a _ J. HARRISON DICK
 

 

Cornell University

 

Library
OF THE
Mew Dork State College of Agriculture
DG IOD ere als.

 

3778

 
Sweet peas for profit, cultivation—under
 

 

 

 

ANTON C. ZVOLANEK

A WELL KNOWN ORIGINATOR OF WINTER FLOWERING SWEET PEAS, WHO
HAS DONE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE TO IMPROVE AND
EMPHASIZE THEIR VALUE

 

 
SWEET PEAS FOR
PROFIT

CULTIVATION—UNDER GLASS
AND OUTDOORS

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MODERN METHODS
OF GROWING THE SWEET PEA aos
FOR MARKET PURPOSES

ILLUSTRATED

BY
J. HARRISON DICK

(EDITOR OF THE FLORISTS’ EXCHANGE)

NEW YORK
A. T. DeLaMare Printing anpn Pusiisuine Co. Lyrp.
1914
Copyright, 1914
A. T. DeLaMare PrinTING AND PusBLisHinG Co. Ltp.
DEDICATION
TO AN UNKNOWN WOMAN

TO THE PERSEVERING WORKING WOMAN WHO, BY 25 YEARS’
PATIENT AND PERSISTENT SELECTION AND LOVING REGARD,
WAS THE MEANS OF EXTRACTING FOR THE USE OF SUCCEED-
ING FLORISTS, THE EARLY FLOWERING AND BRIGHT AND
BEAUTIFUL SWEET PEA, KNOWN AS BLANCHE FERRY. HER
NAME IS NOT KNOWN ; WHETHER SHE YET LIVES IS UNKNOWN :
BUT SHE WAS THE INSTRUMENT QUITE AS TRULY AS OTHERS
WHO HAVE FOLLOWED HER, WHOSE NAMES ARE EMBLAZONED
ON THE HORTICULTURAL SCROLL OF FAME, HAVE BEEN IN-
STRUMENTAL IN PERFECTING THE PRESENT DAY RACE OF
EARLY FLOWERING OR WINTER SWEET PEAS BY PROVIDING TO
THE HANDS OF THE HYBRIDIZERS OF MORE RECENT YEARS
THE GREAT AMERICAN VARIETY ALREADY MENTIONED, AND
MADE IT POSSIBLE TO EXPRESS FROM IT THE WONDERFUL
FLOWERS WHOSE COLORS AND FRAGRANCE AND ELEGANCE
DELIGHT US AT CHRISTMAS, AND PLEASE US WHEN THE
LAKES ARE FROZEN AND THE SNOWS LIE DEEP
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Without having had the assistance of several friends,
the practical value of this book would have been diminished.
We have particularly to thank Harold Morgan, Auburn,
N. Y., for data as to the yield of cut flowers; J. J. Tauben-
haus, for data on diseases of the Sweet Pea; T. A. Weston,
Orpington, England, for many excellent photographs and
for his contributions to Chapter IX on “ Up-do-date Cul-
tivation for Market in England’; also for help in Chapter
VIII. Acknowledgments are also due to W. J. Baker,
Fort Worth, Texas; Irwin Bertermann, Indianapolis, Ind.;
W. Cuthbertson, Edinburgh, Scotland; Wm. Dick, Senr.,
Edinburgh, Scotland; W. H. Engler, Philadelphia, Pa.;
A. V. Main, Toronto, Canada; Addison J. McNutt, Knox-
ville, Tenn.; James Morton, Chicago, Il.; W. H. Taplin,
Brooklyn, N. Y., and Chas. Weaver, Ronks, Pa.

For permission to use photographs we are indebted to
Prof. A. C. Beal, Ithaca, N. Y.; Hitchings & Co., Elizabeth,
N. J., and Lord & Burnham Co., New York City.
CONTENTS

(For Crassiriep INDEX sEE PaGEs 143-147)

Page
Chapter I—Market Conditions. ..........0.0.00. 000. c cece eee eee 12
Chapter II—Cost and Profits.........0.0.00 0.0 ccc cece ese eee cues 24
Chapter I1]—Houses.........00000.00 000 ccc cece cece e ee eees 36
Chapter IV—Cultivation. ........00.00.0.00000 ccc cece eee cee 47
Chapter V—Sectional Treatises............ 000000. c eee cee ee eee 78
Chapter VI—Varieties..........0.000.0000 00 ccc cece c eee eee 95
Chapter ViI—Cutting, Packing and Marketing.................. 99
Chapter VIII—Raising New Varieties. .................00000000- 105
Chapter IX—Outdoor Cultivation (with a section on “Up-to-date
culturé in England \i.ceeseanernuies susdas oes xe ebunne 244 KeeN eS 109
Chapter X—Pests and Diseases...........00000 000 cee eee ee eeeee 121

Chapter XI—History of Winter-flowering Sweet Peas.............128

ILLUSTRATIONS

Anthracnose disease of Sweet Peas.............0.. 000 cc cece eee 123
Arkwright, Rev. Edwyn, and his Télemly Sweet Peas ............ 135
Beal Prot Ce oleic sie ae aucti Geicle less coane 6 ibd aere ateGue atte x eye he A 18
Branching of Summer and Winter-flowering types of Sweet Peas... 73
Burpee; Wi Atle@s. ose sne vedo yeaxahe 068 EOL EN dR Yaw Gees des oes 14!
Canada, house of Sweet Peas in............ 0.00 cece cee cece eee 43
Diseases of Sweet Peas:

VANEHTACHOSES wei ch.2id col ned Gaile Caksuie gated ae we Rea oe HRN Rada 123

IMIGSAICH oo c.nt G ancien deal ed SAUD AB CONG CANAD A erantoe ge By thS 125

SCLETOtIMA dancitss a 24 og aD ee ENRE AE LE Ge yeaa ...122
Eckford, Henry, the late.......... 0.00000. c cece cece eee I4I
Exhibits of Sweet Peas at flower shows.......................13, 22

Grandiflora and Spencer types. ......... 0.0000 88
Houses for Sweet Peas: Page

CTOSS! SECTION VACWEA cans dts POdeG POR Se een eee ee ae 38

FE UCTIOT VIS Wea igecs Sched gales aie g atig yeh abe Madd te REE Dlg OH Rok een etalk 37

INCETIOR WIEWed.cice a pidian sews waney Wane ees & 25, 33) 35, 39,41, 43
Mosaic disease of Sweet Peas.......... 0.00 eee 125
Packing for market. ........0.0 000 cc cece eens IOI, 103
Sclerotinia disease of Sweet Peas.............0 0c cece eee eee eee ee 122
Single stem system of cultivation...............-...-.05. 42, 69, 71
Spencer and Grandiflora types. ...... 0.000 c cece eee eens 88
Summer flowering type of Sweet Pea, branching of............... 73
Supports for Sweet Peas. ..........0.0.0 00 ccc eects 62, 63, 65
Sweet Peas in the open air.... 0.0.0.0... 0c c eee eee 65, 114, 135
Sweet Peas packed for market................ 0.000020 ee 101, 103
Sweet Peas, single stemmed system of cultivation.......... 42, 69, 71

Sweet Peas under glass....................-.++25; 33, 35s 39, 41, 43

Sweet Peas, varieties of:

Christmas Pink under glass..............00000 000: c eee eeee 35
Christmas) Pinky vaset0fy swan y ee exe Poke Pee ew ORY abe: 93
Prilled, Pink, ‘Spray Of.cis.s scassien odoads dda des Gea Ro ee leealae ds Hee 4 15
Frilled Pink; undersglass. ¢c.5 ceca seed eu dan ages deem eeana ay 25
GAAS) WWI 5, 8 : oud band inchs 4 ddan d Gia, Steg wees tase et ddd bert 137
Inspéctor, vasesOlen sgisagyacpens ks sugeaeeese was seat pete 30
King White, row m open air........ 0.0.00. ese e eee e ee 65
Kuings Whites-Vase of oy cccn mena ten yaa eas Aes a Sk tah and eae 85
Maggie Stark, Double. ..........0..0.0.00 00. c cee eee Ql
Margaret: Atle@..:0 4.05 .scvannie need nan dn aa deh bam eee aw 117
Mrs. Alexander Wallace, house of...........0.0. 0000000000225 79
Mrs. Wm. Sim, vase of ........000 000 eee etee ee 56
Rose Queen showing floriferous character................-04: 33
Rose Queen, vase Of... .. ccc ccc ete tenes 83
Telemly:
ROW, Oly Raven ste was Voc eu won aa bait be Sy ee aaes SR 135
SPLAV Ol oes cise, sessed iad aaeachroakinastindeiph nada Gaebmiaane Sao 132
Vattawaspray Of omcw civic sek Gass Abie eb Ream sao teed 51
Vase of Winter-flowering Sweet Peas, decorative..............0-- 19

Winter-flowering type of Sweet Pea, branching of................. 73
Zvolanek, Anton C.... 00. ccc ec cc cece eee renee ene nee 2
INTRODUCTION

 

Winter Sweet Peas, grown under glass, have come into
much prominence in the last few years particularly, and
good prices have on the whole been paid for them. To a
large extent they have been displacing the Violet; and to
a lesser degree, but still appreciable, the beautiful Lily
of the Valley. It is also more than likely that a still
greater number of Peas will be upon the wholesale markets
in the times ahead. This is made evident by the numerous
inquiries that have been appearing in the various trade
papers; but growers would be wise to proceed cautiously
and not overload the market with these Winter flowers.
If everybody rushes into the Sweet Pea growing business,
and if the markets are burdened, it follows, as night the
day, that prices which heretofore have been sufficiently
enticing will fall to zero level, and no one will benefit,
possibly not even the public.

Yet there is room for very many more Peas, and need
for further information in regard to the returns obtainable
and how to cultivate and market them, for there are many
smaller growers who would be very glad to be able to add
Sweet Peas to their Winter cut flower supply if they knew
better how to handle the crop and appraise its value to
them. It is in order to help them, and to satisfy the eager
demand for knowledge of the Winter Sweet Pea crop
particularly, that this little book is published.

Extracts from the weekly price lists, issued at
various centers, demonstrate that the average returns
at Chicago between September and February, inclusive,
are $1 to $1.50 per hundred sprays, and from March to
June, inclusive, s0c. to 7c. The general average for the
10 INTRODUCTION

year is, therefore, 75c. to $1.10. The best Spencer Sweet
Peas fetch the higher rates until the month of May.

In New York the cheaper grades have sold at from 1c.
to 6oc. per dozen bunches of 12 sprays each from January
to July, and 8sc. to $1.60 for the best flowers during Feb-
ruary to the middle of May.

In Boston the average from December to June is 40c.
to $1.25; and in Philadelphia, from the beginning of De-
cember to the end of March, inclusive, the average whole-
sale returns are s0c. to $1.20 per hundred sprays.

