4 THE BOOK OF THE SWEET PEA 



Those who are familiar with the development of this 

 flower, will remember that for years, seedsmen and 

 others publishing lists of Sweet Peas were evidently 

 glad to append the words " Eckford's strain," as this 

 was a sure indication of their excellence and their 

 pleasing variations of colour. 



To such a degree has the development of this subject 

 been extended that it is now possible to purchase some 

 fifty seeds of fifty to sixty standard varieties for the sum 

 of six shillings and sixpence. A dozen kinds may also 

 be had for two shillings or less. 



Immense areas are now devoted to the cultivation of 

 Sweet Peas by market growers, and in determining their 

 commercial value, good and distinct colours are regarded 

 as essential factors. Tinted, striped, fancy, edged and 

 bi-colour flowers have not the same value in the eyes of 

 market men, as have those sorts of good and distinct 

 self-colours. Variations and inconsistency in the flowers 

 are serious objections, and for this reason certain well- 

 known kinds that are popular with amateur growers are 

 tabooed by market men for commercial purposes. 



With the introduction of what is generally known 

 among growers as the Spencer or waved type of Sweet 

 Pea, additional interest has been manifested in the 

 flower. We are indebted to Mr Silas Cole, Earl 

 Spencer's able gardener at Althorp Park, Northampton, 

 for this new and pleasing break in these beautiful flowers. 

 The frilled or waved segments as represented in this 

 new type of the Sweet Pea, have given us a beautiful 

 series of most charming flowers. The original of this type 

 was named Countess Spencer, and since the date of its 

 introduction, the same raiser has enriched our collections 

 with many other equally beautiful and handsome varieties 

 of various colours. So important has been the change 

 that special provision is now made for exhibiting sprays 

 of the " Spencer " or waved blooms at the National Sweet 



