FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH 



95 



SWEET PEAS 



t 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 11 are the two petals below. 



The Grand iflora or large flowering type, owing to its vigor of growth, 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 Grandiflora and the Speucers is composed of varieties 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 arranged that no water can stand 

 in it and plant the seed in the bottom, covering at first only one inch deep. Sweet Peas, particularly the white seeded sorts, are 

 often a little difficult to start. If the soil is too dry they will remain a long time without germinating; 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 rain and protect the soil from 

 the hot sun but remove this as soon as the young plants appear. 



When the plants are two inches high, cultivate and as they grow gradually fill up the trench. When the plants are about 

 five inches high it is desirable to 

 furnish some support for the vines 

 to run upon, preferably a wire net- 

 ting firmly supported by stakes to 

 prevent sagging, but strings or brush 

 are often used with satisfactory re- 

 sults. 



Where plantings are made as 

 early as possible, deep spading or 

 plowing, the placing of manure 

 deeply in the soil to draw the roots 

 downward, a sunny situation with 

 the rows running where possible 

 north and south, the removal in the 

 early stages of growth of all but two 

 branches and the thinning of the 

 plants eight to twelve inches apart— 

 these conditions are usually essen- 

 tial 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 be- 

 fore 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. If 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 ridged 

 above the rows to improve drainage. 

 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 

 may be replaced in case of a cold 

 wave or sudden change of tempera- 

 ture. 



For the aphis or plant louse, 

 spraying with solutions of some to- 

 bacco extract or whale-oil soap is 

 usually effective: and for the Red 

 Spider, which also causes trouble at 

 times, spraying with pure water is 

 usually sufficient. A frequent change 

 of location has also been found im- 

 portant. 



Spencer Sweet Peas 



