D. M. FERRY & CO 
DETROIT. MICH. 
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. Hundreds of 
varieties have been offered for sale by seedsmen but owing? to recent marked improvements many sorts are decidedly inferior 
and have been dropped from our list. In describing varieties, by “standard” is meant the wide petal at the top of the flower; 
the “wings” are the two petals below. 
Extra Early Blanche Ferry and Earliest White, being the earliest known varieties, are excellent for growing indoors. 
For Outdoor Planting there are two general classes. By far the more extensive is the tiramliflora or large flowering division 
which, aside from the Spencer types, comprises practically all of the varieties we list. This class, owing to its general vigor of 
growth, its freedom of blooming and extremely wide range of colors, is best suited for ordinary conditions of growth and location. 
The Spencer Types are of exceptionally large size, the standards ami wings waved or frilled and the general effect remark¬ 
ably graceful and attractive. Undoubtedly the finest Sweet Peas yet developed are found in this class. All Spencers are de¬ 
cidedly shy seeders, hence the price will douotless always be considerably higher than for the older types. We offer on this page 
what we consider to tie the best varieties yet introduced, and we recommend them unreservedly. 
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, arc 
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 netting firmly supported by stakes to prevent sagging, but strings or brush are often used 
with satisfactory results. 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. A better 
growth of vine and earlier blooming often results 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 will soon stop flowering. 
SPENCER VARIETIES 
APPLE BLOSSOM SPENCER. Bright rose standard 
with primrose wings. Very large; true Spencer form. 
Pkt. 10c; Oz. 35c; y 4 Lb. $1.00 
ASTA OHN. Suffused lavender or tinted mauve; true 
Spencer form, large and wavy. One of the best. 
Pkt. 10c; Oz. 50c; V 4 Lb. $1.50 
AURORA SPENCER. Flowers large, brilliant orange rose, 
striped and flaked on white. The most attractive of the 
striped Spencers. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 35c; l / 4 Lb. $1.00 
BLANCHE FERRY SPENCER. This is similar in color to the 
old Blanche Ferry but like all Spencers the type is not 
unalterably fixed. The pink is usually a little darker than 
Blanche Ferry and some of the flowers show striping. It 
is a very pleasing sweet pea and is one of the most 
attractive varieties yet introduced. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 40c; 
1/4 Lb. $1.25 
CAPTAIN OF THE BLUES SPENCER. Purple, with blue 
wings, beautifully waved. Flowers are of large Spencer 
form, but lighter shade than Captain of the Blues; more 
truly Waverly Spencer in color. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 35c; 
i/ 4 Lb. $1.00 
COUNTESS SPENCER. Bright clear pink; very large, 
open form; long stems. A very desirable variety. 
Pkt. 10c; Oz. 50c; !/ 4 Lb. $1.50 
DAINTY SPENCER. White suffused and edged with 
pink; large and of Spencer form; very free blooming. 
Pkt. 10c; Oz. 40c; % Lb. $1.25 
FLORENCE MORSE SPENCER. A very large, delicate 
blush with pink margin. Of the best type; excellent 
for cutting. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 40c; l / 4 Lb. $1.25 
GEORGE HERBERT. A bright, rose carmine, Spencer 
variety of large size. Both standard and wings 
beautifully waved. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 35c; l / 4 Lb. $1.00 
GLADYS UNWIN. Clear light bright pink with 
deeper shade at edge of standard. One of the best 
of the large waved or Spencer types. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 25c; 
V 4 Lb. 75c. 
HELEN LEWIS. A rich crimson orange, with wings of 
orange rose. Large, fine Spencer form. Pkt. 10c; 
Oz. 40c; l / 4 Lb. $1.25 
KING EDWARD SPENCER. Brilliant crimson scarlet; 
very large size and of open form. The best of the 
bright reel Spencers. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 50c; y 4 Lb. $1.50 
MRS. ROUTZAHN. A most attractive Spencer of 
largest size and very graceful form; primrose and 
buff, shaded light rose at edges. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 40c; 
1/4 Lb. $1.25 
NORA UNWIN. Flowers very large, pure white, 
Spencer type with very broad standard, beautifully 
frilled. One of the finest white sweet peas yet intro¬ 
duced. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 35c; V 4 Lb. $1.00 
OTHELLO SPENCER. A beautiful, deep, pure 
maroon of the large Spencer type. Much the nest 
of the maroon shades of Spencers. Pkt. 10c; Oz. 40c; 
V 4 Lb. $1.25 
PRIMROSE SPENCER. The best primrose sweet pea 
yet developed. True Spencer type, large wavy petals, 
frilled at edges: clear, distinct color. Pkt. 10c; 
Oz. 35c; % Lb. $1.00 
TENNANT SPENCER. A light rosy purple or purplish 
mauve Spencer of very large size and excellent form. 
Pkt. 10c; Oz. 35c; V 4 Lb. $1.00 
WHITE SPENCER. Standard and wings of pure 
white, beautifully waved and fluted. An especially 
attractive variety of very large size. Pkt. 10c; 
Oz. 75c; % Lb. $2.00 
(Seepage VO for mixtures of Spencer sweet peas.) 
Primrose Spencer 
