6 CULTURE OF THE SWEET PEA 



that the writer was able to contribute was 

 made possible through the moral sup- 

 port of the American Sweet Pea Society; 

 and especially by money donations from 

 the various seedsmen and other lovers of 

 the sweet pea in the United States. 



It is believed that the present work is 

 fulfilling an urgent need. There never 

 was a time when ornamental plants were 

 grown commercially on a larger scale than 

 to-day. In fact the sweet pea itself forms 

 an industry, the economic importance of 

 which cannot be overlooked. It is within 

 recent memory of all when the hollyhock 

 occupied the place of honor in every gar- 

 den. In every flower exhibit in this coun- 

 try or abroad it was king. To-day the 

 hollyhock is only mentioned as ancient his- 

 tory. Diseases have so crippled that beau- 

 tiful plant, that growers out of sheer dis- 

 couragement have ceased raising it. Now 



