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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
May  22,  1902. 
A  Note  on  the  Sweet  Pea. 
Harry  Eckforcl  first  started  crossing  and  selecting  from 
Lathyrns  odoratns  and  its  few  primary  varieties  in  tlie  year  1873. 
Though  now  over  eiglity  years  of  age,  he  is  able  to  fly  about  on 
a  bicycle,  and  still  offers  improved  novelties  each  year.  One  of 
Eckford’s  early  surprises  was  when  Sweet  Pea  Mrs.  Sankey,  a 
jiure  white  flower,  yielded  black  seeds.  Before  that  time  white- 
flowered  Sweet  Peas  gave  light-skinned  seeds,  but,  crossing  here 
again,  mixed  up  the  characteristics  and  showed  how  thoroughly 
infusion  becomes. 
Material  for  Layering. 
Nurserymen  rely  a.  good  deal  on  layering  for  the  increasing  of 
many  of  their  trees  and  shrubs  (says  Mr.  Joseph  Meehan).  As 
will  be  understood,  the  nearer  the  branches  are  to  the  ground  the 
better  is  the  work  facilitated.  Sometimes  a  large  branch  may 
be  bent  down  and  kept  in  place  by  pegs,  but  one  of  the  best  ways, 
where  practicable,  is  to  cut  down  to  the  ground  some  large 
bushes,  doing  the  work  now,  then  a  crop  of  young  shoots  come, 
which  are  just  what  are  wanted  for  layering.  There  are  excep¬ 
tions,  but  nearly  all  shrubs  can  be  increased  in  this  way ;  and 
to  get  a  good  crop  of  shoots  for  the  purpose,  cut  them  down 
at  once. 
Newly  Planted  Vines. 
When  the  Vines  recently  planted  have  taken  to  the  soil,  as 
will  be  indicated  by  their  growing  freely,  ventilate  early  in 
the  day,  as  the  value  of  growth  is  dependent  more  on  its 
sturdiness  and  solidification  than  on  its  length  and  .sappiness, 
and  there  is  no  remedy  for  a  large  pith  and  ill-matured  growth. 
Encourage  laterals  rather  than  elongation  of  the  cane,  but 
that  extend  and  retain  all  that  growth  that  can  have  exposure 
to  light.  That  is  desirable  where  the  Vines  are  weakly,  but  if 
they  are  vigorous  it  is  a  better  plan  to  pinch  the  laterals  at  the 
first  joint  and  to  one  leaf  of  subsequent  growth,  stopping  the 
canes  at  9ft  to  10ft,  and  allow  the  uppermost  to  grow  a  few 
joints  and  then  keep  all  closely  pinched.  If  the  cane  breaks  into 
two  growths  cut  away  the  worst.  Supernumeraries  intended  for 
next  year’s  fruiting  should  have  the  laterals  pinched  at  the  first 
leaf,  afterwards  allowing  them  to  make  a  few  joints  of  growth  if 
weak,  otherwise  pinching  to  one  leaf,  stopping  the  cane  at  8ft 
or  9ft  of  growth,  taking  every  possible  care  of  the  leaves  on  the 
cane,  not  allowing  them  to  be  interfered  with  in  any  way  by 
the  laterals.  Keep  the  soil  moist,  but  not  very  wet,  closing 
early  with  plenty  of  atmospheric  moisture. — G.  A. 
Flowering  Trees  and  Shrubs. 
Although  there  are  drawbacks  to  the  inclement  weather 
experienced  during  the  greater  part  of  April  and  the  first  half 
of  May,  yet  some  compensating  advantages  may  be  found.  The 
latter  are  particularly  noticeable  in  the  length  of  time  the 
Wallflowers  have  remained  in  bloom  this  spring.  Forget-me- 
nots,  Aubrietia,  Polyanthuses  have  bloomed  well,  and  the 
flowers,  where  not  exposed  too  much  to  the  cutting  easterly 
bla,sts,  have  remained  fresh  and  bright  longer  than  usual.  The 
Lilac  blooms  have  opened  slowly,  and  are  now  bright  and 
attractive.  What  a  grand  flowering  tree  for  a  shrubbery  is 
Pyrus  floribunda.  The  rich  golden  sprays  of  Berberis  Darwini 
have  been  specially  pleasing  for  several  weeks.  The  common 
Gorse,  with  its  armoured  foliage,  yields  a  mass  of  delightfully 
bright  yellow  blooms,  which  light  up  the  shrubbery  in  spring 
time.  The  Forsythias  are  always  appreciated  when  long  shoots 
droop  and  arch  in  a  graceful  manner,  each  studded  with  the 
beautiful  yellow  blooms.  Clematis  montana,  growing  in  wild 
profu.sion  on  trelliswork  over  porches  and  roofs  and  fences,  will 
soon  be  a  dense  mass  of  bloom,  especially  when  the  weather 
changes  to  warm,  soft  airs.  The  absence  of  warm  days  up  to 
the  pre.sent  will  eventually  prove  beneficial  to  the  Roses,  which 
being  so  sensitive  to  an  increased  temperature,  are  often 
induced  to  grow  early,  the  leaves  afterwards  being  crippled  and 
curled,  and  insects  appear.  The  Horse  Chestnuts  are  later  than 
usual  in  blooming,  and  the  majority  of  trees  and  shrubs  feel 
the  want  of  warmer  weather. — E.  D.  S. 
Evolution  of  the  Tuberous  Begonia. 
In  the  year  1864  Pearce  sent  home  to  Messrs.  Veitch  and 
Sons,  Limited,  Begonia  boliviensis,  in  1866  Pearcei  followed, 
and  Veitchi  in  the  same  year.  Shortly  afterwards  John  Seden 
(of  Veitch’s)  raised  the  first  hybrid,  a  cross  between  B.  boliviensis 
and  B.  Veitclri,  and  which  was  named  after  him — Sedeni. 
