LATHYRUS SPLENDENS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12975, 30 November 1907, Page 5

LATHYRUS SPLENDENS.

This deep crimson everlasting pea, popularly known in its native habitat as the'-Pride of California," is now in full bloom in quite a number of the gardens in Canterbury. It is held by many to be the best of all the perennial peas, and there is come justification for the claim. Until the last year or two it has been a very scarce plant, making a display in but few gardens. For eomo years back both Mr T. Coverdalo (Fendalton) and Mr C. A. C. Hardy (Rakaia) have had brilliant displays of bloom on their respective plants, and these plants hare had much to do in bringing this flower before the horticultural public, and thus popularising it to euch an extent that in quite a number of gardens it is now to be seen making a fine display. It is of easy growth when planted out. but is very difficult to propagate. Imported seed does not do well, and only a limited number proves fertile. Perhaps the change over the tropics affects its fertility. Such change is destructive to the vitality of some seeds. LATHYRTTS GRAXDIFLORUS. This variety of the everlasting pea is popularly known as tho "two-flowered pea,' , owing to it generally bearing but two flowers on a stem. It is less rampant growing than many of the other Lathyrus, and if adapted to banks, _ among shrubs covering rocks, and dividing breaks ir. a garden. It is very free flowering, douig well in any soil or situation. The shield is a rose purple and the wings a dark purple, the combination of

oolour being very rich. It is a native of South Europe.

ORNITHOGALUM ARABICUM

This loTely bulbous-rooted plant is flowering more freely this season in Chriatchurch than it has done for year£ past. This ie owing to the dry ripening weather of last summer, which helped to bake the bulbs, this being an essential to their producing flowers. 0. Arabicum belongs to the Mediterranean region, a naturally hot and dry place, and anywhere if similar conditions prevail this plant can be grown to perfection. Mr W. Goldring, a leading horticulturist of the Old World, cays that "to keep the pote with the bulbs in them in a greenhouse and not watered ie not sufficient; they should be kept in a dry atmoephere, and if baked in the sun so much the better." If grown outside in Christoburch the -warmest and driest situation should be chosen. A sandy soil is most suitable. This flower is highly esteemed for market purposes in the Old World. The flowers aro borne in umbe-lls on stems from 18 to 24 inches high. Th© petals are large and broad and of the purest white, set off by a gleaming black pistil, making a striking and pretty picture.