THE FLOWER GARDEN,

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 8 March 1909, Page 1

THE FLOWER GARDEN,

SWEET PEAS.

A reminder is furnished by tho trade advertisements that .the time has again como for making a stare in thu sowing of sweet peas. To get

the peaj in bloom in the spring, the seeds must be got in during the present and next months, Last season sweet peas "caught on" to a surprising extent, and this in not to be wondered at, considering their cheapness, ease of culture, prolific blooming, and long period of flowering. Then, too, the fact that the varieties obtainable locally included pretty well all the leading varieties that wero grown in England, giving growers a chance to have the very best, was an extra inducement to "go in" for some sweet peas. This season, again, lovers of this -flower may be up with the head of the procession, for practically the whole of the varieties recommended by the National Sweet Pea Society — the controlling body of Sweet Peadom-— will be obtainable ih Nelson.

It will doubtless be of interest tp many readers to learn the varieties that are recommended by the .Najtional Sweet Pea Society (as being tho best in their colours) for 1909. They are: —

White — Dorothy Eckford, Ett4 Dyke, Nora Unwin. Crimson and Scarlet — King ,Edward and Queen Alexandra. Rose and Carmine — John Ingman. i Yellow and Buff — James Grieve -anijl Paradise Ivory. Blue — Lord Nelson and A. J. Cook, j Blush — Mrs Hardcastle Sykes. Cerise — Chrissie Unwin. Pink — Countess Spencer and Constance Oliver. Orange Shades — Helen Lewis and St. George. Lavender — Lady Grizel Hamilton and Frank Dolby. Violet and Purple — Rosie Adams. Magenta — Menie Christie. Picotee-edged — Evelyn Hemus. Faney — Sybil Eckford. Mauve — Mrs Walter Wright and the Marquis. Maroon and Bronze — Black Knight and Hannah Dale. Striped and Flaked (red and rose) — Jessie Cuthbertson and Paradise Red Flake. Striped and Flaked (purple and blue)— Prince Olaf. Bi-colour — Jeannie Gordon. Marbled — Helen Pierce. Iv these days, things change rapidly in the flower world. To-day growers are in ecstacies over a particular variety of sweet pea; to-morrow, as it were, it is "passed out" — superseded by something better. Looking through the list given above, familiar names are not "on the list." Even at this distance from the headquarters of the N.S.P.S. it is apparent that the year's recommendations are made' without fear or favour Never mind how good or popular a variety has been, out it goes as soon as something better is produced. Thi3 is. the sort of thing that gives confidence in the Xational Society. What has become of White Spencer? It has gone down before Etta Dyke (vide the too-much-. alike classification). And Mrs Col--lier? Given way to James .Grieve. Primrose Spencer, too, !.as gone — ro- | placed by Clara Curtis; whilo Sutton's Queen has been supplanted by Mrs Henry Bell,

Of course , growers zna^ 2»av«i a | fancy for many varieties that are not mentioned above, but their wants will be supplied locally, and at prices that will hold their own— perhaps • moro than hold their own — with those charged for the seed in other towns. Really, there is nothing to bb gained by sending money out of the placo for sweet pea seed — one could not get better value than in Nelson. Those, who desire to keep in line with tho X.S.P.S. should either cut out the list given or make a copy of it, so that , when they got to the seed shop they' will know what they want, and ssec' they got it.

How would it do to mako two°6ow-i" iugs this season? One now for the' November Show; the other in : ''Augnst or September for tho Swtief Pea"aii& : Carnation Show. There TaroakVd.iS^i'' culty in regard to the latter spwing.l The date of the next Swoet Pea Show is not yet fixed— it may be hold in I December, or perhaps deferred ~ tilt January. However, it would bo safe to sow this month for the November j show, and by the time the, spring, sowiug.is made the date of. the ' Sweet Pea Show- will hare been , decided,; on, and growers will know yexaetly.. -when to sow. Just a wordor..twsr v on the sowing. Thick sowing is nojv;a:.thing of a the past — amongst goodf.-.grpwers, that is. The "big men . 'at Home recommend one plant to a'foot..- ; .-,Tho latter-day creations in sweet, peas, are so vigorous, and make such dense j growth, that a foot is I enough if one wants to secure quality flowers. Thia was demonstrated iv Nelson last season. The writer remember beiug in a garden where sweet peas were largely grown. "How many seeds do you think there aro in that lot?" he was asked. "That lot," was about nine foot in height, and goodness knows how many shpbte there were— there seemed to be hundreds. The manner in which -the question waa put indicated a surprise in store, and, though the writer really thought there were about a dozen seeds, divided by two (preparing .jfor the surprise!) and -replied "six." "One seed!" exclaimed . the . groTy er. , " G reat Scott ! ' ' So, growers i oSow ! a good lead, and give your plants I plenty of room. "

When getting tho ground ready

don't be afraid of a little '-extra work. Go down two feet, loosening a foot of the subsoil. Sweet peas are great feeders, and like plenty of root room. Therefore dig deeply — there'll be a -grand reward by-and-byo for the blistered hands and aching back. Another kindness, that is appreciated is a liberal dressing of stable manure or artificial fertilisers. A certain amount of labour, is necessary to gTow sweet peas at all; but it is the little bit extra that tells the tale when the flowering period arrives.

As the Nelson Horticultural Socifit^ is now affiliated with the National Sweet Pea Society, a reference to the annual meeting of the latter body will be of interest locally. Tlw meeting was held in December, and from the "Journal of Horticulture" account of the proceedings it is gathered that tho report for 1908 stated: — "The work of the Floral Committee, and tho trials at Beading, continue to provide the great and most important part of the Society's proceedings. Prom all parts of the world sweet pea lovers are now looking to us to solve questions of nomenclature and priority. The bracketing" of too-much-alike varieties, the deletion of old and useless sweet peas, • and the careful distribution of awards to the finest varieties." The membership of the Society had reached 779, and in addition' sl societies wero in affiliation. During tho proceedings Mr Robert Sydenham said that ho thought thero was a groat future before tho sweet pea, particularly in Australia^cw Zealand,, and British Columbia. The Society ■ receipts for tho year were £573 (including -£23 brought forward), and the credit balance at the end of the year was £32.