The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25
OLD AND NEW TYPES OF SWEET
PEAS.
History. selection and Cultsre.
ny CHARLES TAYLOR.

The gay. varied colorings and the
large. fragrant blooms OF the new
types Of sweet peas have so popular
lied this charming garden flower that
i; now occupies the place OF honor
as the most highly esteemed flower
ing annual--fully meriting the title of
"everybody's flower" The history OF
this graceful flower Is without prece-
dent in the fiowery kingdom, because
while sweet peas have been regarded
as a popular flower for something
like century and a half. its devel-
opment-the production of improved
varieties-has been remarkably slow.
Therefore II il interesting to know
that some thirty odd years ago the
sweet pea was II comparatively insig-
nificant bloom Of rather small size and
not particularly pleasing az to color
ing. Moreover. the flowers were so
lacking in substance that they faded
| and wilted on the vines the second
day OF blooming, and were much too
fragile to cut FOR house or corsage
adornment. But to-day the sportive
tendency is well known and the ease
| with which the sweet peas are hy-
bridiZed or cross bred yearly adds
many varieties to an already long list
of standard types. Indeed, but one II
the old varities OF the grandifora
type can now he said to exist in the
form Of the long popular pink and
white"-the painted lady OF the old
time garden-still sold by the seeds.
men az Blanche Ferry
To Henry Eckfori Of Shropshire.
England. is given the honor for first
demonstrating that the sweet pea
blood could be 'broken" by artificial
cross fcrti lization. and the introduce
ton of his first hybrld-Bronze Prince
marked the beginning OF the mod
ern type of sweet pea. The new va
riety was so far ahead of the old
sorts that II attracted the attention
of flower lovers throughout the world
and in few years F.ckford was bring
ing out some eighteen or so varieties
each season, striving 10 improve the
form of tho early "notched' type by
eliminating the notch in the standard
OF the flower His success in improv-
ing the grandif'ora variety originated
the more graceful expanded type.
which. while increasing the size. did
the standard, which ,.rooped over ana
thus gave us yet another variety.
known as the hooded type.
Many plant breeders have intro
duced various forms and colors in sue
cession. but the greatest achievement
in the sweet pea world may be reck-
oned the Introduction OF a paragon
type by Earl Spencer OF Northampton
shire. England. This great hybrid OF
larger size, fairer form and Of beauti-
full coloring was called the Countess
Of Spencer, and since It's introduction
in 1904 down to date the sporting
propensities are such that no breeder
has yet succeeded in fixing the ind!-
vidual types by breeding plants which
Will reproduce true to It's type from
seed.
The characteristics OF the Spencer
sweet peas when grown under suit
able conditions are SO many that this
variety quite oversihadows all other
! varieties of sweet peas. The vines are
of especially vigorous growth, and
since the plants reach height OF
six TO nine feet, two plants to tho foot
| is the best rule TO insure full develop
ment. The blooms are the giants
among sweet peas, often measuring
two and a half inches across tho
standard. The form II beautiful. quite
open and upright. with large and
gracefully poised wings. Tho stand
ards and wings arc waved and friiled,
which reflect lights and ahadDwU to
enhance the beauty OF cnlorfnE. while
as many az three blossoms are often
seen springlnB from long. slender
stems. thus adding to their vallie as
cut flowers.
While the true Spen cer vsrfot1es arc
Incompatible and may DO reCom-
mendod unquahfledly when but one
type is grown. tho lover of sweet peas
should include some Of the beeter
varieties Of the grsndinora family.
There are many colors and shades Of
color to choose from
Success In growing sweet peas de-
ponds greatly upon the manner OF
planting, and as the roots should be
deeply set practically all experienced
sweet pea growers make use OF the
trench method Of planting The chief
cause Of failure with most amateurs Is
due to shallow planting. This is q nat
ural mistake, because n an attempt
is made to plant the roots deeply on
tho level by covering UP tho seed
the germ IL prevented from breaking
through the top soil However, with