June  26,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
557 
Peas,  Ne  Plus  Ultra  and  Autocrat. 
We  have  read  ivitli  much  pleasure  that  excellent  and  interest¬ 
ing  article  “  A  Chat  About  Vegetables,”  by  “  B.”  After  nearly 
fifty  years’  experience  in  gardening,  ve  can  say  “  Amen  ”  to 
almost  every  sentiment  expressed.  One  notable  exception,  hov- 
ever,  is  that  in  reference  to  Ne  Plus  Idtra  Pea.  “B.’s” 
experience  is  another  pi'oof  how  Peas,  as  well  as  many  other 
things,  vary  in  different  soils  and  situations.  We  have  tried 
many  varieties  against  Ne  Plus  Ultra.  During  the  past  two 
seasons  we  have  grown  Autocrat,  and  were  much  pleased  with 
its  strong,  sturdy,  vigorous  growth,  and  expected  great  things 
from  it.  However,  we  were  doomed  to  disappointment.  The 
crop  was  only  about  half  of  Ne  Plus  Ultra;  the  pods  were  not 
nearly  so  well  filled;  and,  like  all  other  varieties  that  we  havm 
tried,  infinitely  inferior  in  flavour  to  our  old  favourite.  We 
grow  all  our  Peas  in  trenches,  about  loin  wide,  with  plenty  of 
short  dung  under  them,  and  sow  the  seeds  thinly  nearly  tlie 
whole  width  of  the  trench,  so  that  the  plants  have  ample  room 
in  their  earliest  stage  of  growth.  Under  this  treatment  Ne  Plus 
Ultra  generally  grows  between  8ft  and  Oft  high,  and  in  some 
seasons  even  higher.  Although  we  are  in  a  late,  cold,  low-lying 
situation  in  North  Northumberland,  our  own  saved  seed  of 
Ne  Plus  Ultra  is  much  finer  than  any  we  have  ever  bought. 
— N.  N. 
Plants  wMcli  Survive  a  Scottis'i  Winter. 
One  hears  much  too  often  the  statement  made  that  this  or 
that  exotic  plant  is  incapable  of  surviving  tlie  rigours  of  a 
winter  in  the  higher  latitude.s  cf  the  United  Kingdom.  Mucli 
of  this  is  oftener  than  otherwise  based  on  hearsay,  which,  like 
a  tradition,  is  prone  to  be  carried  down  from  one  non- 
enterprising  generation  to  another  without  the  remotest  trace 
of  authority  for  the  assertion.  In  a  small  way,  we  have 
ourselves  proved  ttat  more  than  one  greenhouse  subject  is 
hardy  enough  to  O’  ercome  the  lowest  frosts  one  generally  meets 
with  in  Scotland,  and  that,  too,  under  very  distinct  climatal 
conditions,  so  t  oat  we  have  long  since  learned  to  venture  an 
opinion  on  tli-  matter,  but  with  reluctancy  and  bated  breath. 
That  some  “-ats  of  Scotland  can  produce  climatal  conditions 
sufficiently  inild  to  grow  Avith  success  most  plants  that  any 
ether  part  in  the  southern  latitudes  of  the  kingdom  is  capable 
of  doing,  IS  evident  from  the  interesting  experiences  of  the 
noble  patron  of  horticulture,  C.  H.  Mackenzie,  Esq.,  of  Inverewe 
House,  ^ye.st  Ross-shire.  This  gentleman  has  had  wide  and 
long-continued  experience  in  the  tvork  of  climatising  plants,  and 
from  seme  notes  recently  published  from  his  pen  it  is  amazing 
to  find  so  much  to  be  possible  in  the  North  of  Scotland,  more 
especially  when  it  is  taken  into  account  that  the  gardens  and 
grounds  are  Avithin  hail  of  the  storms  and  blasts  of  the  fierce 
Atlantic  Ocean.  Arundinarias,  Piiormiums,  Cordyliiies,  Palms, 
Dicksonias,  Iree  Ferns,  C'amellias,  and  Aralias  evidently  groAA' 
there  vei^  much  better  than  most  of  us  appear  to  groAV  them 
under  glass.  M  e  hear  their  proud  possessor  say,  on  one  occasion, 
that  AA'ere  it  not  for  the  incA’itable  shoAA'ers  of  suoaa'  or  hail  one 
AA’ould  almost  forget  that  cue  Avas  not  under  a  canopy  of  glass. 
