250 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  ii,  1902. 
Experiments  with  Plants. 
The  members  of  the  St.  Andrews  and  East  of  Fife  Farmers’ 
Club  paid  a  visit  on  August  25,  to  Dr.  J.  H.  Wilson’s  experi¬ 
mental  plots  at  Greenside  Nursery.  The  plots  were  reduced 
to  a  minimum  size,  the  object  being  not  to  test  the  results  of 
growing  certain  orops  in  large  bulks,  but  to  carry  out  with  a  few 
plants  experiments  which  demand  constant  and  close  inspec¬ 
tion.  The  series  was  planned  primarily  with  the  view  of 
securing  material  for  the  University  classes  conducted  by  Dr. 
Wilson.  The  plots  include  a  very  complete  set  of  agricultural 
grasses  and  Clovers,  and  also  the  less  commonly  cultivated 
plants,  such  as  Lucerne,  Sainfoin,  Serradilla,  Bokhara.  Clover, 
Comfrey,  Chicory,  Burnet,  Buckwheat,  Flax,  &c.  Attention  is 
given  to  plant  parasites  and  diseases.  An  interesting  root  para¬ 
site  on  Clover,  the  Broomrape,  was  in  flower.  This  was  estab¬ 
lished  by  sowing  the  seed  of  the  Clover  and  the  parasite 
together.  The  inoculation  of  Rye  with  ergot  formed  another 
very  interesting  experiment.  The  germinated  ergots  were 
new  objects  to  the  majority  of  visitors.  Rust,  smut,  mildew, 
finger-and-toe.  and  sprain  received  a  share  of  study.  As  is 
well-known,  Dr.  Wilson  has  long  been  an  authority  on  plant 
hybridisation.  Numerous  new  garden  hybrids  of  value,  including 
fruits  such  as  Brambles,  were  seen  in  the  nursery.  In  the  plots 
was  found  a  very  remarkable  series  of  vegetables  derived  from 
crosses  between  Brussels  Sprouts  and  Broccoli,  Savoy  and 
Brussels  Sprouts,  Curled  Kale  and  Broccoli,  &c.  The  object  in 
crossing  these  was  twofold — to  gain  insight  as  to  the  effect 
of  deliberate  intercrossing  of  the  varieties  of  the  Cabbage 
family  in  the  matter  of  reversion  to  the  old  stock,  and,  if 
possible,  to  secure  new  races  of  vegetables.  The  new  plants 
were  extremely  vigorous,  and  presented  bewildering  variety  of 
shape  and  tint.  A  remarkable  hybrid  between  Curled  Kale  and 
Charlock  was  in  flower.  It  partook  most  of  the  latter  parent, 
but  was  much  taller.  Crossed  Swede  and  yellow  Turnips,  and 
crosses  between  these,  were  in  abundance,  and  were  regarded 
as  very  promising.  A  large  number  of  crossed  Potatoes  was 
noted.  Although  only  sown  in  the  middle  of  March  last,  the 
plants  are  expected  to  bear  a  full  crop  of  tubers  this  season. 
Many  were  in  flower,  and  the  stems  of  many  were  3ft  high.  It 
was  instructive  to  find  a  great  variety  in  colour  of  leaf,  flower, 
and  tuber  in  seedlings  from  one  and  the  same  fruit.  The  most 
remarkable  objects  in  the  plots,  however,  were  probably  Dr. 
Wilson’s  new  hybrid  Oats.  They  were  the  result  of  six  distinct 
crosses,  including  white  Canadian,  English  Potato,  Waverley, 
&c.  All  presented  most  surprising  vigour;  indeed,  it  was  hard 
to  believe  that  the  new  plants  were  from  single  grains  sown  at 
the  same  time  and  grown  under  the  same  conditions  as  the 
parent  Oats  seen  alongside.  The  tallest. — Goldfinder  crossed 
with  English  Potato  Oat — reached  the  height  of  7ft  8in.  The 
heads  of  the  hybrids  were  commonly  enough  18in  long,  and  in  one 
case  the  number  of  grain-bearing  stems  produced  by  one  plant 
was  twenty. — (“  Dundee  Advertiser.”) 
