THE SWEET PEA. 57 



of Santa Clara, California, I spent the month of May, 1894, with 

 them. The chief point at that time was to set them right on the 

 names and types of the already long list, so that all stocks might 

 be thoroughly rogued. It seems but yesterday since we doubted 

 whether Sweet Pea seed could be successfully grown in this coun- 

 try. But California is today supplying the best trade stock we 

 have, and we are exporting this seed to the countries that but a 

 few years ago were our sole dependence. Even two years ago 

 none of the foreign growers were keeping up with Mr. Eckford's 

 novelties, and were taking pains only to preserve the purity of 

 color of the reliable sorts. As compared to a California grower, 

 who, to fill any possible contract for every known variety, does not 

 hesitate to plant two hundred and fifty acres of this one flower, 

 the foreign growers can hardly be said to be in the market. Cali- 

 fornia has a wonderful strength of soil, cool nights and warm 

 days, and, the rainy season coming just after planting time, the 

 root growth is excellent, and at harvest time they are sure to have 

 continuous sunshine. Their chief danger is over-production. 

 Messrs. Morse & Co. plant Sweet Peas about as we plant corn, 

 two seeds in a place. Up to the first of June they can get in with 

 a hoe, and to rogue out the " off " kinds, and after that the vines 

 lock in together, and, with never a wind to beat them down, the 

 whole field rises from three to five feet high, forming a mass of 

 bloom, and going evenly to seed. Other growers plant them in 

 rows about seven feet apart, and work among them all through 

 the growing season. They are careful about saving seed stock. 

 While rogueing them they are on the lookout for the finest plants 

 producing the best blooms. These are marked with a stake, and 

 saved for their own seed stock. Rogueing out off colors is only 

 one-half what is needed. Deteriorated stock should be pulled 

 up also, and nothing should be allowed to grow but plants fully 

 up to the improved type. But our jobbers do not take this into 

 consideration in fixing contract prices, and drive the grower into 

 harvesting everything that will make weight. The California 

 grower needs to bear in mind that if his stock is in the least dete- 

 riorated it will show in New England far more than in the rich 

 soil of the Pacific coast. We must say this about our best Cal- 

 ifornia growers, that they are very enthusiastic about their Sweet 

 Peas, and now they have reached the most interesting stage of 

 their work — the making of novelties. With such a large acreage 



