192 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  26,  1903. 
PEAS. — Successional  rows  of  Peas  iiiay  be  sown  if  early 
varieties  of  merit  are  already  in  the  ground.  To  follow  the 
earliest  varieties  make  selections  from  the  following,  and  sow 
now  Duke  of  York,  height  4ft. ;  Telephone,  5ft ;  Duke  of  Albany, 
5ft;  Telegraph,  5ft ;  Prince  of  Wales,  3ft ;  Fillljasket,  3ft;  Early 
Sunrise,  2^ft.  Thoroughly  trenched  and  prepared  ground  in 
an  open  irosition  must  be  selected.  If  the  rows  are  near  one 
another  they  must  have  the  same  space  between  them  as  the 
height  of  the  variety,  but  it  is  usual  where  many  rows  of  Peas 
are  required  to  meet  the  demand  tO'  sow  at  wide*  distances,  the 
intervening  space  being  occupied  with  other  crops.  Draw  drills 
2in  deep,  with  a  Gin  wide  hoe,  leaving  the  base  even.  Scatter 
the  seed  an  inch  apart,  covering  with  the  fine  soil.  The  rows 
must  be  protected  from  birds  either  before,  or  as  soon  as  germina¬ 
tion  ensues.  The  best  protection  is  of  course  wire  Pea  guards, 
but  failing  these,  strands  of  black  cotton  stretched  tiglitly  a  few 
inches  above  the  soil,  attaching  them  to  pegs  at  each  end  and 
in  the  middle,  will  prove  effectual.  It  is  better  to  protect  in  time, 
as  much  damage  can  soon  be  done  by  birds,  especially  when  the 
seed  is  germinating,  and  even  before  if  they  find  out  the  seed  is 
in  the  ground. 
TOMATOES. — For  culture  under  glass  in  a,  slightly  heated 
house,  either  planted  out  or  in  pots,  sow  seed  now.  Earliest  of 
All,  Chemin  Rouge,  Holme.s’  Supreme,  Frogmore  Selected,  are 
good  varieties.  Sow  the  seeds  an  inch  apart  on  the  surface  of  the 
soil  in  5in  pots.  Elevate  to  the  light  when  the  seed  germinate 
to  keep  the  plants  sturdy,  potting  singly  as  soon  as  they  are 
strong  enough.  Pricked  out  plants  from  an  earlier  sowing  may 
be  potted  on.  Strong  plants,  established  from  an  autumn  sowing 
in  small  pots,  may  be  finally  planted  out  in  a  warm  light 
structure. 
CELERY. — Early  sowings  of  Celery  in  a  pan  or  box  must  rc*^ 
ceive  plenty  of  light  and  air  in  a  cool  house,  so  as  to  prepare 
the  plants  for  pricking  out  in  a  slightly  heated  frame  shortly. 
Make  a  further  sowing  of  seed.  Reliable  varieties  are  Wright’s 
Giant  White,  Sulham  Prize,  and  Standard  Bearer.  The  two 
latter  are  red  varieties.  The  same  treatment  accorded  to  Onions 
may  be  given  to  Leeks.  Musselburgh  and  Ljmn  are  good  varieties. 
East  Kent. 
-  •  t 
Young  Gardeners’  Domain.* 
Saintpaulia  lonantha. 
It  seems  a  pity  that  this  pretty  little  stove  plant  is  not  more 
extensively  grown,  Avhen  leaves  can  be  layered  in  any  light  .soil 
at  this  season.  When  placed  in  a  propagating  frame  they  root 
quite  freely.  When  they  have  made  a  couple  of  leaves  they  may 
be  potted  into  small  60-pots,  in  a  soil  consisting  of  equal  parts 
of  loam  and  peat,  broken  finely,  and  a  little  leaf  mould,  with  a 
sprinkling  of  silver  or  river  sand.  In  about  a  month  or  six  weeks, 
before  the  leaves  get  too  long,  they  may  be  shifted  into  large 
48-pots,  and  during  the  autumn  and  winter  they  will  flower 
freely,  and  brighten  up  the  stove  when  placed  around  the  edge 
of  the  stages.  The  flowers  will  last  for  several  days  after  they 
ai’e  gathered  and  placed  in  the  rooms. — H.  J.  K.,  Journeyman. 
Violets  for  Winter  Blooming. 
During  the  dull  months  Violet  blooms  are  highly  prized,  and 
no  pains  should  be  spared  to  produce  a  supply  of  these  fragrant 
flowers.  In  the  spring  the  runners  may  be  allowed  toi  extend, 
and  some  finely  sifted  leaf  soil  be  placed  around  the  plants. 
