Sweet Pea Chat.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 17, 26 October 1910, Page 40

Sweet Pea Chat.

THE ENGLISH “NATIONAL” SHOW. It is not for me to give a report of the splendid display which was brought together- by the National Sweet Pea Society at the Royal Horticultural Hall, this is a duty which falls to other pens than mine; but I must make some allusion to it in a general way. As a whole the exhibition was decidedly smaller than that of last season, for many growers were forced to cancel their entries, or a portion of them, at the last moment owing to the weather. It is a matter of opinion whether the promoters should deplore the smallness or the reverse. Naturally enough, all desire to s<-e the greatest possible number of enthusiasts represented, but there is no gainsaying the fact that the additional space rendered available for the flowers shown enabled them to be far better seen, criticised and admired. Last year it was almost impossible to say decidedly what was the real quality of three-parts of the bunches staged, whereas this year one was able clearly to see the entire sets. As a rule, then, it is safe to say that the quality, as well in regard to substance as to colour, was excellent; but to me it is equally indisputable that there was more than a suspicion of coarseness in some of the prize-winning stands. This is a matter for regret. One can forgive the man who does not make pretence that he is an expert in Sweet Peas giving the floppy flowers premier awards; but at the “National” none but an expert would be thought of as an adjudicator, and it is therefore most regrettable to see the prizes given to bunches that were on the coarse side. The exhibitors who staged them will not, naturally, admit anything of the sort, but w'ill claim that all their blooms were the acme of refinement; but they will not convince me that they are in the right any more than they will many other people who closely examined and appraised the quality of the blossoms shown. We do not by any manner of means want to make the Sweet Pea an ugly flower; but to feed the plants to such a degree that the flowers lose their correct form and flop about in a most ungainly’ way’ is going directly on the wrong road, and will not do the flower the smallest amount of good either for home use or for exhibition. Now a few words in respect of the novelties, to all of which attention will from time to time be drawn as space and opportunity’ offer. It can scarcely be said that there was anything of conspicuous merit which had not previouslybeen seen. The silver medal fox- the finest novelty’ of the year went, as was fairly generally throught would be the ease, to Stirling Stent. Although this has not the perfect Speneer form, it is undoubtedly’ a splendid flower, for it has size, substance and good shape to commend it, while the richness of the orange scarlet will make it -a great favourite. The trouble with all varieties of this shade up to the present is that they burn badly, and clean, unblemished blooms can only be ensured by careful shading; but it is said that Stirling Stent has a rooted objection to burning, and that it will only do so under the utmost provocation. Let us hope that sueh will prove to be the fact under general cultivation. We owe this variety to Mr Agate. When Mr R. Bolton first staged Charles Foster, no one was to be found who could at once accurately describe the colour, but the usual term is pastel pink, and the best advice I can give anyone who does not know what particular shade that may be is to grow the variety’ and see for themselves. It is magnificent, and none will regret giving it a trial. It is a bloom of strikingly attractive aspect, and is quite distinct from any other on the market. Mr W. J. Unwin’s Erie Harvey should have a fine future before it. for the flowers are of splendid size, shape and substance, and the deep rose and white colour will, in my opinion, ensure it a prompt welcome. Mrs W. J. Unwin was one of the elect last season, and it is widely acknowledged to be the most charming of all the flakes; it is exquisitely refined, and had even more admirers this year than it did last, and it will have still others.—Spencer, in “The Garden.”