20 ffllPHMtrAMBR -PhliADtLPHIA fkWf RELIABLE FLOWERStEDS 



S? SWEET PEAS. 



There are now in commerce, including the Xew Orchid-flow- 

 ered type, over 300 varieties of Sweet Peas, with new sorts being 

 added every year. Many of this vast number are either small- 

 flowering, of weakly growth, or lacking in some characteristic 

 which a first-class variety should have. Every vear our list is 

 carefully revised, with a view to keeping it strictly up-to-date; 

 and while it seems hard to dispense with some of the once pop- 

 ular kinds, yet it must be done to keep up with the match of 

 progress, and if you miss some old favorite in our list, it has 

 been discarded in favor of a new and improved'sort of the same 

 color. 



Every variety we offer is entitled to a place in the front rank 

 of Sweet Peas; but as most amateurs only wish a limited num- 

 ber of sorts, we have made up collections comprising the very 

 finest and mos distinct Orchid-flowered and Standard sorts, 

 which we offer with other Specialties on pages 58 to 68. 



MOW TO GROW SWEET PEAS. 



The soil for Sweet Peas should be rich and deep. A good 

 rich loam, with plenty of well-rotted manure in it, is the ideal 

 soil for raising good plants that will produce plenty of blooms of 

 good substance. Soils that are at all heavy are best dug in the 

 autumn, and during the winter months a good dressing of hard- 

 wood ashes or air-slaked lime should be given it. They should 

 be in a position fully exposed to the sunlight and air on both 

 sides of the row. 



Much depends on the state of the weather as to when the 

 seed may be sown out-of-doors; but they should be sown as 

 early in the season as the ground can be worked, which is usually 

 between the middle of March and the middle of April in the 

 latitude of Philadelphia. It is best to make a trench or furrow 

 about six inches deep, in the bottom of which sow the seed 

 thickly. Cover the seed with about an inch of soil, pressing it 

 down firmly. As soon as they are above ground, thin out to 

 two to four inches apart; when planted too close they 

 do not attain their full development. As soon as the plants 

 are above the trench the balance of the soil may be filled in. 

 They should be stake 1 up either with branches of brush or stout 

 stakes on which wire netting has been fastened. These should 

 be at least four feet high, and five feet would be better. It is 

 just as well to do the staking at the time of sowing, or it may 

 be done before filling in the trench. 



During dry weather they should be watered thoroughly and frequently and given an application of liquid manure once a week. 

 A mulch of hay or rakings from the lawn will be found beneficial during hot weather. The flowers should be cut as often as pos- 

 sible, and all withered blooms should be removed, to prevent the plants from running to seed, which would stop them from 

 continuing in bloom, 



\Vhite-seeded varieties should not be sown until the ground is comparatively dry and warm. If sown under cold, wet conditions, 

 tne seed will rot in the ground. With few exceptions, Sweet Peas are black seeded, and these do not appear to be affected like the 

 white-seeded sorts. 



DREER'S ORCHID-FLOWERED SWEET PEAS. 



The introduction of this type has created new interest, and added to the popularity of Sweet Peas. They are quite distinct from 

 the standard sorts, having large, round, open flowers of extraordinary size, usually measuring two inches across, with wavy stand, 

 ards and wide-spreading wings, a very large percentage bearing four of these immense blossoms to the stein, which is long and 

 strong, making them of exceptional value for cutting. All of the sorts offered below have been thoroughly tested, and are just as 

 easy to grow as the standard varieties. ( 



Orchid-flowered Sweet Peas. 



4062 Apple Blossom Spencer. Rose and blush-pink, 



beautifullv wived. 10 cts. per pkt. ; 30 cts. per oz. ; 



SI. 00 per 1 lb. 

 4071 Black Knight Spencer. Rich, deep maroon, very 



large. 10 cts. per pkt.; 50 cts. per oz ; $1.50 per \ lb. 

 4086 Countess Spencer. A lovely clear pink, shading 



deeper at the edges, the original of this type. 

 4107 Florence Morse Spencer. Delicate b'ush with pink 



margin, a charmingly beautiful flower of very large size. 

 41 1 2 Frank Dolby. The largest and finest pale lavender-blue. 

 4117 George Herbert. Bright rose-carmine, very showy. 

 4125 Helen Lewis (Orange Countess). Brilliant crimsqn- 



4153 King Edward Spencer. Bright crimson-scarlet. NJag !■ 



nificent in size and color. 10 cts. per pkt.; 50 cts. per 

 oz. ; $1.50 per i lb. 



4181 Mrs. Routzahn Spencer. Soft chamois pink, a 

 beautiful shade, and charming as a cut flower. 10 its. 

 per pkt.: 50 cts. per oz. ; $1.50 per \ lb. 



4182 Mrs. Walter Wright Spencer. A beautiful shade 

 of deep mauve*. 10 cts. per pkt.; 50 cts. per oz.: $1.50 

 per J lb. 



4198 Primrose Spencer. The largest and finest primrose- 

 yellow. 



4212 White Spencer. A pure wavy white of enormous size 

 and splendid substance; long, strong stems. 



orange, wings orange-rose. 



Price : Any of the above, except where noted, 10 cts per pkt.; 20 cts. per oz.; 50 cts. per 1 II). 

 4239 Collection of a packet each of the above 12 sorts SO cts., or 1 ounce of each, $3.00. 

 4260 Orchid-flowered Mixed. A splendid mixture. 10 cts. per pkt.; 15 cts. per oz.; 40 cts. per J lb.; $1.25 per lb. 



We offer the finest of the Newer Orchid-flowered Sweet Peas. Sec Novelties and Specialties, pages 58 to 68. 