A  Classification  of  Sweet  Peas. 
For  a  considerable  period  the  committee  of  the  National  Sweet 
Pea  Society  has  been  of  the  opinion  that  it  was  desirable  to 
formulate  some  scheme  of  classification,  and  at  the  recent  most 
successful  show  this  was  demonstrated  in  a  very  forcible  manner. 
It  was  apparent  that  the  growers  were  not  in  harmony  in  regard 
to  the  colours  of  many  varieties,  while  some  which  were  staged 
in  one  special  colour  class  were  also,  represented  in  another  which 
should  have  been  totally  dissimilar.  It  was  obvious  that  some 
remedy  for  such  an  anomalous  state  of  affairs  was  essential,  and 
it  was  procurable  only  by  an  election  of  varieties  which  classified 
them  under  specified  colours. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  executive  committee,  held  on  July  29, 
it  was  resolved  that  classification  papers  be  printed  and  distri¬ 
buted  amongst  members  of  the  committee,  as  well  as  growers  of 
repute,  whether  they  were  members  of  the  society  or  not.  It 
was  clearly  seen  by  the  committee  that  the  date  of  distribution 
was  fully  late,  as  many  varieties  were  so  far  past  their  best  that 
some  of  the  colour  and  form  characteristics  were  rapidly  failing, 
u  he  necessity  for  the  work  was,  how'ever,  so  very  imperative, 
that  tins  disadvantage  had,  perforce,  to  be  overlooked,  and  the 
committee  relied  upon  the  wide  knowledge  of  those  beautiful 
flowers,  known  to  be  possessed  by  the  gentlemen  who  filled  in  the 
lists,  fvor  was  this  confidence  misplaced.  It  was  speedily  found 
that  there  was  a  strong  concensus  of  opinion  in  favour  of  the 
best  varieties,  and  it  was  only  when  we  came  to  unimportant,  • 
and  often  variable  varieties,  that  any  material  divergence  of 
opinion  was  manifest. 
.  Th©  committee  is  convinced  that  the  varieties  which  occupy 
the  first,  second,  and  third  places  under  the  several  colour  lieact- 
IvgSr_and  e"  °i  Yvdllc'^1  v°tes  each  received  are  attached — are 
the  best  of  those  in  general  cultivation.  Several  varieties,  like 
Dorothy  Eckford  and  Countess  Spencer,  would  have  received 
many  more  marks  had  they  been  known,  and  to  this  fact  alone 
must  be  attributed  the  positions  they  occupy  in  the  accompanying 
tables.  The  committee  desires  it  to  be  fully  understood  that 
this  is  its  first  attempt  at  classification,  and  that  it  was  mad© 
late  in  the  season,  in  consequence  of  which  it  may  be  subject  to 
expansion,  emendation,  and  general  improvement  in  future 
seasons.  Many  growers  have  asked  for  lists  of  the  best  twelve, 
twenty-four,  and  thirty-six  varieties  to  be  embodied  in  the 
schedule  of  next  year’s  show,  and  these  the  committee  will  pre¬ 
pare  in  due  course,  though  their  necessity  is  reduced  by  the 
appended  tables. 
It  will  be  observed  that  in  each  case  a  certain  number  of 
varieties  are  above  and  a  certain  number  below  the  line ;  the 
latter  are  there  placed  either  because  they  have  been  superseded 
by  others  above  the  line,  or  because  they  are  not  sufficiently  well 
known  for  an  authoritative  opinion  of  their  merits  to  be  expressed. 
One  or  two  sorts  that  were  inserted  in  the  election  papers  have 
been  excluded  because  absolutely  nothing  was  known  about  them. 
