POPULAR SWEET PEAS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 10, 5 March 1913, Page 39

POPULAR SWEET PEAS.

The audit of varieties shown at the exhibition of the National Swejet Pea Society forms, as usual, an interesting feature of the “Sweet Pea From this we learn that there Were the same number of exhibits in 1912 as in 1911, but there were 351 more bunches staged, the total being 2,257, »nd 8Q •more varieties! The number of bunches has only been exceeded twice, i.e., in 1907 and 1909, while the number of names is far and away the largest found at any show the society has held. The percentage of bunches per variety is the lowest ever recorded; it was 7.02. as compared with 8.99 in 1911; 7.755 in 1910; 13.33 in 1909; 9.60 in 1908; 11.65 in 1907: 12.82 in 1906; 15.34 in 1905; 14 58 in 1904, and 11.01 in 1903. Sixty-two varieties were shown 10 or more times; 5 varieties 9 times; 4 varieties 8 times; 7 varieties 7 times; 4 varieties 6 times, 12 varieties 5 times; 11 varieties 4 times; 14 varieties 3 times, and 29 vaii*ties twice each; while 144 varieties were represented once only. Clara Curtis reached the premier position, after being second in 1911, fourth in 1910, and

eighth in 1909. Thomas Stevenson has come with a rush, as it is second, and was only thirty-second on the list in 1911. Elsie Herbert keeps third position, and Etta Dyke goes down to fourth place. Mrs C. AV. Breadmore, fifth in 1911, was equal fifth with Maud Holmes in 1912. •the latter variety being fifteenth in the former year. John Ingman occupies about the same relative position as in 1911. Mrs Hugh Dickson has dropped back a good bit, while 45 bunches of Mrs W. .1. Unwin were staged in 1912, as against 17 in 1911. Sunproof Crimson is one place better with an increase of three bunches over 1911. Nubian. Edrom Beauty, Hercules. Elfrida Pearson. Doris Usher, Barbara, R. F. Felton, and Melba have come well to the front, but Mrs Hardcastle Sykes, Tennant Spencer. IHelen Lewis. Constance Oliver, and Flora Norton Spencer have all been re. presented by fewer bunches than in 1911, while Countess Spencer has fallen from 53 to 1!) bunches. Both Etta Dyke and Clara Curtis were shown 80 and 78 times in 1911. whereas Clara Curtis, at the top. w*.is shown 73 times in 1912.