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Sprat op Orchid-flowered Sweet Peas 



Dreer's Select 



SWEET PEAS 



There are hundreds of both Orchid -flowered and Grandiflora varieties 

 of Sweet Peas, many of which are practically identical and still others 

 which lack either size, purity of color, vigor or some other characteris- 

 tic which all first-class sorts should have. It would be an easy matter 

 for us to greatly extend our list; but we think it best to confine our 

 offers to such sorts as are really first class, and every variety we offer 

 is entitled to a place in the front rank of Sweet Peas. In addition to 

 the splendid list of Orchid-flowered sorts offered on the page opposite 

 we also offer the very latest introductions, which are fully described on 

 page 54. 



HOW 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 hardwood 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 Phila- 

 delphia. It is best to make a trench or furrow about six inches 

 deep, in the bottom of which sow the seed. Cover 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. 

 They should be staked 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. 



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 bene- 

 ficial during hot weather. The flowers should be cut as often as 

 possible, to prevent the plants from running to seed, which would 

 stop them from continuing in bloom. 



White-seeded varieties should not be sown until the ground is com- 

 paratively dry and warm. If sown under cold, wet conditions, the 

 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 SEEECT GRANDIFLORA SWEET PEAS. 



The following are the very choicest standard sorts — varieties that stand at the head of their respective color and that have the 

 endorsement of the leading American and European specialists — and it would be impossible to select a similar list out of the vast 

 number of grandiflora sorts that would combine in the same degree all the qualities which go to make up first-class varieties. 



4063 Aurora. Orange-rose, striped on a white ground. 



4070 Black Knight. Very deep maroon, shaded black. 



4073 Blanche Ferry. The popular pink and white. 



4090 Dainty. White, daintily edged with pink. 



1091 Dorothy Eckford. Magnificent pure white. 



4094 Duke of Westminster. Clear purple, tinted violet. 



4111 Flora Norton. The clearest bright blue. 



4126 Helen Pierce. White, veined and mottled bright blue. 



4133 Hon. Mrs. E. Kenyon. The finest primrose-yellow. 



4138 Janet Scott. A grand deep rich pink. 



4152 King Edward VII. The finest crimson-scarlet. 



4159 Lady Grisel Hamilton. A grand pale lavender. 



4165 Lovely. Soft shell-pink; a lovely shade. 



4167 Lord Nelson. . The richest deep navy-blue. 



4173 Miss Willmott. Brilliant orange-pink; very large. 



4179 Mrs. Walter Wright. An exquisite shade cf mauve 



4201 Prima Donna. A magnificent pure pink. 



4203 Prince of Wales. The finest bright rose. 



4212 Queen Alexandra. Almost a pure scarlet. 



4234 St. George. Brilliant orange-scarlet. 



Price. Any of the above, 5 cts. per pkt. ; 15 cts. per oz.. 40 cts. per \ lb. 



4249 Collection of a packet each of the above 20 Select Grandiflora Sweet Peas $° 75 



4251 Collection of one ounce each of the above 20 Select Grandiflora Sweet Peas 2 00 



4252 Dreer's " Peerless " Mixture. This mixture con- 

 tains nothing but the finest grandiflora varieties blended 

 with the greatest care so as to produce best color effect. 

 5 cts. per pkt.; 10 cts. per oz.; 30 cts. per \ lb.; $1.00 

 per lb. 



4270 Cupid, Dwarf or Bedding Mixed. These form a line 

 of emerald-green foliage a little over a foot wide and 6 

 inches high, and from June until late summer are literally 

 a sheet of bloom; the mixture contains all the colors. 5 cts. 

 per pkt.; 15 cts. per oz.; 50 cts. per 1 lb.; $1.50 per lb. 



Oar "Peerless " Mixture and Orchid-flowered Mixed Sweet Peas are unsurpassed 



