694 Bulletin 320 



The variety Blue Edged, the probable forerunner of the picotee forms, 

 appeared in i860. This was a white variety with a well-defined blue 

 edge, a possible hybrid between L. Magellanicus and a white variety of 

 L. odoratus. The variety, at all events, was the first to exhibit a distinct 

 blue color among sweet peas. Later it was known as Blue Hybrid, under 

 which name it won an award from the Royal Horticultural Society. Sutton 

 & Son sent out Butterfly* in 1878, which somewhat resembled Blue 

 Edged. The so-called " blues " that followed were Invincible Blue, 

 Madame Camot or Imperial Blue, and Captain of the Blues, all of which 

 had considerable red in the standard. It was not until 1899 that a good 

 blue appeared, in Navy Blue (Lord Nelson). 



The first of the soft pink varieties was Crown Princess of Prussia, 

 1868-1869. Isa Eckford, Peach Blossom, and Lovely are the improved 

 varieties of this color. 



The efforts of the breeders of sweet peas have not all been directed 

 toward the development of new shades of color; the form of the flower, 

 also, has received attention. The earliest representations of sweet pea 

 flowers show a loose, irregular bloom, with the edges of the standard 

 turned back, that is, reflexed. Often, if not always, the standard had 

 a notch in the apex and frequently in the margin. The standard, which 

 is the principal part of the flower, has been improved in substance and 

 the notches have been eliminated. The old type had a narrow base, 

 and with the improvement noted has come a filling-out of the lower edges 

 of the standard so that the outline approaches a circle. 



In the efforts to produce varieties of the best expanded, or open, form, 

 many beautiful hooded varieties were originated. While this form was 

 condemned as inartistic by many sweet pea specialists, it nevertheless re- 

 ceived a permanent place. Prima Donna, Lovely, and Countess of 

 Radnor are of this form. 



When many persons had reached the conclusion that no further advances 

 in either form or size were to be expected, and that the efforts of future 

 breeders would be directed toward seciiring new colors and more flowers 

 on a stem, Nature demonstrated that she had other surprises in store. 

 In 1 90 1 the Countess Spencer variety was exhibited and caused a consider- 

 able sensation. The National Sweet Pea Society awarded it the highest 

 honors. This variety was distinct from all preceding introductions 

 because the standards and wings were waved. The flowers were very 

 large and were borne in fours on stout stems. The variety was intro- 

 duced in 1904. 



The parentage of this variety has been given as (Lovely x Triumph 

 1898) x Prima Donna 1899. However, there appeared in 1905 a variety 



*See color plate in The Garden, 13 (1878), p. 44. 