h'Ucalypti  groAV  Avell  there.  The  species  globulus  apjAears  to  be 
the  only  one  Avhich  gets  broAvn  Avith  spring  fro.sts  and  the  effects 
of  sea  storms.  The  species  Gunni,  coccifera,  cordata,  paucifiora, 
urnigera,  and  Whittinghami  apparently  never  suffer  in  the  least 
from  the  effects  of  Avinter.  Nuttallia  cerasiformis,  Drimys 
Winter!,  Indigoferas,  C'rinodendron  Hookerianum,  Abel'ia 
rupestris,  Eucryphia  pinnatifolia,  Calochortus  in  A-arieties, 
Enkianthus,  Gaylussacias,  Cyclobothras,  Incarvilleas,  Rom- 
neya  Coulter!,  Abutilon  Autifera,  Zenobia  pulverulenta.  Citrus 
of  sorts,  Pittosporums,  Hydrangeas,  including  H.  paniculata, 
Acer  japonica  of  sorts,  and  many  other  equally  notable  .subjects 
find  the  above  situation  a  suitable  home  for  their  vigorous  and 
luxuriant  groAvth.  It  is  perhaps  noteAvorthy  to  mention  that 
Arundinaria  Simons!  pu.shes  up  shoots  of  10ft  in  height  in  a 
season.  The  lessons  to  be  deduced  from  Mr.  Mackenzie’s 
research  in  this  very  intere.sting  department  of  horticulture  are 
eminently  instructive,  and  ought  to  induce  many  other  pro¬ 
prietors  and  gardeners  to  give  a  due  .share  of  their  time  and 
attention  to  a  .SAjbject  so  full  of  instruction,  usefulness,  and 
interest. — D.  C. 
[M’e  are  greatly  indebted  to  our  cori’espondent  for  his 
interesting  letter,  and  hope  that  it  may  be  the  means  of  causing 
Scottish  garden  OAvners  and  gardeners  to  consider  more  the 
selection  of  shrubs  that  they  can  .safely  choose  and  plant. 
Scottish  caution  is  a  stumblingblock  sometimes,  and  from  obser¬ 
vations  at  the  Botanic  Garden,  Edinburgh,  and  at  Dalkeith 
Palace,  Tynninghamo  Gardens,  and  elseAvhere,  aac  are  confident 
that  many  shrubs  at  pre.sent  rare  and  considered  choice  are. 
Avith  due  care,  perfectly  suitable  for  hundreds  of  the  gardens  of 
Scotland. — Ed.] 
Gardeners’  Education. 
The  last  sentence  by  Thomas  Arnold,  page  533,  contains 
a  mo.st  amazing  doctrine.  He  says :  “  But  first  of  all  he 
(■‘Another  Unfortunate”)  must  become  a  satisfied  man.”  If 
logically  folloAved  out  this  leads  one  to  some  curious  and  un¬ 
pleasant  conclusions.  To  be  satisfied  implies  the  lack  of,  or  the 
destruction  of  ambition,  and  ambition,  I  take  it,  is  the  principal 
cause  of  the  Avorld’s  progression.  It  is  being  di.ssatisfied  Avith  his 
present  circuiAistances  that  makes  a  man  aim  at  something 
higher,  Avhether  the  man  be  statesman  or  gardener.  A  butcher’s 
son  Avas  dissatisfied  with  his  earlier  circumstances,  and  hved  to 
Avin — Avhat?  The  Cardinal’s  hat  and  Hampton  Court.  To  be 
sure,  Shakespeare  makes  him  say  to  CroniAvell  : 
Cromwell,  I  charge  thee  fling  away  ambition. 
By  that  sin  fell  the  angels.  How’  can  man,  then. 
The  image  of  his  Maker,  hope  to  win  by’t? 
