CHAPTER III 

 MAKING NEW VARIETIES 



WE have advanced so far in the development of Sweet 

 Peas, that it may be thought there is now no ideal to 

 inspire future raisers. This is far from being the truth. 

 As a purely elementary illustration, it may be pointed 

 out that we have not yet got the true yellow or the true 

 blue flower. Nothing short of the hue of Coreopsis grandi- 

 flora will satisfy the world in regard to the former ; while 

 as for the latter, we have in our mind the blue of Salvia 

 patens. There must be no hint that there is nothing left 

 to do, so long as we have not these delightful colours ! 



When, then, shall we have them ? Here is a question 

 which is easy enough to propound, but impossible to 

 answer. The Sweet-Pea-loving public may accept it as 

 an indisputable fact that modern raisers will spare neither 

 trouble, skill, patience, nor money to achieve these objects, 

 for they know perfectly well that those who are successful 

 will not only reap a rich financial reward, but that their 

 name or names will go down to posterity with that of 



Eckford in the cult of the Queen of Annuals. 



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