CUT FLOWERS 57 



was subsequently founded, and its first exhibition was 

 held at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, on July 25 

 and 26, 1901, a Schedule of twenty-one Classes being 

 provided. There were about 120 members at the end 

 of 1901, and about looo at the end of 1909. Some of 

 the larger Provincial Societies now devote a whole 

 tent to Sweet Peas, and throughout the country there 

 are many Sweet Pea Societies and Sweet Pea Clubs 

 facts that indicate the wonderful popularity of Sweet Peas. 



Sweet Peas group themselves naturally into three 

 divisions, i.e. those with ERECT STANDARDS, those with 

 WAVED STANDARDS, and those with HOODED STANDARDS. 

 But Classification is by colour and not by form, and the 

 Classification for 1909-10 arranges for twenty-one colour 

 Classes, as follows : White, Blush, Crimson and Scarlet, 

 Cerise, Rose and Carmine, Cream Pink, Pink, Yellow 

 and Buff Shades, Orange Shades, Blue, Lavender, Violet 

 and Purple, Mauve, Magenta, Maroon and Bronze, 

 Striped and Flaked Red and Rose, Striped and Flaked 

 Blue and Purple, Picotee Edged, Bicolors, Fancies, 

 and Marbled. 



Sweet Peas are exhibited in vases, and rarely other- 

 wise than one variety in a vase ; from twelve to thirty 

 spikes in a vase, according to the grade of the competitor 

 and the importance of the Class, are usually required. 

 The National Sweet Pea Society has suggested that an 

 ideal bunch consists of twenty sprays, but for 1910 it 

 has limited the number to twenty. A " spray" is one 

 spike or inflorescence. 



Merits. Large blooms; firm texture; long stiff stems; 

 not less than three flowers on a stem ; standard erect, 

 waved, or only slightly hooded ; standard, wings, and 

 keel to be in such proportion to each other as will 

 constitute a harmonious and well-balanced flower ; 

 brilliance or purity of colouring ; freshness, harmonious 

 arrangement of the varieties in a collection. 