A serious attempt has been made in the chapter on
cultivation to impress the need of thoroughness and the
best care in the whole treatment of the Sweet Pea crop.
Now that selections are being made by the larger growers,
and when seeds of novelties are being sold at the rate of
25 seeds for $1.50, or 6c. apiece, and when even 25c. per
seed has been declined by some raisers of new seedlings, it
behooves the grower to look upon the Winter Sweet Pea
with the utmost respect. The time has come when its
cultivation is viewed from a more scientific basis altogether.
It must rise to a higher place in the estimation of growers
in general, for it will be found, we imagine, that the best
Spencer Peas require as much watchfulness and skill to
produce, as good class Roses and Carnations. The man
who gets that fact stamped upon his mind is the man who
is likely to succeed the best.

The Sweet Pea has not yet by any means reached the
climax of its perfection. Better varieties are sure to arise
year by year. By and by we shall expect to see larger,
better frilled, and even more beautiful color combinations,
and to have the flowers more closely arranged on the spike.

A speaker at the conference of the American Sweet
Pea Society in New York in June, 1914, asked the question:
INTRODUCTION II

What has the future in store ? and prophesied in these words:
“To my mind it will bring forth things which have never
been dreamed of. Already we have had a glimpse of what
is coming by the new true double flowers. These are
quite different from the duplex type. They are most
wonderful flowers, and will rival the most expensive orchid,
perhaps not only in beauty but in price, as the seeding
qualities are very light. Then in the early flowering sec-
tion I look for good, fixed Spencer flowers in colors suitable
for florists, and with the desirable qualities of the early
flowering varieties of the past. There is yet much room for
improvement in this section and an idea of what is to
come can be had from the Australian variety Yarrawa
Spencer.”

A year or two ago, in delivering his presidential address
to the American Sweet Pea Society, William Sim, Clif-
tondale, Massachusetts, observed that ‘‘ a better exhibi-
tion of Sweet Peas could be made in March and April
than in July. The Sweet Pea industry has been created
in which many hundreds, or it may be thousands, of people
are engaged, and calling for a very considerable expenditure
of money.” He further expressed the opinion that when
the early flowering or Winter type is fully developed it will
be the leading one, both for outdoor and under glass. He
was speaking strictly, of course, of conditions in the
Eastern United States; his opinions, however, have not gone
uncontested.

The Sweet Pea is delightful in every sense of the
word. ‘It is graceful, beautiful and fragrant (and one
sincerely hopes that raisers of new kinds will not perpetuate
scentless varieties), and it is obtainable in a wide range of
lovely colors, so that it is destined to remain one of the
most popular of all our flowers.
CHAPTER I

Market ConpbiITIONS AND AVERAGE PRICES

The man who has to make his living from the growing
and selling of crops is first of all obliged to consider the
probable cost of, and returns from, a given crop. The cost
of growing Winter-flowering Sweet Peas is certainly not
greater than the cost of growing the same area of Carna-
tions, and the quantity of flowers produced by the Peas is
very much greater. Of course, Carnations may be grown
in houses that would be considered not high enough, or
not the best adapted, for Sweet Peas, but, in any case, most
of the modern houses are big and roomy. More will be
said as to cost and yield later; but the first question is that
of prices.

The ruling prices in the four chief markets have been
mentioned in the Introduction, and weekly quotations
from the chief wholesale flower markets form a section of
the present chapter. From these lists the reader can satisfy
himself fairly accurately as to the probable returns in
cash that he may receive from the wholesalers, deducting,
of course, the usual 15 per cent. commission charges.

It is interesting, and helpful also, in forming an opinion
as to the trend of the market throughout the three seasons
when Peas are obtainable, to have before us the comments
by reliable market reporters, and these are arranged
hereunder.

Cuicaco.—There has been a good demand for Winter
Sweet Peas in this market. Despite the long continued
13

MARKET CONDITIONS AND PRICES

 

 

 

Aw EFrectiveE Exuisir oF Mopern, LoNG-sTEMMED SwEET PEAS
14 CHICAGO MARKET

gloom of the early Winter Jast year, there was a large
supply of Peas, many of which were very fine and the
highest prices produced were from $2 to $3 per hundred
sprays. The older Winter blooming type was little in
evidence the whole season. During the early part of
March—indeed, during the whole of that month—there was
a plentiful supply at prices from $1 to $1.40 per hundred.
It seemed that Peas of choice quality appealed to all
buyers. They seemed to be irresistible. A market re-
port for March 17th, however, said that the price was not
high then, as there were so many on the market that the
higher prices could not be expected. Whenever the poor
stock gave way to only high-grade flowers, prices at once
advanced, and $1.50 to $2 per hundred was readily got
for long-stemmed Spencers.

During Easter the supply was quite inadequate, but
immediately afterward there was abundance and all of
excellent quality. The top prices for the best stock was
then $1.50 per hundred and downward. By Memorial
Day the influx had considerably lessened and the flowers
were not so good as they had been, the top prices falling
to $1 a hundred. A revival in demand occurred during
June, when all good stock sold well. Naturally the poor
stock was left on hand, but the Sweet Pea market cleared
more satisfactorily than did much of the other stock.

By the middle to the end of June the outdoor stock
comes in and quotations remain fairly steady at soc. to $1
a hundred. The outdoor crop in Chicago has never much
effect on the market. Periodically the Peas were of poor
quality, and the demand was equally so. During July
and August the outdoor crop yielded in fair abundance.
Shortly after the first Eastern Violets reach this market
the earliest of the indoor Peas are cut, this being around
MARKET CONDITIONS AND PRICES

 

Tue NEw SUMMER*FLOWERING SwEET PEA FriLtLED PINK

15
16 PHILADELPHIA MARKET

November 10, at the time when Paperwhite Narcissi and
Stevia come in. By the end of November the Peas begin
to come in freely, but the demand cannot be said to be
brisk, as there is so much other stock on the market, and
during December the quality of the Peas improves as a rule.

PHILADELPH!IA.—On this market the new crop at the
end of October moves slowly, as it does on all the markets,
until about the end of November, when a slight increase in
the prices may be expected, more or less, according to the
quantity arriving. Around Christmas the stock increases
and continues to do so during the month of January, and
has hitherto met with very satisfactory demands at prices
from $1.40 to $2 for the best Spencers. Excellent Jong-
stemmed flowers come in at the end of January, and have
met with a strong demand.

The finest stock im February has sold at the high
figure of $3 a hundred, but this was an exceptional price,
for usually the selling rate was 4oc. to $2 a hundred, the
latter being for the finer grades. Sweet Peas, like most
other flowers, come in earlier on the Philadelphia market,
and pass off more quickly than on the other more northerly
or more easterly markets.

During the whole of March there is an abundant
supply of Peas with prices that, as a rule, are very satis-
factory. It is now that the highest quality is seen, and
these conditions prevail until about the middle of May,
when Peas frequently become a drug on the market and
are hard to move, especially the short-stemmed flowers.
Even the Spencers deteriorate, especially if the weather
is hot; this also causes supplies to fall off rapidly. It is
then that a further influx of good flowers will sometimes
meet with a sharpened demand, causing the market to
clean up much better. By the third week of the month
NEW YORK MARKET T7

the earliest of the outdoor Peas come in and are usually
much fresher and a decided improvement over the indoor
stock. These meet with a fair demand, and continue
until the hot weather may thin out the substance of the
flowers and cause a change in the taste in regard to them.

New Yorx.—The condition of the market in this
city, so far as Sweet Peas are concerned, remains about as
stable as anywhere throughout the country. The high
prices sometimes realized in the cities of the Middle West
are seldom equaled in New York, but the average for the
best flowers comes out at $1.50 for the Winter period.

During January there is an increasing supply and the
ordinary Winter varieties have hitherto met with moderate
demand at from soc. per dozen bunches for those with
short stems, no matter how good the flower, to $1.50 per
dozen bunches for those with long stems and choice flowers.
When there are limited supplies of the Spencer varieties
they may realize from $1.50 to $2 per dozen bunches. In
the middle of February the supply is large, and the best
of the ordinary varieties have sold at from $1 to $1.25 per
dozen bunches. Winter flowering Spencers are disposed
of at from $1.50 to $2.25. During March, in the last
year or two, the market was very fully supplied with Peas
of all sorts, and the stock was disposed of at from s0c. up
to $1 per dozen bunches, the Spencers at from $1 to $2,
all of them meeting with a fair demand.

As the season advances the tendency is for heavier
supplies to come in, and by the early part of April there
are so many other flowers to compete with that prices
for Sweet Peas are apt to decline. However, good Spencers
usually maintain a leading place, but the ordinary or
grandiflora varieties selJ less readily. In past years the
grandifloras have acted somewhat as a check upon the
18 NEW YORK MARKET

Spencers in regard to their sale, especially when the former
have been at their best.

By the middle of May the Daffodils, early greenhouse
grown large Gladioli, with the Spanish Irises, Tulips,

 

Pror. A. C. Brea

Who has charge of the Trials for the American Sweet Pea Society at Cornell
University, Ithaca, N. Y., and whose ‘*Sweet Pea Studies’? contain
many valuable records

and other flowers set even a faster pace for the Sweet
Peas. However, it is gratifying for the grower of the
latter to know that several times last season, out of all
these items, about the only one that met with a fairly
NEW YORK MARKET 19

active demand throughout was the long-stemmed Spencer
Peas.

During the Spring, from the end of April onward, there
has been an abundant supply of good quality Sweet Peas,
and at times, with the influx of other flowers, the prices have
not always ruled very high. Quantities sometimes go to
waste or are left unsold.

Easter usually brings a good call for, and the re-

 

DecorativE VASE OF WINTER SWEET Peas

ports give evidence of, a continued supply during June,
which sells at s0c. to 75c. per dozen bunches for the best
ordinary, and $1 to $2 for Spencers.

The indoor Peas now begin to pass, and by June 16
only poor flowers are usually being sent to market. The
20 BOSTON MARKET

outdoor stock arrives around the third week in June and
continues so during the whole of the next month. Many
have to be thrown away during hot spells.

By the end of October the new supply begins, and con-
tinues increasingly thereafter, notwithstanding the presence
of so much other stock on the market. During Novem-
ber sales have ruled low, but the advance begins when
the Chrysanthemums ease off.

Bosron.—Large supplies are always obtainable in
this market in good quality early in January, and the
superior merit of the flowers continues generally throughout
the Spring, particularly if there is an abundance of sunshine.
The ruling price seems to be $1 a hundred for the ordinary
type, and $2 for the Spencers. Generally the Sweet Pea
trade Is an Irhportant section of the flower business, especial-
ly during February, March and the early part of April.
So long as the fancy flowers are produced the demand seems
to be satisfactory at the prices already quoted. In 1914,
in the middle of May, the supply was very heavy, so much
so that the Peas were sold at $1.25 to $3 per thousand !
Fancy Spencers in many cases wholesaled at 4oc. per
hundred. That, of course, was owing to the warm weather
and the over-abundant crop.

