D. M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH. 
95 
SWEET PEAS 
( Lathyrus odoratus) No garden is too small for a row of Sweet Peas and no estate, however extensive or niagmflcent , t should 
fail to include many varieties of this most popular flower Its long blooming season usually extends from eari\ summti 
very hot dry weather and no other climber equals it for cutting, either for use in bouquets or for table uecoration 
In describing varieties, by “standard” is meant the wide petal at the top of the flower; the “wings” are the two petals below. 
The Grand i flora or large flowering type, owing to its vigor of growth, its freedom of blooming and extremely wide range 
of colors is w r ell suited for most conditions of growth and location*. 
The Spencers are of exceptionally large size, 
the standard and wings waved or frilled and the 
eeneral 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 
Grandflora and the Speucers is composed of vari¬ 
eties 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 ar¬ 
ranged that no w ater 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 diflicult to start. If the soil 
is too dry they w ill remain a long time w ithout 
germinating; if it is too wet and cold they w ill not 
sprout at all. In soils at all heavy, or composed 
largely of clay, put about one incn of sand in the 
bottom of the trench and sow the seed on this, 
covering with more sand. Cover the row w ith 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 
«nd as they grow gradually fill up the trench. 
r hen the plants are about live inches high it is 
jsirable to furnis.i some support for the vines 
► run upon, preferably a wire netting firmly 
ipported by stakes to prevent sagging, but 
rings or brush are often used with satisfactory 
‘suits. 
Where plantings are made as early as possible 
=*ep spading or plowing, the placing of manure 
* e ply in the soil to draw the roots downward, a 
inny situation with the row's running where 
ossible north and south, the removal in the early 
;ages of growth of all but two branches arid the 
linning of the plants eight to twelve inches 
part— these conditions are usually essential for 
le largest and most finely formed blossoms. 
The roots should not be allowed to become 
x> dry. Water applied thoroughly once or twice 
week, preferably early in the morning or in 
be evening, is usually better than light sprinkling 
lore frequently. 
The blooms should be picked before they form 
kxIs or the plants will soon stop flowering. 
Fall Planting. A better growth of vines and 
arlicr blooming often result from planting seed 
a the fall Instead of early spring. If a well drained 
andy soil is selected this method may usually 1 e 
Lepended upon to give satisfactory results even m 
he 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 
jeep, and firmly covered with soil which should be 
somewhat ridged above the rows to improve drain- 
ige The most important point in fall planting 
if Sweet Peas is to plant late enough so that plants 
.vill not appear above the surface of the soil before 
’reezing weathersets in. Plantings are usually made 
n the latitude of Detroit from the 1st to the 15th 
>f 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 
•art. leaving it between the rows or near at hand 
so that it may be replaced in case of a cold wave 
3r sudden change or 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 
Sweet Peas, Helen Pierce Spencer 
