SWEET PEAS 229 



The fact that "selfing" takes place at such an early stage in 

 the development of the flower should teach those who wish to 

 obtain new varieties by transferring pollen from one flower to 

 another themselves that they must be on the alert directly the 

 plant forms buds. If a flower is emasculated (that is, deprived of 

 its petals and reduced to its central organs) and the anthers are 

 removed before the pollen is ripe, selfing cannot take place. And 

 if then pollen is conveyed from another bud when it is ripe, and 

 placed on the stigma of the emasculated bud when it has become 

 viscid, cross-fertilisation will probably take place. The seed that 

 results when the flower has become a pod and the pod has 

 matured, may yield plants that produce flowers having the char- 

 acters of both parents. 



The modern history of the Sweet Pea began in 1870, when a 

 private gardener of Scottish extraction, named Henry Eckford, who 

 had a taste for crossing flowers, selected the Sweet Pea as one 

 on which to operate. His successes were numerous. In a few 

 years he had added a considerable number of beautiful novelties 

 to the existing list of varieties, and his work went on until the 

 flower was developed, alike in size and diversity of colour, 

 into one of the most remarkable of all our popular garden 

 favourites. 



Mr. Eckford's successes set others at work, and novelties poured 

 in from various sources. The colours had been so multiplied and 

 enriched, indeed, and the size and substance of the flowers so 

 greatly increased, that it seemed as though finality had almost 

 been reached. However, in 1901 a startling break appeared. The 

 Sweet Pea may be said to consist of three parts an upright back 

 petal, called the " standard " ; two lower side petals springing from 

 the base, called the "wings"; and the "keel" aforementioned. The 

 standard is the most conspicuous part of the flower, and on its 

 quality depends in a great measure the merit of the whole flower. 

 Now, this large upright petal was a smooth, even structure. It 