During June the reports indicated an abundant
supply, with sales occasionally fairly brisk, at other times
rather poor. The outdoor supply begins at the end of
June, and, of course, much depends on the Summer as to
whether the flowers will be plentiful or the reverse, and
also has its bearing upon the quality. By the end of Octo-
ber the new crop indoors begins to appear and its first
prices may be rather low, although occasionally fancy
figures are obtainable, according to the quality of the
stock and the chance condition of the market.
 

 

Average Market Prices, 1913-14

The prices are per 100 except in the case of New York, where quotations
are per dozen bunches,

 

 

 

 

DATE | Baltimore; Boston Buffalo Chicago | Cincinnati] Detroit
$ $ $ $ $ $
Jan. 6] 1.00-1.50 :75-1.00 -50-1.00 | 1.00-1.50 1.00-1.50 | 1.00-3.00
Jan. 13) 1.00-1.50 -75-1,00 -50-1.00 | 1.00-1.50 -75-1.00 | 1.00-3.00
Jan. 21) .50-1.00 -75-1.00 -50-1.00 | 1.00-1.50 -75-1.00 | 1.00-3.00
Jan. 27} .50-1.00 | 1.00-2.00 | .50-1.00 | 1.00-1.50 -75-1.00 | 1.00-3.00
Feb. .50-2.00 -50-1.00 | 1.00-1.50 -75 | 1.00-3.00
Feb. -50-2.00 -50-1.00 | 1.00-1.50 -50- .75 | 1.20-1.80
Feb, .35-2.00 .50-1.00 | 1.00-1.50 .50- .75 | 1.20-1.80
Feb. .25-1.50 -50-1.00 | 2... ..00. -50- .75 | 1.25-2.25
Mar. 2| .40- .75| ........ 2D0ET.00. |! ssioieoe ace |) aman dann Il emus vee
Mar. -85-1.2C -50-1.00 -50- .75 35- 50] ........
Mar. 17 -25-1.00 -50-1.00 DOES || germevee | ssaursae
Mar. 24| 1.50-2.50 .40-1.00 -50-1.00 -50- .75 35- .75 | 2.00-6.00
Apr. 1) 1.50-2.50 -40-1.00 -50-1.00 -50- .75 35- .75 | 2.0.0...
Apr, J) ee snaws -40-1.00 .50-1.00 -50- .75 B0~ abF || eamye oes
: : 50- .75 3 50-
Apr. 14) «10090 -50-1.50 .50-1.00 1'00-1.50* 35- .75 | 1.50-3.00
= Ss -50- .75 oe .50-
Apr. 21] ........ -35-1.00 -50-1.00 1'00-1:50* 35- .75 | 1.50-3.00
= f -.75 me 00-:
Apri. 27) 2 cdau o -35-1.00 -50-1.00 1.00-150* 35- .75 | 2.00-3.00
es 2 75 = 4 00-3.
May 12] .-.....-- -50- .75 -50-1.00 1.00-1.50* 35- .75 | 2.00-3.00
es ih 75 Mae is
May 18] ...----- -50- .75 -50-1.00 1.00-1'50 35- .75 | 3.00-5.00
‘3 7 I on 2
May 26] ..--..-- .35-1.00 .50-1.00 1.00-1'50 35- .75 | 1.50-3.00
e e 75 a
Jume 2} ....---- -40-1.00 -50-1.00 100-1150 B52 05" |v itgaae vate
as 6 Ss 2
June 9 2.40 -40-1.00 1.80 1.00-1'50 35- .75 | 1.50-3.00
L . 75 " .
June 15} .20- .50 -40-1.00 .50-1.00 1,00-1;50 35- .75 | 1.50-3.00
SEG, -50- .75 =)
June 23 20- .50 -40-1.00 -50- .75 "75-1.00 35-50 | ..ceee ee
a .50- .75 e
June 30 15- .40 -40-1.00 -50- .75 “75-100 35- 50) ........
= -50- .75
July 8 15- .40 A40- .75 -50- .75 75-100 |occc fe
July 17) .25- .50 40- .75 -50- .75 0-385. || easae cae || tose t ve
July 21] ....---- 40-1.00 -50- .75 2202 250%. | aisesciccaes tf) a eared
Osts |) a edciee’ || Bevresd onsen: || deeesuas tate e100 | saase des || scyeady5
Oct: 14) etree: || exetiaee | see ee eae FTB=1.00! bi ecesconteinat || gi cetnrncne
O€te 221) c0ieesac || weesrces -75-1.00 PORL:0G: | dsnsveteeres t seekaudce
Nov. 4] ...----- -75-1.00 -50- .75 -75-1.00 Hee seicr |) odareass
Nov. 12] ......-- 75-1.00 -50- .75 TGSWOO’ 4h. ce. scacsce sees Pe asatdoeaens
Nov. 18] ......-. .75-1.00 -50- .75 SHOAIOO= || Latin te earey I “ccserepet toed
Nov. 25] .50-1.00 175-100 | cae a caus AOADO | wcaiinsoie | saves cay
Dec. 3 50-1.00 | 1.00-1.50 | ........ -75-1.00 .50- .75 50-1.00
Dec. 9] .75-1.00 .75-1.00 75-1.00 .75-1.00 .50-1.00 50-1.00
Dec. 16] .75-1.50 75-1.00 50-1.00 | 1.50-2.00 -50-1.00 .50-1.00
Dec. 23] 1.00-1.50 | 1.00-1.50 75-1.50 | 1.00-1.50 -50-1.00 | ........
Dec. 30] 1.00-1.50 | 1.00-1.50 75-1.50 ' 1.00-1.50 -75-1.00! 20.0...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Shows price on Spencers.

 

 
NOLLIGIHX TVUNLTINOILYOLFL V LV Svaq Laas UFONAdS ONIMAMOTI-AUAW AWS

 

 

wie? [EE yee = Re rs ; ‘tigi

     

 
 
 

 

Average Market Prices, 1913-14

The prices are per 100 except in the case of New York, where quotations
are per dozen bunches.

 

 

DATE =: Milwaukee] New York Pitts. Phila. St. Louis

$ $ % $
-50-1.50 -75-1.50 | .50-1.50 | .40- .75
-50-1.50 -50-1.25 | .40-2.00 | .40-1.00
-50-1.50 -50-1.25 | .40-2.00 | .50-1.00
-50-1.50 .50-1.25 | .40-2.00 | .50-1.00
-50-1.50 -50-1.25 | .40-2.00] .35- .75
-50-1.50 -50-1.25 | .40-2.00| .35- .75

1150-2.25* |... 6-65 -40-2.00 3.00
1150-2.25* | -50-1.00] .50-1.50] ........
"25-1.00 1.80 -25-1.50 | 2.02.00.

-25-_.75
Mat. 120i caea ans -75-1.00 1'00-2'00* 1.00-3.00 | .20-2.00 | 1.50-1.80

Mats Wiccan: 35- 50 | reoceoox | 1.00-3.00 | .20-2.00 | .25-1.00

‘25.
Ie one mies 50-65 | eer how| .75-3.00 | .20-1.50| .25-1.50

-15- .75
Apr leis Sisto aa eens 1.00-2.00% | reece ee | cee e eee | cece eee

15-75
ADR? Manatees alll Wawa V.0022000%: | vert eres Pens nent | saree aes

Rpt Whccsccssl GOR00| bee | GORI) cccrcncs 35+1.50

Apr. 21...........| 15-75 | “Socrog+ | 1.00-2.00 ] .20-2.00] .20-1.c0
Appts Becsexesare= 15-75] “soca ‘Go | 1-00-2.00 | .20-1.25 20. .75
May 12.......... 751.50 | "FO2y‘@gx | 1.00-2.00] 20-125) .20- .75
May 18.......... 15-25 | “287y'2n, | 1.00-2.00} .20-1.00] 75

May 26.........- .75-1.00 | ‘32° F2.,| 1.00-2.00] 15-100} 75

June 2.......008- wise) 22 82,| 16 | Bee, ae

June 9.0... eee .25-1.00 | “SP 38. / 1.50-2.00 | .10- .75 | 1.50-1.80
June 15.......065. veto) 1 32,| 60 .25- .50
June 23......0.4. 35-1.00 | 20° -35,.| 25. .75 | .20- .50| .25- .50
June 30.......655 78-100 | “30° -35, | .25-.75| .2G@.75| .25- .50
Taly 7 deere cess 75 ee ee
0. .75 | “40> -25. |) .26-.75| .20- .75

 

w
?
eS
i»
oO

July 14...

July 21...
Oct. 20...

 
   

1.N0-1 50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Shows price on Spencers.

 

 
CHAPTER II

Cost oF PRopuUCTION AND PRoFiITs

As time advances, and better varieties, or varieties
that are more productive over a longer period, become
procurable, it will be necessary, more than it is at the present
moment, for growers to keep tab on the yield and returns
from each variety or kind. It will be as essential for the
grower to do this as it is for the successful Carnation
grower to rid himself of stock of Carnations which fails
to produce the largest yield of the best flowers. Reasonably
accurate records of the yield and cost of production should
be kept, the prices being tabulated, and comparison made
of the varieties at the end of the season in order that the
true position of affairs be understood. In that way there
will be an inducement for raisers to redouble their efforts
and for. growers to become keen selectors.

The question of the cost and kind of house, such as
are found under ordinary circumstances in the vicinity of
many of our large cities, has been dealt with in Chapter III
on Houses for Sweet Peas. It may be said that the market
for Peas varies greatly in accordance with the quality, but
if the quality and crop are both satisfactory, a house 100
ft. x 20 ft. ought to produce from $750 to $1000 gross.
For a house this size the grower requires at least one pound
of seed of the best and most vigorous growing newer varie-
ties, or as much as three pounds of the older grandiflora
varieties. The cost of the finer new Spencer kinds ts as
much as $8 to $12 an ounce, and if one is growing for the
open market it pays to have the very best; indeed, it is
doubtful if the cheaper strains are worth growing unless
for a private trade, or for furnishing flowers for certain
25

COST AND PROFITS

 

 

FLOWERING

UnpberR Giass,

Tue New Sweer Pea FRILLepD Pink,

IN APRIL
20 COST AND PROFITS

kinds of retail floral work. From seeds sown in the middle
of September, say the 15th, flowers can be cut from the
resulting plants in a period of fourteen to sixteen weeks,
and the time that the plants will yield a profitable crop
of blooms will vary from eight to twelve weeks. It Is con-
tended that the new Australian variety, Yarrawa, will
bloom well for three months continuously.

But a great deal, of course, depends on the cultivation
that is given. If the plants are in shallow benches or in
soil with a less depth than 3 feet, it is doubtful if, with all
the other care one can give, the crop of blooms will continue
Jonger than five or six weeks at most.

