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FERRY'S SEEDS 



View of our Sweet Pea "Work Shop" at Salinas, California, summer 1930 

 Individual vines are staked and seed saved separately 



SWEET PEAS 



About the year 1700 the first Sweet Pea was introduced into England from the Island of Sicily. The vine bore gay little flowers 

 but little was done to develop it for the following 175 years. 



During the next quarter century several seed-breeders throughout the world became interested in its response to improvement. 

 Due to this work the gardening public had available by the beginning of the Twentieth Century a very complete list of the clamped 

 "keel" or "Grandiflora" varieties. 



Unexpectedly in 1901 a new race of Sweet Peas appeared in the garden of the Earl Spencer in England. This new type called 

 "Spencer" bears large bold flowers with waved standards and the "keel" is open instead of clamped. The enthusiasm occasioned by 1 

 the discovery of this new race is still very real among all flower lovers and today it has virtually supplanted the older sorts in 

 popularity. 



Another forward step in Sweet Pea breeding came around 1910 with the advent of the "Early Flowering Spencer," which is 

 so well suited to our American climate. This newer race is the result of crossing the "Spencer" on certain varieties of "Early Flower- 

 ing Grandiflora," which in turn were developed from the variety Extra Early Blanche Ferry which we introduced in 1889. 



Since 1886 Mr. Lester L. Morse, first Vice-president of this company and the first commercial Sweet Pea seed grower in America, 

 has been developing and improving the species. To date he has been identified with the introduction of seventy-five new varieties, 

 many of which are today the standards of excellence among connoisseurs. At our seed-breeding station at Salinas, California, the 

 intensive work of development is still in progress and each year the "Work Shop" has developed some new creation of proven merit. 



The list we off'er comprises a full range of colors and shades. All of the varieties have individual merit and the planter in making 

 his selection may be confident that no finer strains are procurable elsewhere. As a matter of interest we have indicated the varieties 

 of Morse introduction. 



Sweet Peas are relatively hardy. They may be planted very early in the Spring or late in the Fall. They do best in well fertilized 

 soil and require considerable watering where evaporation is high, due to warm days. They need support as soon as they are four 

 inches high. Of prime importance is to give them plenty of room, thinning the plants to not less than six inches apart. 



LATE SPENCER 



This class is particularly thrifty and vigorous. The vines are quite branching, stooling from the base and carry an 

 abundance of handsome fohage. The flowers are consistently of large size, with upright standards dehcately waved or frilled 

 and graceful wings. The keel, which surrounds the stamens and pistil, is open instead of clamped tight. Normally the blossoms 

 are nicely placed on long stiff stems in groups of three or more. Wherever the chmate assures rather cool nights and days that 

 are not extremely hot, as for example along the Atlantic Seaboard, in the Northern states, on the Pacific slope and in relatively 

 high altitudes, this type will flourish to perfection. 



BICOLOR Pkt. Oz 



Blanche Ferry Rose standard and light pink wings. 

 Our strain is comparatively free from objection- 

 able tinting. The color contrast is, however, 

 accentuated by partial shading 10c 30c 



BLUE 



Fortune Dusky violet-blue, flowers large and of 

 fine form. Most striking when used in combina- 

 tion with lighter colors 10c 30c 



Gleneagles Lavender blue, slightly deeper at cen- 

 ter. The flowers are of rounded form with 

 dainty frilled edges 10c 30c 



Mrs. Tom Jones Deep amethyst blue. The blos- 

 soms are of fine size and form. The finest deep 

 blue variety 10c 30c 



Reflection (Morse 1929) Clear corn-flower blue. 

 Unusually vigorous, extra long stemmed. Flow- 

 ers of splendid substance and beautifully waved. 

 Today's most popular and best clear blue 10c 60c 



CERISE or CHERRY Pkt. Oz. 



Charming A bright rosy cerise. This sort carries 



fine bold flowers that are beautifully waved . . . 10c 30c 



Conqueror (Morse 1931) Clear glowing cerise. 

 Vigorous and long stemmed. The color is superb 

 under briUiant sunshine or electric light 25c .... 



Hero (Morse 1928) Brilhant clear cerise with 

 warm salmon sheen. Large, well waved flowers 

 make this a splendid sort 10c 40c 



Mrs. A. Searles Rich cerise self , bordering on soft 

 oriental red. A variety with strong constitution 

 producing splendid large blooms 10c 40c 



CREAM 

 Majestic Cream A deep rich cream shade. This 

 reliable variety carries excellent flowers that are 

 gracefully waved 10c 30c 



What Joy Primrose yellow, shading to cream. A 

 charming tone and the nearest approach to a 

 true yellow to date 10c 30c 



