70 BUI.LETIN 127. 



two other variations which cannot be classified and which occur in 

 the poorer forms only, as a rule. These are the occurrence of a 

 notch at the top, or really the emphasis of a minute notch already 

 there, as in Emily Henderson, or else a notch or sinus at either 

 or both sides of the standard, as in the case of the Butterfly. 



Three sizes are commonly accepted and will be found accom- 

 panying the classification above. The small, as in Captain Clarke, 

 is that of the old natural form. The medium size is the one 

 usually found in the reflexed form, like the Boreatton. While the 

 large size of Senator and Dorothy Tennant is that of the expanded 

 and hooded classes. 



Substance, that is, the quality of texture which enables the 

 flower to retain its shape, has arbitrarily been put under the heads 

 of good, fair, and poor. Those varieties which keep their blos- 

 soms fresh and rigid in the heat of midday are called of good sub- 

 stance. Those whose blossoms curl and wrinkle badly are called 

 poor, and the fair are various degrees between. The value of 

 substance as affecting the beauty of the flower is not appreciated 

 until one gives close study to the sweet pea. A flower without 

 good substance or texture is absolutely ugly. Without strong 

 substance it would appear that expansion and hooded character 

 could not remain, and the flower would fall back into the reflexed 

 class where, with its large size, it would curl and wrinkle until, 

 in the lowest types, the flowers become worthless. 



It is now possible to give the characteristics of the four classes 

 into which most varieties of sweet peas seem to fall. This idea 

 of classifying them was suggested by Mr. Hutchins, who based his 

 classes upon the shape of the base, and the degree of substance 

 or size which would result therefrom. A full statement of these 

 classes, as they seem to work out from the studies of the Cornell 

 tests, is as follows :* 



I. The old natural form, with a wedge-shaped base, erect, 

 expanded standard, and small size, as Delight and Carmen Sylva. 



II. The reflexed form, with a more or less wedge-shaped base, 

 the standard with its sides more or less curled backward or re- 



* Another classification is given in the ** Sweet Pea Review " of the Sun- 

 set Seed and Plant Co., San Francisco, — a booklet which is invaluable to 

 anyone who desires full descriptions of varieties. 



