D. M. FERRY & CO., DETROIT, MICH 
95 
SWEET PEAS 
< Lathyms odoratus ‘ No garden is too small for a row of Sweet Peas an.*, no estate, however extensive or magnificent, should 
fail to include many varieties of this most popular Mower 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 varieties, by “standard'* is meant the wide petal at the top of the flower; the “wings” are the two petals below. 
The Gr&ndi flora or large flowering type, owing to its vigor of growth, its freedom of blooming and extremely wide range 
of colors is well suited for most conditions of growth and location. 
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 that) 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 Grandiflora and the Spencers is composed of varieties that are most desirable for 
forcing under glass or ror 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 the seed in the bottom, covering at first only one inch deep. Sweet Peas, particularly 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 sprout at all. In soils stall 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, 
five inches high it is desirable to 
furnish some support for the vines 
to run upon, preferably a wire net¬ 
ting firmly supported by stakes to 
prevent sagging, but strings or brush 
are often used with satisfactory re¬ 
sults. 
Where plantings are made as 
early as possible, deep spading or 
plowing, the placing 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 t lie thinning of the 
plants eight to twelve inches apart — 
these conditions are usually essen¬ 
tial 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 
m the evening, is usually better than 
light sprinkling more frequently. 
The blooms should be picked be¬ 
fore 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 improve 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 op 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 tempera¬ 
ture. 
For the aphis or plant louse, 
spraying with solutions of some to¬ 
bacco 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 im¬ 
portant. $pencer Sweet Peas 
When the plants are about 
