The Countess Spencer Hybrids, so Sied Giant Orchid-Flowered 
Sweet Peas. 
Sweet Pea evolution during the past few years has resulted in 
the creation of a glorified giant-flowering class, originating with a 
hybrid of Prima Donna crossed with the progeny of Triumph and 
Lovely. This achievement—due to Mr. Silas Cole, head gardener to 
Karl Spencer, an English nobleman—was named in compliment to 
the latter’s wife “Countess Spencer.” This type variety wherever 
exhibited created a furore; but the great importance of its intro¬ 
duction was not at first appreciated on account of its tendency 
to “sport, ” i. e.: break into other forms and colors, in other words 
“did not come true.” Soon, however, it was discovered that this 
variety bore many flowers with unlocked keels—which contain the 
pollenizing organs—thus permitting natural cross fertilization— 
•something unusual in Sweet Peas. This “fault” has been turned 
into triumph by a few Sweet Pea experts—enabling them to pro¬ 
duce many new color.g of Countess Spencer form, which come 
fairly true where the varieties are isolated when grown for seed, 
and “rogued” to type for two or more years until “fixed.” 
We offer several new “fast” colors of “Spencer hybrids” this 
season with the expectation of ha%dng some startling new colors to 
send out next season. 
The Merits and Characteristics of the = 
- “SPENCER HYBRID” SWEET PEAS. 
Plants of healthy, vigorous growth producing in greatest 
profusion long, strong-stemmed flowers of splendid substance, per¬ 
fect form and truly gigantic size, often measuring 2 inches and 
sometimes inches across. The wings are large and gracefully 
poised; the standards standing boldly upright, looking you in the 
face, are round, full and delicately waved, thus reflecting a har¬ 
mony of tints, high lights against shaded tones in the depths of the 
undulations. Usually three and often four of these queenly blossoms 
are borne on a stem. The “Spencer Hybrids” are not only showy 
Sweet Peas for the garden, blooming continuously throughout the 
season, because shy seeders, but they are also unsurpassable when 
cut and vased for table decorations and as corsage flowers. 
Countess Spencer. The grand original from which the new Sweet 
Pea race has sprung. Gigantic flow'ers of perfect form with round 
open waved standards and large wings. Coloring bright pink 
slightly deepening towards the edges. 
Per 02 .; 25c. Pkt. of 50 seeds, 10c. 
Enchantress or “Pink, Rose-Edged Spencer.“ Beautiful large 
waved flowers of exquisite rose-pink edged with carmine-rose. 
Pkt. of 20 seeds, 15c. 
Florence Spencer or “Blush, Pink-Edged Spencer.’* Magni¬ 
ficent flowers of largest size and true Spencer form. Coloring dainty 
blush deepening to warm pink margins. Pkt. of 20 seeds, 15c. 
Helen Lewis or “ Orange Spencer.’* Of large true waved Spencer 
form with fiery-orange standard and ro.‘?y-orange wdngs. Effect¬ 
ively brilliant. Per oz., 25c.; Pkt. of 50 seeds, 10c. 
SPENCER HYBRID SWEET PEAS. 
John Ingmau or “Rose-Red Spencer.’’ Very large flow'ers of 
true Spencer type. Color rich rose-red, with darker veinings. 
Per 02 ., 25c.; Pkt. of 50 seeds, 10c. 
White Spencer. Purest white flowers of splendid substance and enormous size, often 
2 inches across and of the true Counte.ss Spencer form with open, round standard, beauti¬ 
fully waved and fluted. The wings, fully an inch wide and nearly as deep as the Standarfl. 
roll gracefully over the keel, almost hiding it. Three and often four of these chaste ami 
lovely flower.s are borne — well placed—on each stem, the latter measuring 12 to 15 inches 
in length. The vines arc robust and healthy, attaining a height, in favorable locations, 
of 10 to 12 feet, and they are fairly covered with bloom throughout the season. 
Pkt. of 25 seeds, 25c. 
Primrose Spencer. A decided acquisition, being the first yellow’ Sweet Pea introduced of 
the large open waved standard, Sj)encer type. The color is of pronounced primrose- 
yellow, holding its own with any of the so-called yellows, while it surpasses all others of 
this color in size of flower, length of stem, vigor of growth and profusion of bloom. 
Pkt. of 25 seeds, 25c. 
Mixed “Spencer Hybrid” 
or Giant "Orchid-Flowered” Sweet Peas. 
^ Composed exclusively of Countess Spencer hybrids, which type, as before stated, hav- 
an open keel, hybndize easily and have produced several exquisite colors and shades, 
all of the giant-flowered open wavy standard form. I^Iany of the colors included in this 
mixture when sufficiently trued up w’ill be introduced as new named varieties. 
Pkt. of 50 seeds, 10c.; per oz., 25c.; per i lb., 75c.; per lb., $2.50. 
Lorna Boon or “White and Pink Spencer.” Very large tnie 
Spencer-formed flowers of pearl-wliite aelicately flushed wdth blush- 
pmk. Pkt. of 10 seeds, 25c. 
Mrs. Charles Foster or “Lavender Spencer.” Beautiful, large, 
open form, waved flowers of rosy lavender and mauve. 
Pkt. of 20 seeds, 15c. 
Mrs. Hardcastle Sykes or “ Pale Pink Spencer.” Gigantic 
Spencer type flowers of exquisite pure pale pink. Pkt. of 20 seeds20c. 
Paradise or “Warm-Rose Spencer.” Immense flow’ers, even 
larger than those of Countess Spencer, and having the same beau¬ 
tiful form perfected; coloring bright, warm, rose-pink in shades. 
Pkt. of 20 seeds, 15c. 
Silver Wings or “Flaked Spencer.” One of the newest of the 
Spencer family, having the same large open beautifully w'aved form. 
White delicately flaked and striped wdtn pink. Pkt. of 10 seeds 25c. 
The Collection of “Spencer Hybrid” or Giant Orchid-Flowered 
Sweet Peas, 1 packet each of the above 12 varieties, $2.00. 
Our Leaflet, “BEST METHODS OF GROWING SWEET PEAS,” free to Customers when asked for. 