The Jate Robert Sydenham, a well-known English
seedsman, made the foJlowing statement as to yield. (See
“ All About Sweet Peas,” 1910, page 18): ‘‘ As an example
of what Sweet Peas will do, I have sown the seeds 3 feet
apart, and have been able to gather frum 450 to 500 sprays
of bloom from one single nlant, and I have on one or two
occasions picked about 50 spravs of bloom from one plant
at a time. One of my correspondents also wrote me on
October 6, 1905, saying, ‘ From the produce of 420 seeds
I have given away quite 40,000 sprays of bloom, and the
plants are still flowering.’ A reverend gentleman said,
‘Eight shillings’ ($2) worth of seed gave me a crop from
which I have sold nearly 410 ($50) worth of cut flowers
for charitable purposes.’ ”’

We would not, however, encourage the reader to expect
“‘s00 sprays of bloom from a single plant.” The firm of
Dobbie & Co., Edinburgh, Scotland, which is unexcelled
by any in the United Kingdom for the raising and growing
of Sweet Peas, whose house of these plants in bloom is
illustrated in this book, grow 1200 plants for exhibition
blooms, the rest being left to develop for seed. The house
COST AND PROFITS 27

is 120 ft. by 30 ft., and about 30 sprays per plant are cut
for exhibiting at shows. The great majority of the spikes
have four blooms each, some have even five or six blooms,
and a small proportion have three, the stems being about
18 in. long, on the average. These blooms, so beautifully
exhibited as they are at the chief flower shows in the British
Isles, furnish an invaluable advertisement for the firm,
over and above which it may be safe to estimate that half
an ounce of seed is harvested from each plant, making 600
ounces in all. That quantity of seed of first class varieties,
at $8 an ounce, would, in America, represent a splendid
income, and even at $4 an ounce would pay handsomely.
It is a matter for wonder that some of the leading seed
houses do not grow choice Sweet Peas for seed in this way
in the United States.

In the Introduction it has been pointed out that prices
ranging from 6c. to 2c. apiece are being asked and got for
novelties at Chicago and elsewhere, and in regard to this
matter of cost the expression of an Irish friend and raiser
of Peas deserves to be quoted, as follows: “I must say
that so Iong as the public receives good, sound seeds of
fixed varieties at prices ranging from 6oc. for to seeds of
new varieties, to 6c. for 25 seeds of others, folks have nothing
to complain of, and I would like to see the trade fall into
line, and one and all stick to these or very similar prices.
No really striking novelty is dear at 60c. for 10 seeds,

. while 25c. fo. 12 seeds of other novelties is enough.”
—(“‘ Sweet Pea Annual,” 1911, page 32.)

Here is a little sum for those who delight in figures.
Suppose a man has one Sweet Pea seed of a novelty in
April, 1915. He sows it and a healthy plant results. The
flowers and pods from this plant may yield,say, 100 seeds.
In April the following year he sows these hundred seeds,
28 COST AND PROFITS

and allowing for weak or imperfect germination and other
incidentals, 85 per cent. should produce seedlings, each
plant yielding another 100. At the end of 1916 the grower
would have harvested 8500 seeds. Or assuming that
through Jack of care (an unlikely contingency in the case
of a novelty) half the plants succumbed to drought, or aphis
or mildew, or some other cause, and that only 4250 seeds
were got, if these were sown in April, 1917, the crop by
August of that year should have equaled, say, 425,000
seeds. Deducting fifteen per cent. failures in germination
the next Spring, we still obtain 361,250 plants for the crop
of the Summer of 1918, the fourth year, and if only one-sixth
of an ounce of seed is produced by each (about’ 50 seeds)
since the same liberal care cannot be given to each plant,
the result would be the huge quantity of 18,062,500 Peas.
But in case any one might think this too high a figure,
divide this total by five or even six, if you like, and there still
remain 3,010,416 seeds, which, at an average of 350 to the
ounce, makes 831514 ounces. At $1 to $4 an ounce whole-
sale (and sometimes $10 and $12 an ounce is paid) it would
seem that novelty raising in Sweet Peas is pretty fairly re-
munerative. At the same time an enormous amount of pa-
tient work, coupled with many disappointments, is necessary
before even one good new variety can be expcted, as a rule.

A house 130 ft. by 30 ft., with rows 120 ft. long, may
be planted with eight rows, 30 In. apart, or seven rows at
3 ft. apart, Jeaving a small amount of bench room all
around. Of course, the rows may be run transversely
across the house. The same amount of seed would be
required in any case, namely, some 15 or 16 ozs. Allowing
for 20 per cent. failures in germination, or even more, the
number of resultant plants may be estimated at roughly
4850. If each plant furnishes an average of two to three
 

Sweet Peas FoR SEED

The size of this house is 120 ft. by 30 ft. The number of plants set out in it is
1200 (four plants in each of 300 10-inch pots). These plants are taken up as single
stems, all side growths, except flower stems, being taken out. The seed is sown in the
first week in October, and the first flowers are _cut from the plants in the middle of
April; the last at the end of July. The varieties, so far as we know, have been
-abolly the Summer dowertng Spencers. The biggest cutting at one time was 2400
spikes. The plants are not forced in any way, fire heat only being used to keep out
frost. The crop is solely for the production of flowers for exhibition and for seed.
30 COST AND PROFITS

blooms per week throughout the flowering season, the yield
would be 9700 and 14,550 respectively. From this it
will be seen that much more than the usual distance between
the rows and between the plants, too, could be spared
and still have a highly satisfactory crop of blooms. Nor
should it be forgotten that the finer flowers invariably sell
at a quarter more per 100 than those of Jess quality.

 

 

 

 

SUMMER-FLOWERING SPENCER SweEeET Pea INSPECTOR
(BRILLIANT ORANGE)

A successful northern New York grower has two
recently built houses devoted to this crop, the houses each
being 130 ft. x 30 ft. Neither of the houses is entirely
filled with the Peas, which are sown in September in solid
beds in the center of the house, and the plants are 8 in.
apart each in the rows. The vines are run up on binder
COST AND PROFITS 31

twine to a height of 15 ft. A picture of the crop as it
appeared in March, 1914, appears on page 39. Cutting
in the first house began on December 17, in the second on
February 18. The first cuts sold at $1 per 100, and con-
tinued at that figure for a month, then dropped to 75c.
per 100, which price was maintained till after Easter, when
it fell to 7oc., and up to the end of May over 215,000
salable flowers were picked. The gross returns were $1700.
Christmas Pink was largely grown, and others of Zvolanek’s-
varieties. Basing our calculations on these actual figures
it will be seen that for a closer planted house, or one more
fully filled with the Peas, the figures already mentioned
easily hold good. The actual yield from the two houses
referred to, was as follows:

YIELD FROM Two Houses, EACH 130 x 30 FT.

 

Date Weeks No. of Sprays
DECh Stns cadenMaanaaaty peas SU nea ton sien Sumestseualley en-us SOOO!
Dechy) Silis- saa wneeueweeeoeese Dire lace ahaa ays a way A oe 2,000
Jan Tis nips nid 8 hoe ca ano hd a Ae Be earn aesy oscars aie gait ao bene 3,000
JAMs Wiad sve gue nes oaseven dance BCR 2 os :isec sks Giese) bog badass BRU CoS 5,000
ATS 220 os isan Be wed aeendeiantcn GE TANG hint ty vied oesahatelh Sues Ga saad 4,000
Tan «2B ick astiaian cane nines deeds GE Djadierscar tice sen annie sa pemowaauer tana 6,000
Feb eat Silield sth iseeaees sete ech wees EH ison, c cougar ae tnteieests edevcech crete 7,000
Beeb. . Sele Tenan ac eiactaen ie 'e. be tushonn eltveoes SEN) wriaa le ren eon ae i eokeraaes 8,000
Rebs, aShiumanvetiguxesiny veces OU ntitt end hunks Aycer Godiva 9,000
Rebs - 225 ocassuedutin nursed gett es 5 WOU se cua secaisisss we eine nous y 10,000
March Asssaces ganas ees Ga ees TItH cctiacn pamamceeeodeana es 7,000
Marchi1................0 000 ee TL DUM seecnaisv da duit ds Gavi oko eae 7,000
Marelli, 186s cists dans seontlone do ares TATA cdaa ds angrnseaive dase sieabiaes 9,000
Marcha» ean nanan Aad aeia WAU cht nvnatnn catia he orice 10,000
PPD TIM isanttst evawine ean meioenceees TRC essex cnencvens ee taa tha *28,000
April / a8 es esate ceansrit acta Na oka nesys T OC ios rcnsacelat ne adda elteesta abe ee 20,000
April. “15s s enue seas coelé eee [7th wsetacougn aw emnanemms 22,c00
Api) 22)¢<'vassusaes trea TSthive coe cuaint see anes 20,000
April 226 ios ern cone. sted varied satan tenes LOU s.cc se Soa dene SER PRS 18,000
May Gants nieve seustnal fsess anueni DOU sie tncu ss ia btaah detasctuice Banned 19,000

215,000

* For Easter week. The contract was for 40,000 blooms, but though extra heat
and water were given, the cut fell short by 12,000 sprays.
32 COST AND PROFITS

As against.the returns, we have the expenditure side
of the account, estimated as under, for each house:
Sept. to May 6, inclusive.

 

Interest on investment «:3.c.ces date es ace eb nee seen e eo Eee $100.00
Depreciation, eight months................0. 000. e cee e eee 50.00
HLS staraaa tite ei emirates fete Sgniggands bien, Vea ba a SNe EEN ay RE RE 80.00
ADOT aa irt Scie cae Rk Bceae at Sasa ste ace eee A a ae ON falapel Ie UN chet RE a 225.00
Seed: sai Acinn er easy Ras eas dt aN Ghd a islake 9 td Sines le Meda ache aires 35.00
Fertilizer, fumigants and stakes......................0.. 5 5-00
$545.00

The cost of fuel is based upon the average cost of a
single house with independent heating plant, and may be
reduced where an efficient central heating apparatus is
used with a lower grade of fuel. It should be noted, too,
that the increase in the value of the land would in certain
cases offset the depreciation account considerably.

Analyzing the profit and cost of the two houses, we
therefore arrive at the following results:

Gross returns.........-....-..4 $1700.00 (or $850.00 for each house)
Gross expenses...........--0000- 1090.00 (or $545.00 for each house)
Total of profit..............-.5. $610.00

From this, of course, would have to be deducted
freightage and commission charges where the flowers were
sent to the wholesale market; but, on the other side of the
account, as the owner of the greenhouse or greenhouses
may do all the necessary work himself, or with assistance
from his wife or family, the sum of $450 for labor can be
added to the above net profit account, which would then
make it $1060. During the same period the side or bench
crops (allowing for a minimum of 600 sq. ft. of bench space
at 30c. profit per foot) would yield $180, bringing up the
net income to $1240; and with a crop of Tomatoes
during the Summer months, $400 to $500 more can be
added, making the grand yearly total $1740. Or the
Sweet Peas could be continued until the middle of June,
SECTIONAL VIEW OF GREENHOUSE SHOWING THE FLORIFEROUSNESS
AND Hasit oF GrowTH oF THE New Orcuip Typr
oF SwEET Pea RosE QUEEN

 
34 COST AND PROFITS

as in the case of the grower already mentioned, whose total
crop of marketed blooms amounted to 288,000.

