K 
ID, IMG IREIRIRW of CO;, IDIBINROMU, | MOIS 87 
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 floral structure, by the term “‘standard” is meant the wide petal at the top of the flower; the ‘‘wings” are the 
two petals below. 
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 old Grandiflora 
sorts. The Spencers are decidedly shy seeders, hence the price will doubtless always be higher than for the older types. 
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. One ounce of seed is sufficient to plant a single row 
of 50 feet. Sweet Peas, particularly the white seeded sorts, are often a little difficult to start. Ifthe soilis 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 com posed 
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 netting firmly supported by stakes 
to prevent sagging, but strings or brush are often used with satisfactory results. 
The essentials for the largest and most finely formed flowers are as follows: 
Planting as early in spring as possible, deep spading or plowing; the placing of manure in the bottom of the trenches to 
draw the roots downward; a sunny situation with the rows where possible running north and south, the removal in the 
early stages of growth of all but two branches and thinning the plants to not less than eight inches apart in the rows. 
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. 
If the flower stems become shortened, an application of manure water will aid materially in keeping them long. This 
should follow a rain or thorough watering. If applied when ground is hot and dry, burning or serious injury will usually result. 
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. 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 improved 
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 temperature. 
For the aphis or plant louse, spraying with solutions of some tobacco 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 important. 
Especial attention is directed to the desirability of the Early Flowering Spencers for early outdoor planting. In localities 
where the hot sun of early summer make it difficult to obtain satisfactory results with the Late Spencers, it will prove of 
advantage to plant the Early Flowering sorts. The flowering date of this class is so much earlier that they wiil produce an 
abundance of good blooms before being checked by the heat. 
A full assortment of colors is now available in this class, either through the selection of the named varieties we offer or in the 
use of our Early Flowering,Spencers Mixed. If the results you have had with the later sorts have been disappointing, we 
suggest that you givethese a trial. 
EARLY FLOWERING SPENCER VARIETIES 
A comparatively new class of Sweet Peas that is rapidly becoming prominent for winter flowering indoors. The flowers 
are large, of the same form as the Spencers and are beautifully waved or frilled. They remain in bloom for a much longer time 
than the Farly Flowering Grandiflora sorts. When planted out of doors they will commence blooming a month or more earlier 
than the later flowering varieties planted at the same time. 
EARLY AVIATOR, Brilliant crimson scarlet flowers of large 
size and fine form. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 60c; 14 Lb. $1.75 
EARLY BLANCHE FERRY. An attractive bicolor with white 
wings and rose pink standard. An early flowering Spencer 
similar in color to the well known Blanche Ferry. Pkt. 10c; 
Oz. 60c; 14 Lb, $1.75 
EARLY BLUE BIRD. A very attractive shade of bright 
silvery blue. Flowers become somewhat deeper in shade as 
they age. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 60c; 14 Lb. $1.75 
EARLY COLUMBIA. Standard rose pink, wings creamy 
white or tinged with pink. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 60c; 14 Lb. $1.75 
EARLY ELDORADO. Rich golden orange standard with wings 
of softer shade. Pkt. 10c; Oz. $2.00 : 
EARLY GLITTERS. Bright fiery orange standard with 
wings of a deeper orange. Unsurpassed in brillianey of color 
ies used under artificiallight. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 60c; 14 Lb. 
EARLY HARMONY. A pleasing shade of lavender. Flowers 
of large size and borne onlong stems. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 60c; 
144 Lb. $1.75 : 
EARLY SNOW FLAKE. An early flowering white variety of 
distinctive merit. The blossoms are large, of the best Spen- 
cer form and are borne in profusion on long stems. The most 
desirable Early Flowering White Sweet Pea. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 
60c; 14 Lb. $1.75 
EARLY SUPERIOR PINK. Flowers of extra size. A beautiful 
rose pink, very slightly shaded with salmon, Pkt. 10c; 
Oz. $1.50 
EARLY VULCAN. A vivid scarlet of intense hue, which is 
highly resistant to hot sun. Produces freely on long stems. 
Pkt. 10c; Oz. 90c; 14 Lb. $2.50 
EARLY ZVOLANEK’S ROSE. Rich rose pink, The flowers 
are large and are produced on stems of good length. One of 
the best commercial sorts. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 60c; % Lb. $1.75 
EARLY FLOWERING SPENCERS MIXED. A choice mixture 
of the foregoing named Early Flowering Spencer varieties. 
Pkt. 10c; Oz. 50c; 144 Lb. $1.50 
