D. M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH. 



95 



SWEET PEAS 



(Lathyrus odoratus) No garden is too small for a row of Sweet Peas and no estate, however extensive or magnificent, should 

 fail to include many varieties of this most popular flower. Its long blooming season usually extends from early summer until 

 very hot dry weather and no other climber equals it for cutting, either for use in bouquets or for table decoration. 



In describing varieties, by "standard" is meant the wide petal at the top of the flower; the "wings" are the two petals below 

 The Grandiflora or large flowering type, cnving to its vigor of gi-owth, its freedom of blooming and extremely wide range 

 of colors is well suited for most conditions of growth and location. 



The Spencers are of exceptionally large size, 

 the standard and wings waved or frilled and the 

 general effect remarkably graceful and attractive. 

 The plants are of vigorous growth and remain in 

 bloom for a longer time than the Grandiflora sorts. 

 The Spencers are decidedly shy seeders, hence the 

 price will doubtless always be higher than for the 

 older types. 



The early flowering division in both the 

 Qrandflora and the Speucers is composed of vari- 

 eties that are most desirable for forcing under 

 glass or for early flowering out of doors. Our list 

 contains many varieties of exceptional merit. 



Culture. Early in spring make a trench three 

 to four inches deep in rich, mellow soil, so ar- 

 ranged tliat no water can stand in it and plant the 

 seed in the bottom, covering at first only one inch 

 deep. S iveet Peas, particularly the white seeded 

 sorts, are often a little difficult to start. If the soil 

 is toe dry they will remain a long time without 

 terminating; if it is too wet and cold they will not 

 sprout at all. In soils at all heavy, or composed 

 largely of clay, put about one inch of sand in the 

 bottom of the trench and sow the seed on this, 

 covering with more sand. Cover the row with a 

 board to shed the rai J and protect the soil from 

 the hot sun but remove this as soon as the young 

 plants appear 



When the oiants are two inches high, cultivate 

 and as they grow gradually fiU up the trench. 

 Wtien the plants are aboat five inches high it is 

 desirable tc furnis i some support for the vines 

 to run upon preferably a wire netting firmly 

 supported by stakes to prevent sagging, but 

 strings or brush are often used with satisfactory 

 results. 



Where plantings are made as early as possible 

 deep spading or plowing, the placing of manure 

 deeply in the soil to iraw the roots downward, a 

 sunuy situation with the rows running where 

 possible north aad sou':h the removal in the early 

 stages of growth of all bat two branches and the 

 thinning of the plants eight to twelve inches 

 apart — these conditions are usually essential for 

 the largest and most finely formed blossoms. 



The roots should not be allowed to become 

 too dry. Water applied thoroughly once or twice 

 a week, preferably early in the morning or in 

 the evening, is usually better than light sprinkling 

 more frequently. 



The blooms should be picked before they form 

 pods or the plants will soon stop flowering. 



Fall Planting. A better growth of vines and 

 earlier blooming often result from planting seed 

 in the fall instead of early spring. IE a well drained 

 sandy soil is selected this method may usually be 

 depended upon to give satisfactory results even in 

 the Northern states. 



Preparation of the soil is the same as that for 

 spring planting. The seeds should be sown about 

 an inch or two apart in rows about three inches 

 deep, and firmly covered with soil which should be 

 somewhat ridgeJ above the rows to improve drain- 

 age. The most important point in fall planting 

 of Sweet Peas is to plant late enough so that plants 

 will not appear above the surface of the soil before 

 freezing weather sets in. Plantings are usually made 

 in the latitude of Detroit from the 1st to the 15th 

 of November. After the ground freezes the rows 

 should be covered with a mulch of litter or manure. 

 Upon approach of warm weather in the spring the 

 rows should be examined and if plants have started 

 the mulch may be removed either wholly or in 

 part, leaving it between the rows or near at hand 

 so that it mav be replaced in case of a cold wave 

 or sudden change of temperature. 



For the aphis or plant louse, spraying with 

 solutions of some tobacco extract or Avhale-oil soap 

 is usually effective; and for the Eed Spider, which 

 also causes trouble at times, spraying with pure 

 water is usually stifficient. A frequent change of 

 location has also been found important S^^^t p^^g^ ^elen Pierce Spencer 