Where the grower is at the same time a retail florist,
he can, of course, add still more to the direct profit from his
houses. Instead of $6 for 600 sprays, he might use these
in making a wreath for which he may charge $25. On the
other hand, he may be caught with 500 old flowers in the
cooler which could have been bought for less than $3 per
100, and make the best use of them in a $5 pillow.

These figures, on both sides of the account, are to be
regarded as approximate only, for we all know that in
the flower growing business a really scientific costs system
is difficult to formulate. The vagaries of the weather
upset calculations, and the crop yields vary from year to
year. Disease may run riot, or incalculable harm may be
done to a crop by the want of ventilation, or by giving
ventilation untimely. Prices of labor, coal and water
vary, all of which may and do alter the annual returns and
profits. Nevertheless, keep accounts—the more accurate
the better. In your own case they will be of distinct
benefit. Without them no man can conduct his business safe-
ly. Have time sheets and charge sheets, and observe which
varieties crop best and which colors or forms are in demand.

“Cost of crop production records, to be of the great-
est value,” says a high authority, “should cover a con-
secutive term of years. Only by this means can an average
cost of production be determined. Very few crops are
either highly profitable or ruinously unprofitable every
year. Most crops have their good and their bad years,
from the standpoint of profits, and only by records extend-
ing over a term of years can the relative profits or losses
of the fat and Iean years be compared and the normal,
ot average, cost of production and profit determined.”
COST AND PROFITS

 

 

Sweet Pea Curistmas Pink UNDER GLass

 

35
CHAPTER III

STYLE oF House anp HEaTING

The Sweet Pea house must be in an open and sunny
position, sheltered, if possible, from winds. It should be
kept in mind, however, that contiguity to low hills may
result in trouble with the chimney stack, owing to down
drafts. The size and number of the houses will naturally
be determined by the capital the grower has to expend upon
them. A florist can make a profitable income from the
crops grown in a couple of span houses 20 ft. x 120 ft. or
better, 30 ft. x 130 ft., taken in conjunction with, say,
from half to one acre of land surrounding them. Provision
must also be made for a service house, and of course for
small houses or frames that can be used as propagators and
feeders for the main house. Beneath the service house
there should be a clean cellar and packing room for the
cut flowers, or this can be attached on the same level as
the plant houses; likewise, provision should be made for
the water supply and for a manure tank. These, however,
might be at some distance away.

If the house runs east to west (which is best), the rows
will run lengthwise. In the larger houses, however, it
does not matter so much in what direction the house runs,
for the shadows caused by the roof members are so dif-
fused as to be rendered almost negligible. Wooden houses
are slightly cheaper at the first cost than those of iron or
pipe construction, but where possible, the latter should be
preferred.
STYLE OF HOUSE 37

The use of steel] members makes for a lighter type of
house since a 3-in. rafter is as strong as a much larger
and heavier wooden one. In the line of progress the gutter
also has been reduced and is made of cast iron. The use
of steel allows the building of larger houses and by means
of scientifically devised methods of roof construction and

 

 

ONE oF Ws. Sim’s Larce, Mopern Sweet Pea Houses aT
CLIFTONDALE, Mass.

tie devices for strengthening these structures, even those
of great width are made perfectly safe.

“Contributory to their success has been, in conjunc-
tion with the iron frame, a scientifically devised method of
roof trussing, utilizing steel angles or flat bars for all truss
members other than the tension rod, thereby enabling them
SLOPBIQUIA oop pas apis osje ‘suidid ‘urr-pZ yo

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SMOI U2A2G = “‘PunoIe JB yous ‘3j-g YIM 4y G ‘saAva 01 JYSIOY 7} Sol ‘aspi1 01 1yZey ‘34 OF st yYIpBeiq Fy],
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GREENHOUSES 39

to resist either tensile or compression strain which may be
applied according to the direction and pressure of the
wind. So independent does the roof thus become of
column supports that it is now compatible with the best

 

 

Sweet Pea House ar Harotp Morcan’s, AuBurn, N. Y.

of practice to construct houses 40 ft. wide without columns,
those up ‘to 65 ft., inclusive, requiring but one on each side
of the roof and two for the 75 ft. width.

“ A factor greatly creasing the facility and economy
of erection is the system of wrought iron gusset plates by
40 GREENHOUSES

which the various members of the steel frame are riveted
and bolted together. The foundations of the house are
concrete piers extending about 3 ft. below grade, in which
the wrought iron rafter foot pieces are imbedded. A con-
crete curtain wall, 4 in. thick, is constructed on the sides,
and extends from a few inches below the grade to the cast
iron sill, which is an integral part of this mode of con-
struction.””*

As to the ventilation, the largest houses are now
fitted with very powerful cog and chain gearing, so that as
much as 150 ft. of sash can be parted easily by one man
from one point. An interesting fact about the large
houses is that practically the same amount of ventilation
appears to be sufficient for them as is necessary for the
smaller ones. In such gearing the lesser cog wheels are
contained within the oil cup and are covered in. The
temperature in a large house is much easier to maintain
uniformly than in small ones where a smaller body of air
is enclosed. This is an important matter in the cultivation
of a Sweet Pea crop. Side ventilators are necessary, and
at least a ventilator on the top south side should be ar-
ranged.

In regard to glazing, the general practice is to adopt
the 16 in. x 24 in. glass. Most of the glass is either AA or
B glass. Very strong 29-ounce glass is necessary for the
larger sized pane; that is to say, the 24 m. x 24 n., and it
is questionable whether the increased amount of light got
from the larger glass compensates for the extra cost and
risks. Some building firms prefer the lapped form of
glazing rather than the butted. On this matter we express
no opinion, and indeed the grower who intends to build
will do well to consult with two or three of the greenhouse
"* Henry P. Merrick, in The Florists’ Excbange.
GREENHOUSES 41

 

 

INTERIOR View oF Sweet Pea House, ae Gre AT GEORGE
ScHUNEMAN’s, BaLpwin, L. I.,
42 GREENHOUSES

building firms and obtain from them specifications, sug-
gestions and estimates.

One thing that growers ought to bear in mind is to
lay their original plans in such a way as to allow for future

 

 

Movern INpoor CULTIVATION ON THE SINGLE STEM SysTEM
These plants were grown in pots and the p.cture shows them at an exhibition

extension or addition to the houses. On this point, in
more than one case, owners have been put to great expense,
solely owing to the fact that forethought had not been
exercised, to the consequent loss in the economical working
GREENHOUSES 43

 

 

 

Winter Sweet Peas IN A PrivaATE GARDEN IN CANADA
44 HEATING

of the establishment in later years. The same remark
applies, and with greater force, to the heating plant.

HEATING*

In regard to heating, there are two general classes of
heating, namely, by hot water and by steam, which may
be divided into several different systems. Hot water is
the most generally used, as it will hold the heat for a
considerable length of time and has some drying effect on
the atmosphere, but not as much as steam. This system
of heating may be subdivided into two general classes:
(a) high pressure or closed system, and (b) Jow pressure
or open system. Low pressure is the most generally
used and requires an expansion tank, open to the air at
the highest point. High pressure is used in some cases
connected directly with the city water.main. This system
has the advantage of a higher temperature than boiling
water on account of the outside pressure. In some cases a
circulation Is used in order to accelerate the flow of the
water through the pipes. There are several different
appliances on the market. These may improve some
inferior hot water systems and thereby make a saving in
fuel.

The most economical system on a place where a night
fireman is employed is steam. This system may be sub-
divided into three parts: (a) gravity, which is the most
common; (b) vacuum; and (c) the trap system.

The gravity system is more economical in a hilly
section where the boiler may be placed at the lowest point,
enabling the condensed water to run back to the boiler
and thus save the cost of pumping apparatus and its
maintenance.

x By George H. Elliott, in The Florists’ Exchange.
HEATING 45

The vacuum system is used on several large places in
the West, where the country is flat and the cost of sinking
the boiler house is expensive. This requires a more or
less elaborate system of traps and pumps, as the water has
to be drawn from the heating pipes by one pump and pumped
into the boiler by another, which necessitates the carrying
of a high pressure on the boiler and the use of a reducing
value of the heating systems. This system we should not
say was economical on any except the larger places, such
as are found in the outlying districts of Chicago.

The trap system is used principally through the
West, and in places that draw their supply of steam from
some central power station. There are various makes of
good traps on the market for the florists’ use, and the
manufacturers gladly give all details as to the proper
installation of the same. The rules of keeping the boiler
clean apply to either the hot water or steam systems.
Either of these systems must be kept water-tight or steam-
tight, as leakage in the piping is leakage in the coal pile.

Some florists have tried the burning of a low grade of
coal by the use of forced draft, but we should not say
that it was economical, as it requires an engine, high
pressure steam, and a fan, which draws more or less ef-
ficiency from the boilers to operate it.

Put cold water into the system on sunny days, when
it will heat up gradually, or at such time as the temperature
of the water is higher than necessary.

On a steam system, water should be put into the
boiler very gradually, as cold water in large amounts will
take away all the steam. Do not put water into a steam
boiler when it does not show in the glass: you do not want
to wreck your place, and life is too short as it is.

The chimney is as important a thing as anything in
46 HEATING

the saving of coal. It should be built higher than the
surrounding buildings and trees. If it is built on a hill-
side it should be higher than a level line across the top of
the hill.

For the heating of a house such as that shown in cross
section, on page 38, which is 130 ft. by 30 ft. by 1614 f-.,
and 9 ft. high at the eaves, it is recommended that as the
house would have 5986 sq. ft. of exposed glass, and would
require 1730 lineal feet of 4-inch external diameter pipe
for a temperature of 50 to 55 deg. at night, with mercury
outside at zero; about 12 lines, or 6 lines under each side
bench, would be necessary.

 
CHAPTER IV

 

CULTIVATION

Sweet Peas like an open and sunny position free from
the approach of shade. In a dark or badly lighted house,
or in a dull position outdoors, they become drawn, weak,
spindly, and may fail to flower. Where there is danger of
the flowers being scorched by too brilliant sunshine, as
sometimes happens to the orange and blue shades particu-
larly, temporary screens can be fixed up, composed of the
flimsiest scrim, cheese cloth, or mosquito netting, which
sells at 3c. per sq. ft., stretched between poles, to shade the
blooms. Or the glass of the house, in the case of the indoor
crop, can be sprayed with limewash.

