Plants started in pots may be set out in 
early spring 
Twelve years ago it was a lit¬ 
tle, stiff, inconspicuous flower; 
now it is so improved that it 
may be called “gorgeous.” Its 
colors run through most of the 
tints of the rainbow in won¬ 
derful diversity (with the pos¬ 
sible exception of deep yel¬ 
lows, pure blues or deep scar¬ 
let), although it is said that 
this last year has achieved this 
shade. 
When he picks up his cata¬ 
log, the beginner will prob¬ 
ably be confused by the terms 
“Grandiflora,” “Unwin,” and 
“Spencer” varieties. Perhaps 
A Bounteous Garden in One Plant 
THE WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENTS IN SWEET PEAS THAT HAVE GONE TO 
PRODUCE TFIE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS IN FORM AND COLOR NOTED 
RECENTLY—HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY, WITH HINTS TO FORM 
NEW VARIETIES 
by Mary Richards Gray 
Photographs by Courtesy of C. C. Morse 
E ASY to grow, taking 
but little time and 
care, and providing a 
wealth and variety of fra¬ 
grant blossoms all summer 
long — that is the sweet pea. 
possible. The flowers were developed by seed selection, and from 
this type the first improvements were made, chiefly to get color 
variation. These improvements were known as the grandiflora 
variety. 
At about the same time experimenters caused still further varia¬ 
tions. The smooth standards of the original type, which were 
flat and erect, lost their rigid 
Paper pots are valuable for planting in cold climates. 
disturbed when set out 
The seedlings are in no way 
lines and 
drooping. 
hung over the keel 
became wavy and 
The wings, which 
also be¬ 
came wavy, and the segments 
inclosing the flower organs 
expanded until the stamens 
and stigma protruded. This 
was the Spencer type, now 
most assiduously sought after 
and of astonishing variety and 
beauty. 
The Unwin type, developed 
about this time, has wavy 
wings and standard, but the 
keel is closed, as in the orig¬ 
inal form, and so this variety 
is not possible for experimen- 
Wire netting nailed behind the rows makes a 
desirable sweet pea support 
a word or two may en¬ 
lighten the amateur. You 
know the flowers of the 
locust or the wistaria; 
that was what the original 
sweet pea was like. It 
was of but two deep col¬ 
ors and had generally two 
flowers on a stem. To 
understand the improve¬ 
ments made in this flower 
you should know what the 
technical terms are. The 
standard is that part of 
the corolla raised upright 
as a background for the 
rest of the flower; two 
petals more fold over or 
droop, and are known as 
the wings; between them, 
sometimes concealed en¬ 
tirely, is the keel. It looks 
like a boat keel, and is 
composed of two petals 
inclosing the stigma and 
stamens, which are curved 
upward. In this incon¬ 
spicuous original flower 
the keel was closed, and 
cross fertilization was imi¬ 
tation in cross fertiliza¬ 
tion unless by adepts. 
These are the main 
types. We will speak 
about some of the stand¬ 
ard varieties later. Be¬ 
fore the inviting prospect 
of developing your own 
varieties presents itself 
you should know some¬ 
thing of the culture of 
the flower. Its require¬ 
ments are simple, but im¬ 
perative. That soil which 
is rich and porous, which 
will not bake or pack 
tight, is desirable. Some¬ 
times it is called a clayey 
loam. But it should be 
well worked and porous 
and not contain surface 
water. 
Trenching is the com¬ 
monest planting method. 
Make rows about four to 
six inches apart, and dig 
a ditch from two feet to 
thirty inches deep and 
two feet wide. The soil 
at the bottom is probably 
The majority of growers find greatest success 
with hazel boughs or brush 
(U4) 
