1804.] ESSAYS. 11 



what we shall grow this year would be only oue-eighth of an ounce 

 for each family. And yet I know of private gardens where more 

 than a pound is planted. We get an idea of what the business is 

 from the fact that Henderson had 30 acres of Emily Henderson, a 

 crop of about three tons, none of it being offered this year to the 

 trade in more than ounce packages, and at 50 cents per ounce to the 

 public. 



We are sorely tried with Mr. Eckford, and are trying to American- 

 ize him in his ideas of getting seed stock into our growers' hands so 

 that our flower public can get his gems in some reasonable time and 

 quantity. We ought to have at least enough stock this year of what 

 he offered in England last year to give people a taste, but the few 

 ounces that could be grown from sealed packets of 10 or 12 seeds 

 last Summer must all be kept for seed stock, and even a house like 

 Burpee's cannot offer a packet till another year. Eckford's Scotch 

 blood must be slow or he would catch on to the Star of the West. 

 He might have put an ounce of Blushing Beauty, or Venus, or Fire- 

 fly into our growers' hands two years ago, and the crop would have 

 been 100 ounces the first year, and 600 pounds the second year, and 

 that crop would be worth at the English price per ounce to-day 

 $4,800, and if the same had been done with the six novelties, which, 

 though now old to me, have not been seen by many of you, would 

 have made a value of $28,800. I think it would pay Mr. Eckford to 

 be less shy with his beauties and get them into our trade. A pound 

 of Lady Beaconsfield, Lady Penzance, or Stanley is worth to Mr. 

 Eckford this year, in sealed packets, $320. Morse of California 

 would be glad to make 100 pounds of that one pound in one year, 

 and it would be easily worth $8 per pound another year. I do not 

 believe Mr. Eckford is making money as fast as that by keeping us 

 waiting. Our California growers have a wonderful soil, remarkably 

 sure in its results. 



The interesting points of this flower are just dawning upon the 

 American public. I am not a special pleader, nor do I let my en- 

 thusiasm run away with me. The Sweet Pea has always borne a 

 happy kind of popularity for its artless beauty and sweet fragrance, 

 even in its old plebeian form. But now, with every old variety carried 

 up to the improved form and size, and the new colors and shadings 

 added to the list, until we have 80 or more varieties of real merit, it 

 challenges the attention which you are giving to it at this hour, and 

 I sincerely congratulate any one who feels the thrill of the pleasure 

 which this flower is to afford our American lovers of flowers. 