THE SOIL

No one need attempt to grow the best Sweet Peas if
he has a shallow soil or a soil upon which labor has not
been spent in preparing it. One of the secrets of Sweet
Pea cuJtivation is a proper soil, and certainly a deep rooting
medium. The man who tries cultivating this quick grow-
ing annual in a shallow bench or trench of little depth, may
get a crop of flowers, and if the soi] is rich and is fertilized
he may get some blooms that are good while they last, but
depend upon it, the flowering period will be short. As it
takes twelve to fifteen weeks to get the plant to a bloom-
ing condition, it is worth while to prepare the tilth thor-
oughly and get the best returns over the longest period.

If one consults different authorities as to the kind or
quality of soil he wil] find divergent opinions. Some will
48 THE SOIL

say that any good garden soil is suitable, such as will grow
good vegetables, and this is true. Others will say that a
light friable loam is best. Certainly the soil must be well
drained—that is one of the first essentials. What is
described as a deep, mellow soil, either of a brown or dark
color, that crumbles into a fine tilth when knocked with.
a spade, is excellent. Of course, if one could go to the ex-
pense of putting in turfy loam this might be considered best
ofaJI. Such loam may be cut 3 In. to 4 in. deep from the top
of a pasture where the grass and herbage have just been cut
for hay, or better still, eaten off by cattle or sheep. Stack
such turves into layers in the usual way, and leave for five or
six months so that the grass and sod become rotted and
mellow. The stack can then be chopped down and be
wheeled mto the house trenches where the Peas are to
be grown.

It is not necessary to do more than fill the
trenches with this high class loam, and these should be
at least 2 ft. wide and 3 ft. deep; if 4 ft. deep, so much
the better.

Such soil, of course, lasts for several seasons if it is
enriched with fertilizers; many growers do this repeatedly.
Should there have been any disease in the previous crop,
however, It will be necessary to re-sterilize the soil, or even
renew it for safety, else devote the house to an entirely
different crop; or do both.

In the preparation of the soil, if it is found incompatible
with the means of the grower to go to so much trouble or
expense as to get in special loam, the Jeast that the grower
must do is to dig up the soil in trenches where the Peas
will be, to a depth of 3 ft. to 4 ft. At 3 ft. to 3% ft. a 4-in.
layer of heavy rotted dung should be put in. Manure
from the cow shed, stable, or barn, is recommended. Place
THE SOIL 49

over this another 1 foot of soil and scatter an ounce of bone
meal to each one yard run of trench.

If this can be allowed to settle for a week or ten days,
so much the bettér, but this is not essential. The trench
should be firmed, however, before sowing the seed, (if sow-
ing is done,) or before planting, if plants are set out.

The worst of the trench system, especially out of doors,
is that in dry weather, no matter how much one may water
the trenches, there are sure to be chinks or seams between
the part that is trenched and the soil that was not so well
treated, or in rainy weather the trench becomes a fine ditch
for all the surplus water. It is certainly by far the best
plan to dig or trench the ground all a uniform depth. The
same applies under glass, but there, of course, the cultivator
has matters under his control so that the difficulties as to
water logging do not present themselves in quite the same
degree.

A good point to bear in mind, above all, is that it ts
useless to attempt to grow marketable Peas in poor soil,
shallow soil, heavy, soggy soil, badly drained soil, or on
thin, hot soils. The soil must be wel] drained, deep, mois-
ture holding, yet permeable to the long roots of the plants.
The Sweet Pea will go an immense depth in search of mois-
ture. The writer has planted Peas from pots, whose roots
were fully 2 ft. long at the time of planting, and as the soil
was of untold depth, of a rich, almost peaty, brown, fibrous
silt—the acme of perfection for these plants—just how
far they descended would be difficult to say. Plants in
such soil will produce leaves “like Cabbages”’ or, co be
more definite, the leaves will be as large as the palm of one’s
hand and thick, leathery, and green, while the flowers will
be of that splendid type that is upheld on 18-in. stems,
four blooms to a spray, beautifully waved, or frilled, and
50 SOIL STERILIZATION

of a rich color having good substance, so that they will
last. Peas of the highest quality not only fetch the best
prices, but sell more readily, and by their beauty and stay-
ing powers they are a testimonial to the seller, whose
customer is, therefore, confirmed in regard to their merits,
and never hesitates to buy again. Get the best and grow
the best; none other pays.

Sometimes a grower will sterilize his soil as for Chrys-
anthemums and Carnations. The method of working
and the apparatus required for soil sterilization are simple
enough, excepting only the steam generator. A box
6 ft. long, 3 ft. wide, and 2 ft. high, made so that the two
longest sides slip out, will hold about a load of soil. A
gridiron arrangement of tubes 114 to 2 in. in diameter Is
required for the inside. Each of the three pipes is closed
at the end, and perforated with 2-in., and placed alternately
at right angles, that is, eight holes to the foot. The grid
should be 1 ft. shorter and 1 ft. narrower than the box it
is to be used in. A flexible metal tubing to connect up
with the steamer completes the apparatus.

To use it, the grid is placed in the box, and raised on
bricks 5 in. or 6 in. from the bottom, and the soil shoveled
in until the box is full. The grid is then connected up, a
tight-fitting lid placed on top of the box, and the steam
turned on.

Two important points to remember are to screen the
soil first and have it as dry as possible, otherwise the process
will take much longer. If a steam pressure of 80 Ibs. to
go Ibs. per inch can be maintained for twenty minutes,
this will raise the whole of the soil to a temperature of 212
degrees Fahr., and the “ cooking” is then finished. To
avoid leakage of heat, cover the whole of the box with
mats or sacks. After the soil is fully heated it must be
 

A Spray OF WINTER-FLOWERING SWEET PEA YARRAWA
52 SOIL STERILIZATION

turned out, covered up well to keep the heat in as long
as possible, and then the box should be refilled. Such is
the simple process now often used. Its cost depends
upon individual methods, and varies from 20c. to soc. a
Joad.

Other means than sterilization by steam are rotation
of crops and the use of various disinfectants. Dr. E. J.
Russell, director of the Rothamsted Experimental Sta-
tion in England, has recently done much work in this
direction, and has published the results. These, together
with the discoveries along the same line by other investiga-
tors, have been summed up in various papers. Russell
divides the disinfectants proper into three classes, according
to their efficiency. In the first class are the strongest, as
formaldehyde, pyridine, lutidin and colidin. The second
class includes benzol, calcium sulphide, carbolic acid,
cresilic acid, Jight and heavy solvent naphtha, petroleum
and toluol. The third and weakest class contains only
naphthalin and its derivatives.

The first consideration in applying these disinfectants
is whether there are plants on the land to be treated. If
there are, and they cannot be removed, only the weaker
means can be used which do not injure the roots. The
steam treatment is generally too expensive, also formalde-
hyde, the pyridine bases, benzol and tuluol. Benzol,
benzine, petroleum and toluol are also dangerous because
of fire. The other representatives of the second group are
said to be far better.

The so-called California solution, which contains a
calciumoxy-sulphide, is Jargely used against animal and
vegetable pests, especially by fruit and Rose growers.
An important disinfectant is cresilic acid, with its deriva-
tives, creolin, Iysol and carbolineum, which are obtained
THE SEED 53

by the addition of resin or oil soap. Carbolineum, especi-
ally, has been used very successfully against soil exhaustion.

THE SEED

Good germinating seeds will sprout well in from ten
to twenty days, and if the seedlings do not appear in that
time, investigation should be made. It sometimes happens
that seeds may be over-ripe, having a hard shell. Some
growers, therefore, always adopt the plan of soaking their
seeds for ten or twelve hours; others adopt the plan of
burying the seeds for a number of days in flats, in moist
soil or in sand, then unearth them to see whether swelling
has taken place. If the peas show signs of increased size,
and have soft shells, they are on the way to germination.
But, on the other hand, if the shells still remain hard, it
will be necessary to fiJe them or chip them in some way, so
that moisture can penetrate, and allow the germinating
seedling to make its way through the coat.

On one occasion we saw seeds of a certain variety sown,
and they Iay as dead as door nails for three weeks in the
ground, while several other varieties had started into growth,
but being curious to define the reason, search was made for
the seeds that had failed to sprout, and they were found
to be perfectly hard. After being filed, however, they
germinated perfectly satisfactorily. Of course, where a
large quantity has to be sown the filing method is cer-
tainly laborious, but it is the only commendable one.

In regard to white flowered varieties, it is well known
that some have Jight seeds and some have black. The
light seeds are the least vigorous and oftener fail to ger-
minate than the black ones. It is for this reason it is
advised to sow them more thickly and not so deep as the
black. They are much more liable to fail in cold soils,
54 SOWING

too, especially when planted out of doors. All seeds must
be sown in moist (but not wet) soil. A day or two previous
to sowing, therefore, see that the soil is well watered, if
this is necessary, then plant the seeds when it has become
dried off.

The Sweet Pea is productive. A single Pea seed
producing a healthy plant will yield upward of one
hundred seeds within four months. Usually one seed
crop is taken annually, but it would be possible, under the
best conditions, to get two crops of seeds per year, but
usually about one hundred of the best quality of seeds, as a
unit per year, can easily be figured on. An ounce of Sweet
Peas contains from 280 to over 400 Peas, according to the
variety, the wrmkled varieties being the lightest. At
30 In. apart, we can have about 75 rows, each 200 ft. long,
per acre. An ounce of good seeds that germinate 95 pec
cent. is sufficient to plant an 85-ft. row, the plants being
3 In. apart. Ifa double row is planted, the plants can be
set 6 in. apart down either side, so that the same quantity of
seed will still suffice for 85-ft. run. For planting a house
100 ft. by 20 ft., 1 lb. of seed of the newer Winter-flowering
Spencers is recommended, as these are further apart in the
rows, or 3 lbs. of the smaller flowered older varieties.

SOWING

Indoors we may sow at any time from July until March.
After March it is possibly not worth either the labor or
space to sow Sweet Peas for an indoor crop. It cannot be
too strongly impressed upon the beginner that the Pea,
like several other flowers, has its season when it is in good
demand, and to produce quantities of Peas the year round
is more than likely to satiate the taste in regard to them,
and so cause a decided falling off in the general call. Try
TIME OF SOWING 55

to produce the finest blooms for Christmas, New Year, and
the early months of the year, and have a good crop for that
great flower selling period, Easter, and let other crops also
have a chance, so far as such a scheme can be practically
carried out.

The very early plants, so far as we have seen, are sel-
dom of the highest quality and have but moderate blooms,
which are put upon the market at a time when many kinds
of flowers are abundant. Growers, toc, who send in
flowers of inferior grade, are doing themselves, the Sweet
Pea, the salesman, and the public combined, an injustice.
Be it understood, it requires much skilJ and care to raise
the early July sown crop, except in the coolest sections of
the north or west, for it must be remembered that the
weather in August and eailier part of September is often
very hot.

A good time to sow is the middle of August. Sow
around the 15th, perhaps a little earlier in the more norther-
ly sections. An August sowing, properly treated, will
yield an early crop of blooms for Thanksgiving, and so on
until after New Year.

