226 Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 



present high standard. Cross-fertilization and selection, keeping 

 the size, form, substance and color constantly in mind, have had 

 a wonderful effect. We depend somewhat upon sports for new 

 varieties, however. As each variety is brought up to the grandi- 

 floral type, its liability to sport is also increased. 



" As the six new varieties of C. C. Morse & Co. have resulted 

 from sporting and selections, you may be interested in their his- 

 tory. America is a sport of Queen of the Isles. It was selected 

 to a deep crimson-scarlet upon a white ground, large size, good 

 substance, bold and upright standard. It runs about ninety-five 

 per cent true. Its deep and contrasting color gives it a striking 

 appearance. Ramona is a selection out of Blushing Beauty. It 

 is a delicate pink stripe upon creamy-white ground, perfectly 

 hooded form, good substance and grandiflora size; very effective. 

 Oddity was found in a mixed lot, so its parentage is unknown. 

 It is odd because wings and standard are peculiarly hooded, a fea- 

 ture new in the sweet pea. It comes perfectly true from seed. 

 Juanita is a selection out of Countess of Radnor. It has a deli- 

 cate appearance and as its parent is a back-slider, only a part of 

 it comes true. Grey Friar also adds a departure. Both wings and 

 standard are i^eculiarly shaded or marbled-purplish mauve. It is 

 a selection out of Senator and has taken some time and critical 

 selection to bring it to its present standard. The vine is vigor- 

 ous, and, as a rule, has four flowers to the truss. 



" The profesional growers of sweet pea seed have a good deal 

 of trouble to contend with in the matter of keeping their stock 

 pure. Some varieties are very hard to keep true to type, while 

 other varieties almost take care of themselves. As a rule, nearly 

 all small-flowered varieties come true, while the grandiflora types 

 run off more or less. 



" Countess of Radnor and Dorothy Tennant are very hard to 

 keep true. Two years of careless work in growing these varieties 

 will run them into stripes and poor forms. Her Majesty reverts 

 to Princess Victoria; Duke of Clarence runs into Her Majesty 

 and Dorothy Tennant; Mrs. Eckford runs into Primrose and poor 

 whites, while Primrose will lose its primrose effect; Mrs. Sankey 

 runs into poor Lemon Queen; Mrs. Joseph Chamberlain passes 

 into Ovid and weak stripes; Stanley goes into Boreatton and to 



