SwKET Peas. 91 



III. Numerical Notes on the Sweet Peas. 



{M. G. Kains.) 



The sweet pea is always attractive. In all its varied forms and 

 tints it is the same dainty charmer. There is no ugly sweet pea. 

 It is, therefore, perhaps unfortunate that the words " poor " and 

 "medium" are used; and that dates and figures, which have 

 always an air of business, range themselves against such innocent 

 victims . But in all variety studies some standard has to be adopted 

 and even the sweet pea must submit. In estimating the attributes 

 of a variety the popular scale of ten is used. A composite ideal 

 is formed by choosing one variety as a standard of size, another 

 of substance, and so on ; then comparing the variety to be judged 

 with this norm. - 



In the following table the name of the variety, and, in paren- 

 theses, the name of the grower are given. Then follow the date 

 of first bloom, the season at which each variety was at its best on 

 our grounds — early, medium or late — and the date of the last 

 bloom. There were a few isolated blossoms after October 10, but 

 the frosts of the eighth and ninth had reaped their harvest and the 

 blooming season was past. After the date column, follow the 

 height in feet, the length of stems in inches ; then, on the scale of 

 ten, the estimates on general productiveness of bloom and of seed, 

 on relative size, and substance of flower. 



In a collection of ten varieties the following might be chosen : 



Blushing Beauty, 



Apple Blossom, 



Countess of Radnor, or Dorothy Tennant (substitute), 



Duke of Clarence, or Waverly (substitute), 



Boreatton, 



Eliza Eckford , or Katherine Tracy if it were a better bloomer, 



Mrs. Eckford, 



Ramona, 



Gray Friar, 

 and for a white either Queen of England or Alba Magnifica. 

 Neither of these whites is equal in merit to those in the above 

 list, but none of the whites are. These two have the least number 

 of bad points. 