William Sim, Cliftondale, Mass., who is well known as
one of the largest growers, makes his first sowing before the
middle of August, from which flowers are picked about the
beginning of October. The second or main crop planting
is made about the second week of September, and the
third or last planting about the beginning of October.
Formerly, that is to say, a year or two ago, Mr. Sim at the
third planting favored the fancy colored varieties, which
were found to sell better during the Winter months. Plants
from the main crop, sown in September, begin to flower
about the second week in January, and those from the
third crop come in about the middle of March and hold on
56 SOWING

 

WINTER Sweet Pea Mrs. Wn. Sim
(SALMON Pink)

till the outdoor crop comes again. It is a notable fact
that no change is ever made in the soil in the houses, and
the fertilizers used are of cow manure and fine ground bone.

Growers not accustomed to Sweet Peas under glass
SOWING 57

will find that the early part of September is the best time
for them to start.

The Sweet Pea tests at Cornell showed that seeds
planted in beds on Sept. 24, 1910, gérmimated in from 60
to a little over 100 days, according to the variety. Earli-
est of All and Watchung took 63 days; Snowbird and
Blanche Ferry, 66; Christmas Pink, 87; Mrs. Zvolanek,
90; Wallacea, 94; Florence E. Denzer, 96; and Mrs. Wm.
Sim, 102. The earliest of the Télemly varieties was Pale
Primrose, which took 88 days.

Some growers think that the Summer flowering Spen-
cers are superior to the early types so far as quality of
flowers is taken into account, and, indeed, that may be
correct as applied to the very best, but they are much slower
im coming to maturity, and a September crop would occupy
the houses all Winter, and at the best would only begin to
provide blooms in any quantity, or of good quality, by the
end of March or beginning of April.

The most choice blooms usualJy come from the later
sowings, so that the plants can be grown cool and steadily
all the time. This is a very important matter. Never
try to force Sweet Peas. Keep them growing steadily
in a temperature as nearly between 50 and 60 deg. Fahr.
as possible. The conditions of a balmy June cool day
should be tmitated.

In sowing, a drill may be taken out with a draw hoe
6 in- fy 8 in. wide, and 114 in. to 2 in. deep. Sow the seeds
thinly. Now that expensive varieties are likely to be much
employed by those desiring flowers of first grade, it will
be best in most cases, and certainly wisest, to raise the
seedlings in 214-in. pots, one in each pot, and plant them
out. But they must never be allowed to become stunted.
In any case, we would suggest that time is well spent when

 

ERRATUM
Page 57, line 4, for “germinated” read “flowered”

 
58 SOWING

the seeds are sown or planted with the utmost care as to
che distance apart. There should be very little necessity
to thin the plants. It is a waste of money to sow seeds
thickly and then have much thinning to do. Under glass,
with seed of good quality, treated as already described,
the need of thmning scarcely arises. Outdoocs the matter
is different, for there one has to contend with changes of
the weather and with natural enemies that are not so much
under one’s observation. If the seeds are planted directly
into the soil, place them 3 in. apart if in single rows, but 5
in. or 6 in. apart in the double rows. The latter, of course,
means that there are two lines of plants in the one trench,
at 5 in. between each line. The soil must be agreeably
moist and firm. Soil that readily falls apart after being
squeezed in the hand is in the right condition. Cover the
seeds and firm the soil moderately with the back of a rake.

SOWING IN POTS

Sowing in small pots is a convenient and generally
safe method of raising stock, either for planting outdoors
or in the open. Costly varieties, as we have said, are best
treated in this way; also to plant out immediately in
succession to another crop and so save time, the method of
raising the seedlings in pots is the one adopted. It means
extra work, certainly, for the pots have to be filled, staged
and watered, and the seedlings transplanted, but many
growers consider this work pays for itself in the end, and
proves a good investment.

Paper pots of the “Long Tom”’ type are good to use,
being long, moisture holding, kindly to the roots and cheap.
The 21%-in. ordinary pots are also favored, and one seed
may be sown in each. It is a radical mistake to crowd
seeds into these pots because the roots, which should be
SOWING 59

carefully preserved at the time of planting, must necessarily
get broken if there are too many seedlings together. An-
other point of importance is not to confine the seedlings too
long in the pots, else the roots get intertwined and are
then difficult to separate.

The soil should consist of fibrous Joam, or at least
light soil of a good nature, with fmely powdered old manure
(that from a spent Mushroom bed, whenever it may be
obtainable, is the ideal sort) and a fourth part of sharp
sand. After sowing the seeds 1 in. deep, place the pots
in a house with a temperature of 55 to 60 deg. Fahr., and
when they have germinated in six to ten days, gradually
lower the temperature to 50 deg., or remove the pots to
another house, but avoid a sudden check. Place them on the
shelves of a cool, airy house, or upon the ground, or in
frames on a soil or ash bottom. The soil being moist to
start with, avoid unnecessary watering afterward, and be
sure not to get into the habit of merely dewing the surface
over, especially when the seedlings are breaking through,
as this may lead to damping off. As soon as the little
plants are 2 In. to 3 in. high and have well filled the pots
with healthy roots, they should be set out in their permanent
quarters. Such treatment, of course, is only called for in
the case of the more expensive vigorous growing novelties.

SOWING IN BENCHES

Where ordinary flowers are wanted for one’s own retail
trade, or where the highest ideal blooms are less the de-
sideratum than a quantity of the smaller kinds on medium
stalks, that 1s, with stems 6 in. to 8 in. long, the older
grandifloras are excellent. These produce a rapid succes-
sion of very useful flowers for make-up purposes, and look
as well when packed into a floral cushion or pillow as the
60 CUTTINGS

grander flowers do. For this end growers often sow the
seeds in raised benches that are only half a foot deep or
very little more, using fairly rich soil. Eighteen inches is
little enough between the rows: 2 ft. is better, and the
seedlings should be left at 4 in. apart in the rows. The
purpose of the present book, however, is to emphasize the
nobility of choice Sweet Peas and to try to have this
fragrant annual lifted to a higher plane. Its real value
is too often underestimated, and its cultivation is often a
travesty.

Dwarf or Cupid Sweet Peas may be grown in benches
and will produce flowers that are good enough for button-
holes, but as a rule the stems are short and the Peas are
not to be compared with those of the grander kinds that
are grown in solid beds. They are decorative as plants,
and might be more frequently grown in pots for the con-
servatories of private places.

Sweet Peas can also be grown on in pots, giving them
a shift from 214-in. pots into 6-in., and from these into
12-in. They must be kept well fed.

SWEET PEAS FROM CUTTINGS

Of this method of propagating, which is occasionally
used for increasing novelties or other desirable varieties,
J. Chisholm wrote in the “Sweet Pea Annual” for 1910,
as follows: ‘‘ From seeds sown under glass in September
we obtain plants that yield growths suitable for cuttings
in November. Three cuttings, sometimes four, are placed
in a three-inch pot, in light soil, and put in a warm house
until rooted. They are then transferred to a cool house
and grown steadily. With plenty of light and a free circu-
lation of air, the plants make steady growth, and when
they have filled the pots with their roots each potful is
PLANTING AND STAKING 61

potted into a five-inch or a six-inch pot. No crocks are
used for drainage beyond one over the drainage hole, and
this is covered with a good layer of crushed bones, while
bonemeal is freely used in the substantial potting compost.
Under this treatment, and given carefully trimmed sticks
for supports, Sweet Peas will grow to a height of from ro
ft. to 13 ft., and flower practically from base to summit,
even in these comparatively small pots.”

PLANTING

When planting the seedlings either in the open or in
houses, avoid setting them deeper than they have been in
the pots. A 2-in. depression in the line or ridge is quite
enough, and when the plants get into full growth, and
have reached a foot or more in height, this shallow trench
may be filled in. It is better not to feed more than is
absolutely demanded by the state of the plants’ vigor, and
if the soil has been well prepared, it is best to rely upan it
and let the roots strike out for their nourishment. When
the flowering period is at its height, and the flower stems
appear to be getting shorter, or the color of the blooms
becomes not so good (assuming that the weather is all it
ought to be in regard to sunshine), then some liquid manure
may be given and some fertilizer may be stirred into the
soil along the edges of the line.

STAKING

As soon as the young plants begin to make headway,
and are 3 in. or 4 in. high, some support becomes desirable.
Little twiggy branches are best if these can be had locally
and cheaply. Indeed, Birch (or similar) branches are made
use of, whenever a supply is obtainable nearby, for the
permanent support of the vines. Light spreading branches
62 STAKING

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Enp View or Suprorts FoR A Douste Row oF Sweet Peas

The supports are made of 2-in. quartering, with horizontal struts for carrying the
strained wires, to which bamboo canes are tied perpendicularly.
63

STAKING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SipE View oF SUPPORTS FOR Dous.e Row oF SwEET Peas, SHOWING
THE BAmMBoos FIxED TO THE WIRES. Tur SUPPORTS ARE SET
Ten Freer APART
64 STAKING

8 ft. tall can be used, and as they will have a heavy weight
of stem and leaf and flower growth to carry Jater on,, be
sure you insert the stakes very firmly.

Wide meshed wire netting is still better, because it
does not obstruct so much light. This is much in favor
in many commercial establishments, being clean, neat,
handy to fix up, and if the plants should happen to get
higher than 8 ft., as many will, an extra belt of netting
can easily be run along the top. Stakes or poles 2 or 2144
in. in diameter should be inserted at intervals of 5 ft. apart
in the rows for the support of the netting, and, of course,
both sides of the row must be furnished with the netting,
leaving 6 in. between. The 2 in. mesh, costing about $5
for a roll of 150 ft. by 6 ft., is the cheapest and is satis-
factory.

Thirdly, for Peas in houses, binder string is much em-
ployed. This is strung tightly from post to post at inter-
vals of 8 in., and the plants are tied thereto. This is
the most usual method of support, being the cheapest.
Strained wire ‘‘ fences”’ or frames may also be adopted.

Lastly, light bamboo stakes, as thick as one’s Jittle
finger, and 5 ft. to 8 ft. in height, form an admirable,
albeit expensive means of support for plants that are
grown on the single stem principle. The stakes cost $1.25
per 100, or a little over $10 per 1000.

These canes are practically everlasting and need not
be inserted very deeply in the soil, but should be tied to
two horizontal, thin, strong laths, one at top and one at
bottom, these being nailed to strong upright posts at
intervals of 10 ft.; or they can be kept in position by hori-
zontal wires. (See page 63.) Do not use ordmary or
uncoated wire if that can be avoided, as it rusts, and may
be the cause of setting up a disease or disorder in the stem.
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66 WATER CISTERNS

Where bamboo stakes are used, the plants will, of course,
require more careful attention as to tying and regulating.