C'helsoni  was  another  of  the  earliest  hybrids.  B.  Gloire  de 
Lorraine  appeared  in  1884  from  crossing  B.  socotrana  with  B. 
Dregei.  B.  socotrana  and  the  tuberous  Begonias  have  given  ri.se 
to  the  winter  flowering  race. 
Polypodium  glaucum  Mayi. 
Beautiful  Ferns  that  are  at  the  same  time  serviceable  for 
purposes  of  embellishment  in  cooler  dwelling  rooms,  are  not  well 
known,  though  they  are,  nevertheless,  not  a-wanting.  The 
variety  illustrated  on  another  page  this  week  is  a  very  handsome 
Fern,  and  of  ea.sy  cultural  needs.  Mr.  H.  B.  May,  of  Dyson’s 
Lane  Nurseries,  Upper  Edmonton,  showed  it  in  1898  at  a  Royal 
Horticultural  Society  show,  and  was  awarded  a  First-Class  Certifi¬ 
cate,  which  is  proof  of  itself  that  the  form  is  meritorious  from 
the  ornamental  point  of  valuation.  The  plant  was  originally 
exhibited  as  Phlebodium  Mayi. 
Akebia  quinata. 
This  elegant  hardy  climber  deserves  more  recognition  than 
has  been  msually  accorded  it,  and  I  feel  constrained  here  to  draw 
attention  to  it  from  the  fact  that  recently  I  noticed  that  it  was 
mo.st  effectively  employed  in  a  floral  decoration  against  a  tail 
marble  tombstone,  and  somewhat  resembling  superficially,  both 
in  leaf  and  flower  a  miniature  form  of  Clematis.  Other  spectators 
also  appeared  to  be  interested  with  its  appearance,  and  were 
ignorant  of  its  identity.  The  Akebia  is  said  to  be  a  small  genus 
of  Lardizabalacese,  distinguished  by  having  .separate  male  and 
female  floAvers.  The  freely  rnnning  slender  stems  of  the  species 
in  que.stion  is  furnished  with  very  pretty  leaves,  consisting  of 
three  to  five  ovate  or  oboA^ate  leaflets,  and  from  the  axils  of 
these  leaves  grow  the  racemes  of  dull  red-purple  fragrant  floAA-ers, 
of  Avhich  the  upper  are  smaller  and  sterile,  the  loAver  larger  and 
fertile.  The  colours  of  the  floAvers,  both  male  and  female,  are 
the  .same,  and  the  calyx  consi.sts  of  three  .short  concave  segments. 
The  plant  altogether  is  of  a  most  intere.sting  chai'acter. — W.  G. 
A  Liverpool  Roof  Garden. 
The  illustration  on  page  457  gives  some  faint  idea  of  Avhat 
may  be  accounplished  in  the  midst  of  a  croAvded  city  by 
utili.sing  roof  .space  to  the  best  advantage,  and  I  fail  to  see  that 
such  good  Avork  could  not  be  acconAplished  by  most  person.s 
pos.sessing  their  oAvn  property  and  Avhose  inclinations  have  a 
bent  for  the  fa.scinating  study  of  horticulture.  The  house 
illu.strated  is  about  20ft  by  12ft,  span-roofed.  On  entering  the 
bu.sy  premises  little  thought  Avould  be  given  of  a  trace  of 
gardening  being  found,  but  after  mounting  several  long  flights 
of  stairs  you  emerge  out  on  the  roof  top  and  feast  on  an 
unexpected  floral  picture.  Strong  supports,  built  from  the  eaves 
and  carried  up  to  the  level  of  the  ridge,  is  the  foundation  of  the 
greenhouse,  the  boarded  floor  alloAving  of  the  AA-ater  passing 
through  and  running  doAAn  the  .slates  underneath.  Extensions, 
too,  have  gone  on,  so  that  noAv  the  Avhole  roof  is  a  garden 
picture.  In  the  summer  time  you  may  see  in  the  cork-covered 
boxe.s — for  everything  outdoors  is  boxed — Sweet  Peas  in  charm¬ 
ing  condition.  Carnations,  Gladioli,  and  the  hosts  of  seasonable 
floAvers  greet  the  eye.  Ru.stic  arches  adorned  Avith  creepers  are 
at  intervals  to  break  the  monotony,  and  even  the  homely 
Currant  and  Gooseberry  find  a  home,  the  spring  bringing  its, 
pleasure  also. 
Chrysanthemums  have  their  place  set  apart  until  ready  for 
housing.  The  greenhouse  is  never  Avithout  its  floAvers — bulbs 
of  every  sort  there,  Azaleas,  Fuchsias,  Pelargoniums,  Ferns, 
Palms,  a  few  Orchids — these  and  other  warmer  subjects 
having  a  case  built  for  them  at  one  end.  Tomatoes,  and  even 
Cucumbers,  have  been  AA-ith  other  things  successfully  grown, 
Avhilst  a  decent  looking  Vine  is  making  good  progress.  The 
heating  is  done  from  the  kitchen  fire,  driven  through  lead  pipes 
to  the  top  of  the  building  and  jointed  on  to  4in  hot-AA-ater  pipes. 
A  love  for  the  AAork,  gained  through  the  pages  of  the  horticul¬ 
tural  journals,  attending  of  sIioaas,  and  la.st,  but  not  least, 
attending  the  meetings  of  the  amateur  gardeners,  has  enabled 
Mrs.  Stevenson  to  surmount  many  difficulties,  and  hold  a 
“  high  position  ”  as  an  exhibitor  at  OAir  .shoAA’s. — R.  P.  R. 
