INTRODUCTION 



Winter Sweet Peas, grown under glass, have come into 

 much prominence in the last few years particularly, and 

 good prices have on the whole been paid for them. To a 

 large extent they have been displacing the Violet; and to 

 a lesser degree, but still appreciable, the beautiful Lily 

 of the Valley. It is also more than likely that a still 

 greater number of Peas will be upon the wholesale markets 

 in the times ahead. This is made evident by the numerous 

 inquiries that have been appearing in the various trade 

 papers; but growers would be wise to proceed cautiously 

 and not overload the market with these Winter flowers. 

 If everybody rushes into the Sweet Pea growing business, 

 and if the markets are burdened, it follows, as night the 

 day, that prices which heretofore have been sufficiently 

 enticing will fall to zero level, and no one will benefit, 

 possibly not even the public. 



Yet there is room for very many more Peas, and need 

 for further information in regard to the returns obtainable 

 and how to cultivate and market them, for there are many 

 smaller growers who would be very glad to be able to add 

 Sweet Peas to their Winter cut flower supply if they knew 

 better how to handle the crop and appraise its value to 

 them. It is in order to help them, and to satisfy the eager 

 demand for knowledge of the Winter Sweet Pea crop 

 particularly, that this little book is published. 



Extracts from the weekly price lists, issued at 

 various centers, demonstrate that the average returns 

 at Chicago between September and February, inclusive, 

 are $i to $1.50 per hundred sprays, and from March to 

 June, inclusive, 50c. to 75c. The general average for the 



