6 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



January, 1908 



Botanists have named the sweet pea 

 Lathyrus odoratus, and, on account of 

 its beauty and fragrance, classify it as 

 the queen of the order Icgiiminosae, to 

 which it belongs. It has a calyx of five 



FicZ. 



Sweet Pea — Lathyrus Odoratus 



Fig. 1. — ^The standard is shown at S, the wings at W 



and the keel at K. Fig. 2. — Shows the essential 



organs. The tenth stanien is at A, the nine 



cohescent stamens at B, the calyx at C, the 



pistil, stigma and ovary at D and E. 



s6pals, from which springs an irregular 

 corola of five petals. The largest petal 

 is called the standard, the two next in 

 size the wings, and the two smaller 

 ones, which envelop the essential or- 

 gans, form the keel. Because of its 

 resemblance to a butterfly it is said 

 to be papilionaceous. The essential 

 organs consist of ten diadelphous sta- 

 mens — nine coherent and one by itself — 

 and one pistil, with style and stigma, 

 attached to a single ovary, which later 

 forms the pod containing the ovules 

 or seed. The earliest botanical his- 

 tory dates back to 1650, and although 

 the sweet pea has been slow in its 

 evolution, it has become so popular 

 that its cultivation has inspired great 

 interest among amateurs. At present 

 there are seven distinct classes of sweet 

 peas, and before beginning to cultivate 

 either, it would be well to understand all. 



THE GRANDIFLORA TYPE 



Class I is the grandiflora type, which 

 is a little later in flowering than the 

 earlies. The vines are of strong, vig- 

 orous growth, very free in blooming, 

 with extra large flowers, of good form 

 and substance, coming on long stems 

 in threes and fours, and all facing the 

 same way. In this class we have a 

 great variety of reflex, expanded, folded 

 and hooded forms, in all colors known. 



Class II is the orchid-flowering type. 

 Of all the sweet peas grown, these are 



the most superior, as well as the most 

 recent. The flowers are much larger 

 than those of the grandiflora type, 

 blooming in threes and fours, on long, 

 stiff stems, with a glistening finish 

 which resembles frosted silver, while 

 the edges of the standards and wings 

 are wavy, or fluted, like a cockle shell. 

 This type was originated in England, 

 the "Countess of Spencer" being the 

 first, and therefore the parent, of the 

 class. The vines grow vigorously; but, 

 while they are very free in flowering, 

 tjhe seeds grow ill such small numbers 

 that the prices are high. This pecu- 

 liarity is due, perhaps, to the fact that 

 the wings fold down over the keel so 

 closely that the essential organs are 

 too well protected, and insect fertili- 

 zation is often impossible. This type 

 varies from a delicate shell pink to a 

 deep rose. At present the set is com- 

 paratively small, "Enchantress," an 

 English novelty of 1907, being perhaps 

 the most beautiful. 



DWARF EARLY FLOWERING 



Class III is the dwarf early flowering 

 type, which, when in full flower, is 

 only fifteen inches high, blooming in 

 sixty or seventy days from the plant- 

 ing of the seed. The flowers are smaller 

 than those of the grandiflora class, and 

 are slightly notched at the top of the 

 standard. They are very fragrant, and 

 when cut in sprays with the foliage, 

 make cheering house decorations. The 

 class contains onlv three distinct varie- 



Class IV may be termed a collection 

 of freaks, since they are malforma- 

 tions, and not desirable, except as 

 curiosities. Their structure consists in 

 poorly developed standards, and a 

 close, or bud-like, form. 



THE DOUBLES 



Class V consists of doubles. It is 

 not a distinct class, for doubles are 

 likely to come on any of the grandi- 

 flora type. They have two, three and 

 sometimes four standards. Occasion- 

 ally there will be two or three normal 

 flowers and one double on the same 

 stem. This occurs frequently among 

 the "King Edward VII." Doubles, 

 however, are not given much attention; 

 in fact, they should not be encouraged 

 at all. They do not figure among 

 first-class culture exhibits, but seeds 

 can be obtained from any of the grow- 

 ers, if desired. 



CUPIDS AND BUSH PEAS 



Class VI gives us the cupids and the 

 bush varieties. Cupids do not grow 

 upright, but spread their foliage over 

 the earth in matted clusters. The bush 

 peas grow compact and erect to the 

 height of eighteen inches. Neither 

 varieties require much moisture, as 

 they are deep rooted, and thrive in 

 the hottest weather. They will not 

 do so well in the same locality as the 

 tall varieties, because their foliage is 

 liable to mildew in damp surroundings. 

 Both classes have many variegations. 



A Mixed Garden of Annuals, Perennials and Climbers 



Grown last season by Mr. J. A, Wiley, St, Catharines, Ont, 



ties, but the colors are quite pretty, 

 "Earliest of All," with bright pink 

 standard and creamj' wings, being per- 

 haps the finest. . ^ 



Class VII is the notched type. There 

 was a time when the standards had a 

 decided notch, or nick, in the centre, 

 and sometimes at the side.™ Thercen- 