Growers  are  assured  that  any  variety  they  consider  misplaced 
this  year  will  find  its  proper  level  in  the  classification  of  the 
Sweet  Pea  that,  it  is  hoped,  the  National  Sweet  Pea  Society  will 
annually  undertake. 
As  the  annual  meeting  of  the  society  will  not  be  held  until 
January,  there  was  a  clearly  expressed  desire  that  the  results  of 
the  work  of  the  committee  be  published  early,  so  as  to  enable  the 
seed  merchants  to  include  them  in  their  catalogues  in  the  form  of 
recommendations,  as  they  are,  by  their  positions,  proved  to 
be  of  superior  merit.  The  committee,  therefore,  request  the 
co-operation  of  the  gardening  Press,  which  has  done  so  much  to 
further  the  interests  of  the  society,  to  add  to  its  kindness  by 
giving  publicity  to  this  election. 
Crimson. 
27  Salopian 
24  Mars 
16  Firefly 
Cardinal 
Brilliant 
Duchess  of  Edinburgh 
Ignea 
*  Invincible  Scarlet 
•  *  ,,  Carmine 
*  For  the  purposes  of  this  classifi¬ 
cation  and  for  exhibition  these  are 
considered  synonymous. 
Pink. 
24  Prima  Donna 
23  Lovely 
19  The  Hon  F.  Bouverie 
Countess  of  Lathom 
Princess  Beatrice 
Countess  Spencer 
Katherine  TrAcey 
Mrs.  Gladstone 
Peach  Blossom 
Royal  Robe 
Isa  Eckford 
Blush. 
21  Duchess  of  Sutherland 
14  Modesty 
9  Countess  of  Aberdeen 
Sensation 
Fairy  Queen 
Lemon  Queen 
California 
Blushing  Beauty 
Rose  and  Carmine. 
23  Prince  of  Wales 
20  Her  Majesty 
18  Mrs.  Dugdale 
Royal  Rose 
Lord  Kenyon 
Lord  Rosebery 
Splendour 
Colonist 
Adonis 
Fashion 
Novelty 
Ovid 
Princess  Beatrice 
Eliza  Eckford 
Miss  Hunt 
Orange  Shade 
21  Gorgeous 
20  Lady  Mary  Currie 
19  Miss  Willmott 
Chancellor 
Countess  of  Powis 
Oriental 
Lady  Penzance 
Meteor 
Orange  Prince 
Picotee  Edged 
18  Lottie  Eckford 
14  Maid  of  Honour 
11  Golden  Gate 
Butteifly 
Stripes  and  Flakes  —  Red  and 
Rose. 
25  America 
18  Aurora 
18  Mrs.  Jos.  Chamberlain 
13  Pink  Friar 
Gaiety 
Coronet 
Mikado 
Queen  of  the  Isles 
Invincible  Striped 
Yellow  and  Buff  Shades. 
26  Queen  Victoria 
24  The  Hon.  Mrs.  Kenyon 
21  Mrs.  Eckford 
Lady  M.  Ormsby  Gore 
Primrose 
Venus 
Golden  Gleam 
Gleam  of  Broekhampton 
Stripes  and  Flakes— Purple  and 
Blue. 
29  Princess  of  Wales 
19  Senator 
15  Grey  Friar 
Wawona 
Juanita 
Midnight 
Columbia 
Purple  Striped 
Striped  Celestial 
Bicolors. 
19  Triumph 
17  Little  Dorrit 
14*Blanche  Ferry 
Prince  Edward  of  Vo  k 
Countess  of  Shrewslury 
.Teannie  Gordon 
Duke  of  York 
*  Earliest  of  All 
Lady  Beaconsfield 
Empress  of  India 
Painted  Lady 
Apple  Blossom 
Bronze  King 
Lady  Skelmersdale 
Delight 
*  For  the  purposes  of  exhibition 
these  varieties  are  considered  synony¬ 
mous 
