Sweet Peas. 



217 



but to watch for variations which a change of climate is sure to pro- 

 duce. The result is we have found that sweet peas can be about as 

 cheaply grown here as the common field pea. But more important 

 still is the fact that all our well-known sorts are more prolific when 

 the seeds have been grown here. The introduction of new varieties, 

 as well as new types, is one of the marked features of our industry." 



Before going further, the reader should be reminded that there are 

 two other closely related species of peas in cultivation for their 

 flowers, and one of them, the Tangier Scarlet, is even called a sweet 

 pea. This Tangier pea is Lathyrus Tingitamts (Fig. 74). It has 

 been in cultivation longer than the sweet pea, having been intro- 

 duced into England as early as 1680. Curtis figures it in the 

 " Botanical Magazine" in 1790, 

 and speaks of it as follows: 

 " The Tangier Pea, a native 

 of Morocco, cannot boast the 

 agreeable scent, or variety of 

 colors of the sweet pea; nor 

 does it continue so long in 

 flower; nevertheless there is 

 a richness in the color of its 

 blossoms, which entitles it to 

 a place in the gardens of the 

 curious." It bears an attrac- 

 tive purple flower, with a large 

 standard and small wings, and 

 blooms earlier than the true 

 sweet peas. It is also known 

 for its very narrow and long 

 leaflets, generally 2-flowered 

 peduncles, and long, flat, hair- 

 less pods. 



The other pea to which 1 

 wish to refer is Lathyrus lati- 

 foli'us (Fig. 75), the perennial 

 or everlasting pea. This plant, 

 a native of Europe, has been long in cultivation, although it appears 

 never to have received special attention, since there are only three 



75.- 



-Perennial or Everlasting Pea. 

 latifolius.) 



(Lathjrus 



