SWEET PEAS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 934, 2 December 1933, Page 28 (Supplement)

SWEET PEAS.

NEW VARIETIES APPEARING. A writer in “The Gardening Press” in England, referring to the sweet pea trials at Wis ley, says: A remark culled from one of the horticultural journals concerning these trials —“the trials as a whole showed very little progress in sweet pea development s ' —reflects a point of view we hear every year with monotonous regularity. Of course, a good deal depends on the point of view. If one is seeking a continuous supply of •sensational novelties, there is bound to be disappointment. On the other hand, one feels that those who know the flower best are quietly satisfied with the steady progress and development which have been registered during the past few years. If it were really necessary to analyse the comparative merit of some of the newer kinds, there would be proof positive. For instance, it would take a good deal of boldness to assert that there were as good peas 10 years ago, in their respective coloi'*s, as Gigantic, Rubicund, Premier, Springtime, Pink Gem, Mayfair and Welcome, to name a few which come readily to mind. The ruffled varieties are by no means all that one could wish at their present stage of development, but who dare say that the popular sweet peas of the future will not be found in this particular type. Then, again. Sextet Queen has started a new line of development with its tendency (under ordinary, cultural methods) to produce five, six or seven-bloomed sprays. Already there are at least two varieties on the market for which this same characteristic is claimed. Several years ago, when writing in clietse columns, I expressed the firm conviction that the fawn would be the forerunner of many new shades in salmon, salmonv cream-pink, salmonpink, salmon-orange, etc. We are getting these beautiful tones now, and there are undoubtedly many more to come. Steps are not being taken in the wrong direction with respect to vigour. The amateur grower insists on robust varieties, and though improvements here may not be very obvious, I feel sure that the popular varieties to-day on the whole are stronger than the favourites of 20 years ago. Only as far as perfume is concerned can it be justly claimed" that sweet peas are marking time. Even here raisers nowadays will usually make the claim that their novelties are sweetly scented when such is the ease, a point which till lately they seem to have overlooked. In the main, any flower development follows the line of public opinion. If any general desire for more sweetly-scented sweet peas were made obvious, raisers would soon b© testing their seedlings with their noses as w ell as with their eyes. Do the present-day sweet peas conform more closely to” modern tastes and requirements than their predecessors? Surely their form and colours become more pleasing to the eye as time goes on. 1 will run the risk of repeating what I have written in the past by expressing a very definite conviction that sweet peas are likely to reach a much higher degree of perfection than at present. .. POT PLANTS. METHOD OF WATERING. In watering plants grown in pots water should not bo applied in driblet®, which, as a rule, never reach the lower roots. One good soaking of water is more beneficial to a pot plant than innumerable sprinklings, the latter in many cases causing the roots to be drawn upwards towards the surface soil in search of moisture, as shown at A herewith, instead of being evenly distributed, as at B. As a rule soft-wooded, quickgrowing plants need more water than hard-wooded, slow-growing plants, whilst when in free growth plants must, of course, have more water than when resting. Pot plant® should not be allowed to get so dry that the soil contracts round the sidt* of the pot, whilst a space

to hold water should be provided at the top of the pot, as shown at A and B. To ascertain the state of moisture of the soil in a pot, the sides of the pot should be rapped with the knuckles. If dry, a hollow sound will result, whilst a dull, heavy sound indicates that the soil is more or less moist. Early morning before the commencement of the day’s heat is the best time to water pot plants, and in the case of plants in bloom overhead watering, as at C, should be avoided or the flowers will quickly be ruined. The water should be poured on to the soil from a spout, as at D. Soft rain water, is better for plants than hard water, and as far as possible the water ought to be of a somewhat similar temperature to that in which the plants grow.

SPRAYING MATERIALS FOR THE GARDEN, Arsenate of Lead. Black Leaf 40, Katalcilla. Lime Sulphur, Vymol, etc. Obtainable of A. 11. SHRUBSHALL & CO., LTD, Seedsmen, Florists, etc. 659 Colombo Street Christchurch. Telephone .”.0-826.

PREPARE FOR WINTER GREENS. Seeds of many of the ordinary winter greens may be sown now; these include Early Purple and White Sprouting broccoli, or among the heading varieties, Waloheren, Michaelmas and Self Protecting for use from autumn onward, Leamington being a most reliable variety lor late winter. Cauliflower such as Karly London, may he sown for early use, or the popular Autumn Giant, which is usually at its best in June or July.