94 



D. M. FERRY & GO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 



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. Tts Inno- hlom-nino- epacmn n en q i u^ 0^+0^,1 c f-nr^-r^^ «r,^i,- c-,,^™ — „„j-;i 



verj" hot dr\^ weather and no other climber 

 equals it for cutting, either for use in bou- 

 quets 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. 



In addition to the classification by colors, 

 there are two typical forms of grandifloras 

 recognized, the ' 'open form" and the "hooded 

 form," referring to the shape of the stand- 

 ard. In the open form, illustrated by Blanche 

 Ferry, Katherine Tracy and King Edward 

 VII., the standard is nearly round, smooth 

 and straight on the edges. 'The standard in 

 the hooded form, of which weU kno-om ex- 

 amples are Dorothy Eckford, Countess of 

 Radnor and Othello, has slightly rolling 

 sides at the top, giving the flower a shell 

 shaped appearance. 



For Outdoor Planting there are two 

 general classes. The more generally knoAvn 

 is the Qrandiflora or large flowering division. 

 This class, owing to its vigor of growth, its 

 freedom of blooming and extremely wide 

 range of colors, is well suited for most con- 

 ditions of growth and location. 



The Spencers are of exceptionally large 

 size, the standard and wings waved or frilled 

 and the general elTect remarkably graceful 

 and attractive. The plants are of vigorous 

 growth and remain in bloom for a longer 

 time than the Grandiflora sorts. The Spen- 

 cers are decidedly shy seeders, hence the 

 price AviU doubtless always be higher than 

 for the older types. 



The early flowering division in both the 

 Grandiflora and the Spencers is composed of 

 varieties that are most desirable for forc- 

 ing 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 tlie seed in the bottom, covering at 

 first only one inch deep. Sweet Peas, particu- 

 larly 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 spi-out 

 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 tlie hot sun but remove this as 

 soon as the young plants appear. 



■WTien the plants are two inches high, 

 cultivate and as they grow gradually fiU up 

 the trench. When the plants are about flve 

 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. 



Where plantings are made as early as 

 possible, deep spading or plowing, the plac- 

 ing 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 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. 



For the aphis or plant louse, spraj^ing 

 .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. 



A better growth of the vines and earlier 

 blooming often result from planting seed 

 late in the fall instead of early in the spring. 

 The blooms should be picked before they 

 form pods or the plants wiU soon stop 

 flowering. 



Its long blooming season usually extends from earh- summer until 



Sweet Peas, Margaret MADlso^ 



