THE SWEET PEA. 115 



pride in growing fine flowers will do well to secure seeds of 

 some of the named varieties of sweet peas that are offered 

 by the great seed-houses, for they are distinct and glorious, 

 and will contribute in a most especial manner to the 

 delights of the garden, and at a cost so small that it would 

 be a breach of politeness in this connection to talk about 

 money. Secure a supply of each of the sorts that are on 

 offer, and sow them separately ; you will then have only 

 half a dozen rows at the utmost, for there are not more 

 than as many sorts in the lists. Or happy thought ! 

 mix them and sow them thinly in well-made ground, and 

 then you will be able to gather several sorts on the 

 same spot, which will often prove a convenience. They 

 are extremely useful for decorative purposes and large 

 " nosegays," but must be used with caution in bouquets 

 and button-holes. 



Peas are "papilionaceous" plants that is to say, 

 their flowers are like butterflies. 



" Here are sweet peas, on top-toe for a flight, 

 With wings of gentle flush o'er delicate white." 



They are also '"leguminous" plants from legumen, pulse 

 the seeds- being substantial nutritive things produced in 

 cases or pods which are sometimes like parchment, some- 

 times like paper, and sometimes tender and sweet, so that, 

 as in the sugar pea, the whole thing is eaten, or, as people 

 say, the "whole hog, skin and bristles." Poor "Bully 

 Bottom " called upon Master Peas-blossom to scratch his 

 head, and being thus scratched by Master Peas-blossom, 

 he must needs have a donkey's appetite, and desire "a 

 bottle of hay" or "a handful or two of dried peas." 

 Nor need the donkey be ashamed of his relative, for the 



