,  or  dwell  upon  the  general  features  of  the 
grounds  immediately  surrounding  it ;  all  of  this  has  been  detailed  by 
the  apostle  of  hardy  plant  culture  previously  alluded  to.  We  are  glad 
to  escape  from  the  chill  nor’- caster  and  find  the  warmth  of  the  plant 
houses  decidedly  grateful  and  comforting.  On  the  roof  of  the  first 
division  of  one  of  the  several  ranges  Bomarea  Williamsi,  not  now  in 
bloom,  is  distinguished  looking  in  its  dark  green  glossy  foliage,  and 
fruits  (seed  pods)  hang  from  it.  This  range  discloses  a  glorious  display 
of  white  Cyclamens  of  the  gigantea  type,  in  the  culture  of  which  our 
courteous  guide,  Mr.  Campbell,  the  head  gardener,  is  facile  princeps. 
Carnations  are  also,  both  indoors  and  outdoors,  a  feature  of  these 
gardens,  amongst  which  Mrs.  L.  de  Rothschild,  Princess  Alice  of 
Monaco,  and  Winter  Cheer  are  especial  favourites.  A  seedling  of  Mr. 
Campbell’s,  bearing  the  name  of  Countess  Ferrars,  Lady  Ardilaun’s 
sister,  is  much  esteemed  for  its  general  good  qualities.  It  is  but  natural 
that  two  old  mummers  should  thoroughly  enjoy  a  superb  group  of  the 
popular  plants  just  in  their  prime,  occupying  the  centre  of  a  large  house. 
Needless  to  say  the  display  is  of  big  blooms,  although  decorative  plants 
of  Pompons  and  singles  adorn  the  side  stages.  These  are  pretty,  the 
former  superb  ;  particularly  noticeable  being  H.  L.  Sunderbruck,  Souvenir 
de  Petite  Amie,  Philadelphia,  and  Silver  King  ;  a  few  perfect  balls  of  that 
inimitable  incurved,  C.  H.  Curtis,  being  conspicuous  among  their  Japanese 
relations. 
Entering  a  lofty  house,  of  dimensions  capacious  enough  to  form  a 
winter  garden,  formerly  known  as  “  The  Orangery,”  and  lately  converted 
into  a  tropical  house,  are  to  be  found  some  stately  plants,  and  not  a  few, 
perhaps,  seldom  seen  outside  the  Botanic  Gardens.  Giants  of  the  Fern 
world  are  represented  by  a  huge  specimen  of  Angiopteris  erecta,  but  the 
most  satisfying  objects,  to  me  at  least,  are  two  grand  clumps  of  Papyrus 
antiquorum.  One  could  hardly  overpraise  this  plant  for  tropical 
gardening  (under  glass)  on  a  large  scale.  Among  the  lesser  things  is  a 
striking  South  American  species  of  Gloxinia  (G.  maculata),  still  bearing 
some  of  its  quaint,  hood-like,  blue  blossoms.  Far  up,  depending  from  the 
roof,  the  winter  sun  gives  a  vivid  tone  of  colour  to  bright  bunches  of 
Bignonia  venusta.  This  plant  as  seen  in  bloom  is  charming. 
Arundo  spicata,  a  slender  Reed,  has  reached  the  roof,  the  chief  point  of 
interest  about  it  being  how  it  has  managed  to  do  so  unsupported.  The 
rich  blue  blossoms  of  bushy  Dichorisandras  have  a  cheerful  influence  on  a 
winter’s  day. 
In  passing  through  other  plant  houses  there  are  many  promising 
collections  of  good  things  to  come  ;  400  pots  of  Freesias  are  vigorous 
and  sturd3’.  The  choicest  of  Chinese  Primulas  in  named  varieties  are 
coming  on,  and  Mr.  Campbell  speaks  highly  of  White  Lady,  a  small, 
