SWEET PEAS 



EVERYBODY loves the gay, the fragrant Sweet Pea; and a con- 

 siderable number specialise it, as other people do Roses and 

 Chrysanthemums. 



It is not surprising that the plant should enjoy great favour, 

 because it has very real merits. It is a vigorous grower, is hardy, 

 thrives on most soils and in most districts, is fairly free from 

 serious enemies, is readily raised from seed, is inexpensive, is 

 suitable for indoor and flower-garden culture as well as for room 

 decoration, will thrive in town and suburban gardens, remains 

 long in beauty, and has beautiful flowers with a wide range of 

 colours, exhaling a delicious perfume. 



There are few plants of which as much as this could be said. 

 Some have flowers of rare beauty and fragrance, but are difficult 

 to grow, or expensive, or so subject to the attacks of insects and 

 fungi as to be almost "more bother than they are worth." 



The Sweet Pea, Lathyrus odoratus of botanists, is a compara- 

 tively old plant, having been introduced into Great Britain upwards 

 of two hundred years ago. We have not space to trace its history 

 an'd progress step by step, nor would such a course be quite germane 

 to this work. Those who have so deep an interest in the flower 

 as to be desirous of making themselves acquainted with every 

 detail of its career may be advised to study the publications of the 

 National Sweet Pea Society, a body which has disseminated much 

 valuable information about the Sweet Pea. 



We may say, however, that the development of the flower went 

 on very slowly for upwards of one hundred and fifty years. New 

 varieties were introduced at long intervals; indeed, there is no 



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