The  runners  will  root  into  this,  and  they  can  then  be  lifted  and 
planted  out  in  a  prepared  border,  or  potted  in  small  pots  for  a 
time,  till  well  rooted.  Another  plan  is  to  make  cuttings  of  un¬ 
rooted  runners,  and  dibble  about  an  inch  apart  in  sandy  soil 
in  a  frame  placed  on  a  gentle  hotbed.  A  shady  place  should  be 
found  for  the  summer  quarters,  such  as  behind  a  north  wall, 
or  the  north  side  of  kitchen  garden  espaliers.  If  a  flaky  lot  of 
leaf  .soil  be  dug  in  the  border,  the  roots  will  soon  take  possession 
of  it,  and  the  plants  will  lift  in  the  autumn  with  good  balls  of 
soil.  After  planting  keep  the  soil  stiri'ed  with  the  hoe,  and 
syringe  the  Violets  at  the  close  of  every  fine  day.  Should  a 
dry  time  set  in,  they  will  be  benefited  by  a  light  mulch,  which 
will  also  save  much  watering.  If  single  crowns  are  preferred, 
all  runners  must  be  closely  cut  off,  and  medium  sized  clumps 
give  the  greatest  quantity  of  bloom,  although  they  are  not  so 
fine  as  the  single  crowns. 
In  September  prepare  frames  for  the  plants,  as  it  is  well  to 
get  them  nicely  e.stablished  before  much  frost  occurs.  The  old- 
fashioned  frames  are  the  best,  those  with  span  lights  keeping 
the  plants  too  far  from  the  glass.  These  should,  be  placed  on 
.spent  hotbeds,  and  sweet  and  friable  soil  put  in.  The  bed  must 
have  the  same  slope  as  the  lights,  and  be  raised,  so  that,  wdien 
*  The  editor  invites  young  gardeners  who  are  readers  to  contribute  to  the 
Tiomain,  and  he  will  at  all  times  endeavour  to  ensure  the  publication  of  their 
letters. 
the  planting  is  finished,  the  Violets  are  not  more  than  4in  from 
the  glass.  Abundance  of  air  is  required,  except  during  frost, 
and  artificial  heat  avoided  altogether.  This  latter  only  breeds 
red  spider,  and  causes  the  leaves  to  become  weak  and  flabby. 
Mats  and  litter  will  be  wanted  in  severe  tveather,  and  a  few 
lengths  of  rail  may  be  laid  on  the  lights  before  throwing  on  the 
mats.  The  current  of  air  thus  caused  w'ill  maintain  the  inside 
temperature  more'  even  than  by  placing  the  mats  directly  on 
the  frames.  The  lights  should  never  be  entirely  shut,  so  long 
as  frost  is  kept  out.  The  soil  may  be  frequently  stirred,  and 
spotted  and  decaying  leaves  picked  clean  off.  The  best  all¬ 
round  Violet  to  grow'  is  Marie  Louise.  De  Parme  blooms  pro¬ 
fusely  in  the  spring,  but  the  flow'er  stalks  are  rather  short. 
Th  double  white,  Cbmte  de  Brazza,  is  a  fine  Violet,  but  unfor¬ 
tunately  it  is  a  bad  doer.  Among.st  singles.  Princess  of  Wales 
is  as  good  as  any,  having  large  flow’ers  attached  to  nice  long 
stalks. — W.  F.,  Burton-on-Trent^  January  29,  1903. 
Exhibition  Schedules. 
At  the  Richmond  Hoi'ticultural  Society’s  Show  on  July  1st, 
Lady  Waechter  offers  a  silver  challenge  cup  (£21  value)  for  fruit, 
and  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.,  offers  a  similar  cup  for  Roses. 
Some  veiy  good  money  prizes  are  also  to  be  competed  for,  and 
gold  medals  will  be  awarded  to  meritorious  non-competitive  ex¬ 
hibits.  The  secretary  is  Mr.  C.  R.  King,  61  and  62,  George 
Street,  Richmond,  Surrey.  *  *  The'  exhibition  of  the  Midland 
Carnation  and  Picote©  Society  will  be  held  about  the  end  of  July 
or  early  in  August,  and  the  schedule  of  prizes  is  now  published. 
