Sweet Peas in 1912.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 13, 27 March 1912, Page 38

Sweet Peas in 1912.

New sweet peas are as numerous as nyw roses and new cypripediums. Probably they are not so numerous as is the last-named family of orchids, but they are so abundant that hardly any enthusiast 'has seen all of them in anv one year, and fewer have had opportuni-

ties of comparing the newer varieties one with the other. Doubtless some varieties that are at present by way of being “dark horses” may eventually become winners, and also it seems quite likely that some new sweet peas of which a good deal has been said and written, -will soon fall in estimation. Therefore, one must needs write with care of new’ varieties lest overpraise or overblame be given.

Mr. Robert Bolton occupies a foremost position with new varieties, especially with those belonging to the fancy section. He gave us a hint at further delightful colour combinations when he sent out Charles Foster, and probably his newest varieties will supersede that variety. It is doubtful whether any new sweet pea was more talked about at the N.S.P.S. show in July last than Afterglow, a beautiful and indescribable variety with blue, purple and mauve colouring. Prince George is another fancy sort which Mr. Bolton thinks will quickly take the lead in this division; it is a combination of rose, violet, and bronze. R. F. Felton, lilac, with bluegrev wings, is another fine variety from Carnforth.

Messrs. Dobbie and Co. have some capital varieties to offer, and their May Campbell, cream, with rosy flaming and veining, is. right at the top of the

"marbled” section. Mauve Queen will not please everyone, but it is a firstclass Hower, and its shade of colour is very pleasing. Lady Knox, of ivory shade, gives a fine spike of flowers, while Melba, a light salmon-pink, is a beauty

that can scarcely fail to secure popularity. lied Star, raised by Mr. Malcolm and distributed by Messrs. Dobbie and Co., is fine in the rich, deep scarlet section. Mr. Robert Sydenham. I.ini., presents several new sweet peas, chiefly raised by Mr. 11. Holmes, of Norwich. Thomas Stevenson has been with us one season now. and is a fine orange-scarlet; Barbara is a line deep salmon: Millie Maslin Spencer is a big waved magenta; Scarlet Empress is a waved counterpart of Queen Alexandra; Edith Taylor, deep rich rose: and Lady Evelyn Eyre, pink, flushed with soft salmon, are other sorts offered from Tenby-street, Birmingham, and all have been seen in fine form.

Mr. W. J. Unwin, Histon, offers four novelties, and of these Winifred Unwin, a charming light blue shade, should find favour; Leslie Imber gives a medium shade of blue; Cyril Unwin is a fine grower, and has maroon, violet-shaded flowers; while Walter P. Wright is light lavender-blue, a pretty shade of colour, and the variety has strong growth.

Miss Hemins, Upton-on-Severn, offers dwarf forms of Marjory Hemus, Maroon Paradise, and Purple Paradise; these are said to grow about sixteen inches high, forming little bushes; these I have not seen, but their descriptions suggest beauty and novelty. Of Lucy Hemus, Paradise Regained, and Evelyn Hemus, double forms are now offered and should prove interesting and useful. Paradise Moonstone, pink, with blue tinting; Holdfast Picoiee, pink, with red edge; Marjory -Hemus, white, with soft violet edge; Paradise Celestial, pale blue; and Paradise Opal Pierce, white with opal veining, are all new and striking novelties, and in some cases there is more than one shade of the variety offered, thus Marjory Hemus is ottered in three heights—dwarf, intermediate, and tall — and in three shades of colour —pale, medium, and deep. Messrs. W. Atlee Burpee and Co., Philadelphia, U.S.A., are offering the splendid Vermilion 'Brilliant in conjunction with Messrs Alex. Dickson and Sons, Newtown wards; it is a vermilion, and it is brilliant. These two firms are also sending out Irish Belle, a lovely lilac flower, shaded with pink. The Burpee Company has several “duplex” or double varieties, that is, those with two

standards, and in Margaret Madison it would seem to have secured a good bright blue Spencer form. Mr. Henry Eekford. Wem. has a short list of new sweet pean, and the varieties offered are Miss Guest, a bright reddishrose self of great beauty; Apricot, a charming combination of soft apricot and pink: Terra Cotta, difficult to describe, but combining cerise and rose shades in pleasing fashion; and an improved waved form of the brilliant St. George. Mr. C. W. Bread more is distributing Iris, a lovely salmon sweet pea. promised some time past; Jack Tar. deep •blue, with bronze-tinted standard, is a good thing; and so is Alpha, a fine pink, .shown well at tl.ip Temple Show of 1911.