Sweet Peas. 227 



Boreatton with purple wings; Peach Blossom varies into Isa Eck- 

 ford; Blanche Burpee into Mrs. Eckford; Mrs. Gladstone into 

 pink stripes; Emily Henderson has strong light blue and pur- 

 ple and Blanche Ferry tendencies; Ai)ple Blossom runs into 

 Splendor; Royal Robe into Ovid and delicate pinks; Captain 

 of the Blues into Monarch and stripes; Monarch into Duke of 

 Clarence and stripes; Waverly into Apple Blosom. 



" There are now about one hundred distinct varieties of sweet 

 peas, and the question arises if the limit of improvemen t in color 

 and form is not already reached. In what direction are the grow- 

 ers working to keep the public interested in this flower? In the 

 first place, all the present varieties could be improved by having 

 four flowers on each truss. The clear blue, lemon-yellow and 

 fiery scarlet varieties are still to come. A flower having a blue 

 standard with white wings, to correspond with Blanche Ferry, 

 would be a decided acquisition. Such varieties as Meteor, Lady 

 Beaconsfleld and Blanche Ferry should be brought up to the 

 grandiflora type. New ranges of colors, as the apricot shades, 

 are not out of the question. Even the size of the present grandi- 

 flora type could be increased to a larger and bolder flower. Our 

 work with the sweet pea is really only fairly begun. 



" One feature which should be impressed upon the public is 

 that there are types of form in the sweet pea. We should class- 

 ify the varieties into forms, not into colors. When we speak of a 

 certain color we convey but a vague meaning. From a descrip- 

 tion of color, no two persons receive the same impression. 



" In my experience, crossing has produced some unlooked for 

 results. Cupid on Venus produced a weak Painted Lady of no 

 value. Penzance on Venus has produced an exceptionally fine 

 pink of solid color and good form. It corresponds with Royal 

 Robe, but is larger and holds form and color better. Ovid on 

 Venus had the same result, except that the color was a trifle 

 stronger. Stanley on Venus produced a Boreatton; Ignea on 

 Venus produced something close to Princess Victoria; Bronze 

 King and Primrose on Venus made a weak pink or no value; 

 Beaconsfleld on Venus produced Beaconsfleld. The conclusion 

 from these crosses is that the stronger color predominates in 

 the cross. We cannot foresee what the result will be. 



