SWEET PEA STUDIES— II 

 WINTER-FLOWERING SWEET PEAS 



Alvin C. Beal 



Next in order to the waved section the most important type of sweet 

 peas yet developed from the older garden forms is the winter-flowering 

 class, which has reached its greatest perfection in the United States. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS 



The winter-flowering type is absolutely distinct in its habit of growth 

 and its early-flowering character. Unlike the garden types, which appar- 

 ently stand still for a time when only a few inches high while side shoots 

 are developed, the winter-flowering peas grow rapidly until they attain 

 a height of two to four feet ; then they begin to flov\'er freely, after which 

 time side shoots are developed. In trials at this station the varieties 

 of the winter-flowering type, planted September 24, came into flower 

 between Thanlcsgiving and Christmas; while some varieties of the waved 

 and the older types, planted at the same time, did not flower until the last 

 week in April. Many varieties of the first-named type were flowering 

 freely at the holidays, but the record would have been surpassed had it 

 not been for the fact that during the month of November the region 

 about Ithaca had not an entire day of sunshine and had only two partly 

 sunny days. December was almost as dark and cloudy. 



The winter-flowering peas make their greatest growth under glass. 

 When planted in the spring in the open ground they make a very slender 

 growth as compared with the garden type, and flower early in the season 

 when a few inches high. However, they flower very profusely and con- 

 tinuously. 



The garden type stools out well when planted under glass, but requires 

 the entire winter for growth if planted in the fall. It is said by a practical 

 grower that seed planted in January will flower as soon as that planted 

 in August. This difference in habit of growth, manifesting itself very 

 early, is of great value to the florist in enabling him to guard against loss 

 from procuring the wrong seed. 



The flowers of the winter-flowering type are generally of the open form 

 of Blanche Ferry. Some of the English- and American-raised varieties 

 of this type are hooded, and Anton C. Zvolanek is perfecting a waved- 

 flower group. At this station it is thought that the open-flowered type 



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