The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-21
SWEET PEAS.
GEORGE W. KERR.

tEONeE W. kERN.
Since the advent Of that glorious
sweet pea Countess Spencer each sea-
son sees the market flooded with new
varieties OF the vnyy Countess Spencer
type, but which in many Instances turn
out to he practically synonymous with
varieties already In commerce or being
sent out the same season under another
name BY other growers
For instance, suppose We are now
all agreed thu. Enchantress and Para
disc are simply other names for the
original Countess Spencer. although I'M
doubtedly when they first appeared
among the introducers' stock Of Coun-
tess they may have looked rather dif-
ferent. 7 can vouch for Paradise, FOR
when Miss Hemus first exhibited this
variety q. the National Sweet Pea So
cicty's exhibition In London a few years
ago /; was dark rose Countess and
identical with two varieties already on
The marke; under the names OF olive
Bolton and Cadsall Rose. But these all
reverted again TO the original Countess
Spencer. the dark colorat!on being APP
parently brought about by weather or
soil conditions.
Had any one ten years ago said that
the swee- pea would become within
the next few years the most popular
flower OF the day he would have been
laughed at, and yet this is now a fact.
can well remember when the first
sweet Pea Show" in England was
planned.
Now the National Sweet Pea 3d.
ciety in among the most hourlshing OF
the zone flower" societies, and 20 those
who have not attended these exhibit
, lions IL IL impossible to describe the
enthusiasm prevailing among the ex-
hibitors. the immensely Of the show and
IN. exquisite exhibits flowers of the
largest size with stems eighteen inches
10 two feet long. the long lines OF deco
rated tables, and. last but not least, the
novelties. No show passes without
some great improvements In color or
form appearing. Tho Aquarium show
"
was there that Sllas Cole OF Althorp
Gardens. Northampton. frst exhibited
his glorious Countess Spencer, which
was three years later introduced by
Robert Sydenham OF Birmingham. The
Countess Spencer was such an i'm
provement in size and of distinct new
form, the immense standard and wings
being beautifully frilled and waved. that
i created perfect sensation at the
show, but since the advent OF It's intro
|, iuctlon in 1904 the new waved or orchid
lowered varieties have been added to
considerably, and they are practically
all sports from the popular Countess
, Spencer.
About the same time thai Mr.. Cole
brought out Countess Spencer w. j
unwln Of Histon, Cambridge. also fount
!, sport IN Prima Donna, and this hi
called Gladys Irwin. II Is also the
, wavy type and Of much the same shade
~ pink as Countess Spencer. but thu
Mowers do not come quite so large, and
now from Gladys Irwin We have an
other family OF lovely form.
The merest novice in gardening real
; ICES that the sweet pea Is the mos
5 popular annual now cultivated, and thi'
Il not TO be wondered at when We con
slider all it's qualities: first there IL tn
, primary question Of cost, when for {
s few cents we can have a row RICH
r around our garden or clumps anon,
our shrubs, and what other flower vii
give Us such glorious results SO cheaply
Then az to cultivation. The swee
r pea will succeed in practically any
: good garden soil though extra cultiva
4 ton viii well repay the grower An,
| again, what flower gives us such
. multitude of exquisite coiors ana shade
r of colors combined with such delicate
r and thrilling fragrance as our queen o
: all ANIMALS, the regal sweet pea
Y Aud yet another great quality IN II
q favor is the more flowers YOU cut from
-, your vines the longer and moro con
$ tinuously will the plants continue 4
V bloom. In fact, by not allowing an.
4 seed pods 10 set. followed with higl
. class cultivation. sweet peas will con
e ,lnue To flower for long time.
Soil and Preparation.
Soils cultivated and prepared as 70
your vegetable plot will give fair re-
suits. hut for this, the queen of al
our annual plants. a little extra car
a and selection OF soil will ho well re
. paid by the additional size Of nowei
l. longer stems, better color and pro
:. onged periods of blooming.
n Whatever may be the composition o
a, your soil, a start should be made in tn
j. fall Of the year by trenching II to
II depth Of from two to three feet. Shout
= the subsoil be poor 1t would be ahsur
- to bring it to the surface, but il shout
"a he broken up, turned over and nike
" with any old garden refuse or stabl
u litter. Place a good layer Of half de
cayed stable or COW rnanure--the latte
f. for preference n the soil r. light-be