Thomas  Arnold  must  have  been  thinking  of  these  lines  Avhen  he 
Avrote  his  last  sentence,  forgetting  that  it  Avas  only  Avhen  the 
Cardinal  had  fallen,  through  the  envy  of  the  King,  and  Avhen  his 
heart  Avas  bitter  at  his  fall,  that  he  said  this.  No,  sir  ;  let  all 
men  be  satisfied,  and  stagnation  takes  the  place  of  progress.  It 
is  only  those  who  have  attained  greatness  Avho  can  afford  to  be 
.satisfied.  If  a  man  in  a  humble  po.sition  is  satisfied  it  implies 
lack  of  ambition  or  ignorance.  All  reforms  are  the  children  of 
dissati.sfaction.  It  gave  birth  to  “  Uncle  Tom’s  Cabin  ”  and  the 
“  Cry  of  the  Children,”  and  be  sure  the  status  of  gardeners  Avill 
not  improve  if  no  one  voices  our  grievances.  But  shall  aao  ever 
reach  that.  Utopian  state  Avhen  each  gardener  Avill  be  reAvarded 
according  to  his  merits?  I  think  not.  For  it  is  too  true,  in 
spite  of  Avhat  moralists  may  say,  that  the  race  is  too  often  to  the 
lucky  and  not  to  the  strong.  Mechanics  have  an  advantage  in 
that  the  better  Avorkman  can  ahvays  command  the  better  Avage, 
Avhich,  as  a  rule,  is  not  the  case  Avith  a  gardener,  avIio,  by  the 
death  or  altered  position  of  his  employei',  finds  himself  ship- 
Avrecked  and  cast  upon  the  sands.  It  is  then  that  he  finds  that 
his  previous  record  is  not  alone  sufficient  to  obtain  him  another 
position  equal  to  his  capabilities.  He  must  rely  largely  upon 
AA'hat  influence  his  late  employers  may  have  amongst  their 
friends,  or  some  other  fortunate  chance.  One  may  get  that 
chance,  but  what  of  the  nine  avIio  do  not  ?  Getting  a  place  is 
much  like  the  draAving  of  a  lottery  ticket — pure  chance.  It  is 
very  true,  as  “Anti-Luck”  (same  page)  points  out,  that  making 
the  most  of  “  one’s  opportunities  and  talents”  is  the  only  A\my  to 
achieve  success — you  see,  he  admits  “opportunities,”  Avhich,  in 
tbi^  connection,  is  only  another  name  for  “  luck,”  and  he  must 
admit  that  all  do  not  enjoy  equal  opportunities,  even  if  the 
education  is  the  same.  I  have  observed  that  those  Avhose  lot  is 
cast  in  plea.sant  places  find  it  difficult  to  understand  that  they 
arrived  there  by  means  other  than  their  OAvn  ability.  Another 
Shakespearean  quotation  is  appropriate ;  “  Some  are  born  great, 
some  achieve  greatness,  and  .some  have  greatness  thrust  upon 
them.”  Gardeners  of  to-day  may  be  found  in  each  of  these  divi¬ 
sions.  By  all  means  circulate  such  adAuce  as  that  of  Mr.  Divers 
and  also, 'from  time  to  time,  by  “  An  Old  Boy,”  for  I  fear  that 
the  majoriity  of  young  gardeners  require  some  stimulating;  and 
the  knoAvledge  gained  Avill  never  be  really  Av^sted,  for  a  man  Avill 
ahvays  find  pleasure  in  his  knoAvledge  eA^en  if  he  finds  no  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  making  his  knoAvledge  fui’ther  his  ainbition ;  and  a 
young  man  can  ahvays  be  relied  upon  to  judge  if  his  knoAvledge 
shall  be  used  to  make  him  a  successful  gardener,  or  in  other  and 
more  lucrativ^e  employment.  “  Anti-Luck  ”  must  be  of  an  extra 
optimistic  temperament  if  he  believes,  Avhat  he  so  gaily  assents, 
that  the  places  Avhere  the  gardener’s  duties  are  combined  "ith 
several  other  professions  foreign  to  his  oAvn,  are  “  rare  berths. 
Would  that  the  “plums”  of  the  profession  were  no  harder  to 
obtain  than  one  of  these,  for  then  there  Avould  be  no  excuse  for 
such  articles  as  that  of  “  D.  W.  G.”  Meanwhile,  all  a  gardener 
can  do  is  to  strive  his  utmost  to  obtain  the  maximum  results 
from  his  garden  that  his  circumstances  Avill  alloAV,  so  that  his 
fame  as  a  gardener  may  be  established,  and  that  others,  possible 
emplovers  may  see  his  good  AA’orks  ;  then  if  the  chance  of  better¬ 
ment  arrives  it  finds  a  man  of  unlimited  capabilities  ready,  to 
seize  that  chance,  and  if  the  finger  of  fortune  ever  points  to  him. 
well,  he  has  the  consolation,  small  though  it  is,  ot  duty  well 
done. — J.  T.  B. 
