SWEET PEAS AND THEIR COLOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7567, 10 May 1919, Page 8

SWEET PEAS AND THEIR COLOUR

There is no better or near as good n\ the rose colour class than Verdun, it has held that position now for three years against all comers. Previous to that Jtosabeiie held an undisputed right ior four years, dethroning such varieties as the old favourites John lngrnan and George' Herbert, and there is nothing m sight yet that can take the premiership irom Verdun, and it stands top of its ciass in rote colours.

The mauve class has made considerable advance, but there is nothing new for the last three years that has been any improvement, and 1 have come to tin;, conclusion, tiiat the raisers have cut out a lot for themselves to beat some of the standard varieties. Jt js like beating one's record, not only loyally bat the world's record and uuly Evelyn still houis the premier position, fi-'ome of those who iiave been growing tor yearn will remember tho. nutter there was when the Queen of Norway was introduced, and although it was great in colour and large in sixe, >t lacked the wavmess that is essential to {.erfection. 'Jhen Teiwant Spencer was another advance, but not much, ami ■Unit by Molly Jackson, and ior tlie last variety 1 hud a great liking. It was v very strong giwvor with mighty lilooms. But you must note that I speajj oi' it in the past tense, and 'liie .Lady Eveiyn is still running nerself in the glory of' her own splendour, and the eclipse is not in .sight or predicted. 'Ihe purple lias not oeeu urnuoh m favour with me, and jvt for the ?ji«class competitions it must be grown, because the greatest range of colour iroiu white to deep maroon have tho greatest cJianco oi winning. The N^n.^.S. Juivti now included the purples in a class l<y t-hen\selvcs.

Nothing of much importance was introduced in this class until the advent oi Royal Purple, and it could be seen in the shows frequently. In the nrst year of its introduction it won the championship at our show. It also won the award of. merit of the .N.S.r.S., f.nd undoubtedly it has a. huge bloom >n:d is a strong groucr, but was im.lin-t-d to be coarse, both m colour and in growtli, and 1 discaided it the .second >ear. Now we have a purple worth {.'.rowing in Royalty. There is nothing dingy and dull in this, it is bright and glistening and effulgent in the .sun, and quite an acquisition to the lists. Jt is not so strong a grower as Royal Purple, but the colour more than compensates for this.