This  can  be  obtained  from  Mr.  Herbert  Smith,  87,  Drayton  Road, 
King’s  Heath,  Birmingham.  *  *  At  the  show  of  the  Dudley  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society,  to  be  held  on  August  5th  and  6th,  the  first  prize 
in  class  1,  is  £10,  and  for  a  group  of  plants  in  class  2,  it  is 
£12  10s.  ;  for  a  collection  of  Cactus  or  decorative  Dahlia  blooms, 
the  first  award  will  be  £3  10s.  Numerous  special  prizes  are 
being  offered.  The  secretary  is  Mr.  How’ard  Dickinson,  Sunny- 
side,  Dudley.  *  *  The  Royal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society 
produces  a  very  complete  prize  schedule  with  rules,  and  the 
Council’s  report  for  1902.  The  latter  we  refer  to  at  length 
elsewhere.  The  number  of  classes  furnished  for  the  spring  show' 
on  May  20  and  21  is  125,  embracing  plants,  cut  flowers,  fruit 
and  vegetables,  and  a  special  section  is  set  apart  for  bona-fide 
amateurs.  The  prizes  are  all  good,  quite  a  number  being  in 
sums  of  £2,  £3,  £4,  and  £5  as  firsts.  The  Council  have  resolved 
to  do  away  with  all  competitive  classes  in  th©  nurserymen’s 
section,  but  they  will  grant  awards  to  meritorious  exhibits.  At 
the  autumn  show  (September  9  and  10)  there  are  264  classes.  The 
secretary  is  Mr.  P.  Murray  Thomson,  S.S.C.,  5,  York  Place, 
Edinburgh.  *  *  The  Sheffield  Floral  and  Horticultural  Society 
offer  £5  10s.  as  first  for  a  group  of  plants,  and  numerous  small 
prizes  in  ninety-seven  classes.  Secretar\',  Mr.  W.  Lew'endon, 
93,  Neill  Road,  Sheffield.  *  *  The  Hanley  Floral  Fete  takes  place 
on  July  1  and  2.  The  schedule  is  in  four  divisions,  there  being 
ninety-four  classes.  The  chief  prizes  are  £15  for  Oi'chids,  £7  for 
Carnations,  £12  for  plants,  £10,  £6,  and  £8  respectively  for 
Roses,  £10  for  hardy  flowers,  £10  10s.  for  fruit,  £4  for  decorated 
dinner  table ;  £3  and  £2  in  a  number  of  Grape  classes,  *and  a 
number  of  special  prizes  for  vegetable  collections.  The  sums 
we  have  named  are  all  for  first,  and  with  them  are,  in  some 
cases,  special  prizes  of  pieioes  of  plate,  Ac.  The  Horticultural 
Secretary  is  Mr.  Jos.  Kent,  Superintendent,  The  Park,  Hanley. 
*  *  The  schedule  of  the  London  Dahlia  Lriiion’s  show  on 
September  16  and  17  has  been  issued.  It  provides  twenty-one 
classes,  and  there  is  a  ten-guinea  challenge  cup  offered. 
Application  should  be  made  to  Mr.  R.  Dean,  V.M.H.  Ranleigh 
Road,  -Ealing.  *  *  The  Woking  Horticultural  Association 
have  had  a  good  season,' and  are  able  to  show  a  balance  of  over 
£24.  Competitions  are  arranged  for  each  of  their  ordinary 
meetings  during  the  year,  there  being  as  many  as  eleven,  twelve, 
and  thirteen  classes  on  certain  evenings,  a  lecture  following. 
Mr.  Montagu©  Rose,  Elm  Villa,  Woking  Village,  Woking,  is 
secretary.  *  *  The  Croydon  Horticultural  Society  have  a 
balance  of  over  £19  to  th©  good.  The  summer  show  takes  place 
on  July  8,  there  being  over  sixty  classes,  including  a  number 
that  are  open.  Roses,  plants,  fruits,  and  vegetables  are  special 
features,  and  good  prize.s  are  offered.  Mr.  A.  C.  Roffey,  St. 
Andrew’s  Villa,  55,  Church  Road,  Croydon,  is  secretary. 
Weather  in  the  North. 
The  first  three  days  of  the  past  week  were  pleasant,  though 
dull ;  but  since  the  19th  there  has  been  an  almost  ince.ssant 
course  of  very  high  winds,  with  much  rain.  Some  of  th©  nights 
have  been  especially  boisterous.  Monday  brought  heavy  sleety 
showers,  and  all  the  hills  are  again  white. — B.  D.,  S.  Perthshire. 