WATERING

An abundant supply of water is always one of the
first essentials for a grower, not only for watering his
plants, but in order that, if necessary, a strong spray may be
turned upon the foliage. For this supply, not only for the
Sweet Pea crop, but for others on the place, it is well to
have a tank or head of water, the force of which should
have a pressure of 20 pounds to the square inch. It is
not likely that much force will ever be required in the case
of Sweet Peas, whose stems are liable to snap, or whose
foliage may be torn if the stream is forceful. Whether to
sink a well and pump water to the cistern by gasoline
engine on one’s own account, or simply to pay rates and
get the city water—presuming that one lives near a city—-
is another matter deserving consideration. In anv case,
sufficient water must be provided, however it is procured,
and where several thousand plants are grown, a tank of
1000 gallons will be required. From 1 to 11% gallons pei
foot run of Sweet Peas per week, according to the weather
and the season, is an amply safe basis on which to estimate
the water supply, and so make provision for it. If possible,
the water should be chilled, or be made Juke warm, but
this is not essential. The cost of a two horse-power en-
gine 1s $200 or $250, and this would be complete with pump
for either deep or shallow wells, and the cost of running che
engine to raise 500 gallons a day would probably not be
more on the average than $1.25 per month.

In regard to water tanks—they can be made of wood,
iron or concrete. The latter offer many advantages,
among these being that the materials necessary for their
TEMPERATURE 67

construction are easily procured; the tanks themselves
are easy to build, they do not rot, and are practically
everlasting. How to make them is explained in bulletin
23, published by the Association of Portland Cement
Manufacturers, Philadelphia.

A good rule is to “water with an ascending tem-
perature’; that is to say, in the morning rather than at
night or late in the afternoon. It is argued, with some
show of reason, that watering at night chills the soil about
the roots, giving them “cold feet”? until next day, and
that, consequently, this is a fertile cause of buds dropping,
and also rather encourages mildew. This may be true at
times in the case of the outdoor crop, but has but little
effect under glass. However, cold and cloudy weather,
coming suddenly after watering, demands prompt firing
up on the part of the grower, who at the same time should
open the ventilators sufficiently to cause the warm, dry air
to circulate. It is well to bear in mind that heat and
dryness are detrimental to Sweet Peas, and if contimuing
together for even a day may prove fatal to the plants.

TEMPERATURE

It has been stated already that a temperature of 55
to 60 degrees Fahr. is favored for the germination of the
seedlings, but after they are well through the soil gradually
reduce this at the rate of one degree per day until the
maximum day temperature is 50 deg. Of course, where
the house is cleared, it is advisable to start the Peas cool,
sowing them directly where they are to grow. In any case,
so soon as germination has taken place and growth has
well begun, a day and night temperature of 50 and 45
degrees respectively is then maintained until the plants
have grown 2% ft. to 3 ft. high, which will have given
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VENTILATING 69

them time to send down roots deeply and have promoted
a sturdy foundation in the plants themselves. Should
flower buds have prematurely appeared up to this .time
they will, of course, have been removed, together with
sub-laterals or side growths, and unnecessary leaf growth
and tendrils. But from the time the plants are waist high,
more warmth should be given, the temperature being
raised to 60 deg. at night with 65 deg. as the average day
temperature, up to 70 deg. Fahr. with sunheat. Above
this mark the plants are liable to be too much forced
and weakly.

The Spencers enjoy a rather higher temperature than
the grandifloras do, for they have a more ample bloom to
build up, and are more sumptuous altogether in their re-
quirements. A healthy, buoyant, even temperature, with
the soft, sweet “growing feeling” about it, between 55
and 60 deg. Fahr., is the ideal. Above all, try to avoid
sudden or rapid fluctuations; it will prevent disappoint-
ments.

VENTILATING

As regards ventilation, the more nearly perfect the
gearing is and the larger the house, the easier it will be to
keep the temperature steady. Too much stress cannot
be laid upon the need of an even temperature, for sudden
drops and rises upset the condition of the plants and are
a fertile cause of mildew and of bud dropping. It will
test the skilJ of the grower to regulate his temperature on
days of cloud and sunshine, with a keen, cold wind also
blowing. Draughts are fatal, yet air may bave to be given.
The best plan on such days is to keep the fires low but
clear, with a nice heat in the pipes, ventilate on the leeward
side of the house, and rather let the temperature run up to
70 SPRAYING AND FUMIGATING

72 deg. Fahr. than have to take in a direct cold current,
however small.

SPRAYING AND FUMIGATING

Each of these operations is as important as any of the
others. On all bright days from the time the plants are
through the soil, spraying may be done, but as in all else
in Sweet Pea culture, wise judgment is necessary. No one
would surely spray a line of Peas in full bloom; that is to
say, the flowers themselves. These should be kept dry.
But from the time the seedlings appear above the soil,
dewing and spraying may be done, weather permitting.
With the earliest July and August sown crop, a good wetting
spray should be given several times a day during hot spells.
The surface of the paths or alleys between the rows, also
the soil, walls and woodwork must be sprayed, all with
the object of lowering the temperature. But while a moist
atmosphere is detrimental to red spider, strive above all
to prevent anything in the nature of sappy growth. At
times this can scarcely be prevented.

In dull, gloomy weather the spraying may be dis-
pensed with, and if the air should become overdry, the
sprayer or mistifier must be brought into action. When
only a slight dewing over is necessary, the automatic air
pressure sprayers are employed and the work can be
quickly accomplished.

No insect pest ought to be able to gain a hold. Green
aphis, red spider and thrips are the most common and
persistent enemies, and the best means of combating these
under glass is spraying with Aphine or fumigation with
Nico-fume. Twenty sheets of Nico-fume are sufficient
for a house roo ft. long by 30 ft. wide; but directions for
the use of these accompany each package or container.
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REGULATING THE SHOOTS

 

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72 REGULATING THE SHOOTS

Aphine costs $2.50 a gallon. One fumigation every three or
four weeks is enough, and should be done even if no green fly
is about, and in order not to burn or harm thetender growths,
fumigate when the temperature is not higher than 60 deg.
Fahr. Hydrocyanic acid gas is used by some growers but
in the case of Sweet Peas it is not to be recommended. It
too frequently causes burning and dropping of the buds.

Mildew may be kept in check by dusting with finely
powdered sulphur, blown upon them by a Malbec bellows.
After a couple of days, syringe it off and when the plants
are again quite dry, dust them again, lightly. The hot
water pipes must neither be painted with sulphur nor have
any sulphur dusted upon them, as the heat causes sulphur
fumes to arise which do much damage to the crop and
discolor the woodwork. However, the use of sulphur is
an evil in itself, inasmuch as it clogs the pores of the
leaves. But the mildew has already done that if the at-
tack is a bad one, or will do it if not prevented, and the
finely pulverized sulphur prevents it. Careful watering,
firmg, and ventilation will do more than all else to pre-
vent mildew.

REGULATING THE SHOOTS

An important part of the routine work in Sweet Pea
cultivation consists in regulating the shoots, not that this
requires an enormous amount of time and attention, but
it is a very necessary, factor in the production of first-class
market blooms. If wire netting is the means of support
there will be Jess need of tying, although it pays to keep the
leading shoots fairly straight and well fastened up. Never
tie so firmly that the stem is squeezed or bruised, as injuries
of this kind, like the injuries that arise from faulty pulling
of the flower stems, offer a fine field for fungus spores to
REGULATING THE SHOOTS

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BRANCHING OF THE SUMMER AND WINTER FLOWERING
Types

The Summer or “garden” type branches freely; the ordinary
Winter flowering grandiflora and Telemly types run mainly
to a single stem and branch sparsely

73
74 FEEDING AND FERTILIZERS

seize upon and so set up disease, and in any case decay
may set in and ruin what would otherwise be a good flower-
ing shoot. When the Peas have started well into growth,
six or eight lateral shoots may forge ahead. These should
be thinned out to three (or sometimes to one main stem),
and if the side growths are kept removed as these latter
appear, it will throw vigor into the stem and lead to the
production of finer flowers with long stalks. The illus-
tration of the branching of the garden (or Summer) and
the Winter-flowering types shows their character.

FEEDING

It is important, also, in order to maintain length of
stem, amplitude of foliage and beauty and size of bloom,
to keep the plants well nourished. A very thin, light
mulch of pulverized sheep or cow manure Is sometimes
applied, while other growers rely upon applications of
these manures in a liquid state, at the rate of one part
diluted with ten of water, every twelve or fourteen days;
and this can be alternated with superphosphate, one-half
ounce dissolved in a gallon of water. Although it is
not advisable to be too generous in the use of nitrogenous
manures, which tend to cause rank, sappy, leafy growth,
still there are times when they are of value, as, for in-
stance, toward the end of the growing season, when the
plants require a fresh stimulus. They then may be watered
every twelve or fourteen days with sulphate of ammonia,
at the rate of half an ounce to each gallon of water. Scotch
soot, or soot got from chimneys where soft coal is burned,
is likewise an excellent fertilizer, containing some ammonia.
It has also a slightly beneficial mechanical effect on the
soil, particularly heavy and colder soils. Its effect on the
plants is to assist them in the production of growth and
FEEDING AND FERTILIZERS 75

better color. Phosphatic manures, like superphosphate
and bone meal, tend to firm-up the stems and throw the
plants into flower, and where seed production is a desidera-
tum, reliance can be placed on phosphatic fertilizers.
Guano is a quick acting fertilizer, containing a good per-
centage of soluble phosphate. For digging into the soil in
preparation for the crop, basic slag 6 oz. to 8 oz. per sq.
yd., is good. It slowly yields phosphate; but it and bone
meal need not be used together.

Some of the prepared fertilizers are also good and
reliable, and their merits must not be overlooked.

Potash is another of the essential ingredients for a
soil for Sweet Peas. Since anthracnose in America, and the
“streak”? disease in England have been so virulent and
destructive, much attention has been directed to the
value of potash. It is claimed for it that it braces the
energies or system of the plant against diseases. It assists
the formation of starch, which is the first materia] that
the leaves elaborate. Its effect, therefore, Is to cause a
fleshy, thickened, well-balanced growth. Kainit, procur-
able from wholesale dealers in fertilizers, contains 12 per
cent. of potash; while as a usually readily procurable local
supply, wood ashes can be used; they contain a fair pro-
portion of carbonate of potash. Heavy soils and clays
have the highest proportion of available potash; so much,
indeed, that there are good cultivators who never think of
supplying potassic manures to them.

Where one has to deal with heavy soils, quicklime
should be freely used. It greatly helps to break it up or
at least make it Jess adhesive. On the other hand, it helps
to make a loose soil firm, contradictory though it may
seem. Quicklime tends to sweeten soils that have become
over-rich, like highly fed garden soils; and to correct acidity
76 HOEING AND WEEDING

in soils that are badly drained. Reclaimed peat lands
benefit greatly by liberal applications of quicklime, as do
the black, soggy material that is often dredged from the
bottom of lakes, rivers, ponds or canals. Such stuff is
often rich, and if it is spread out half a foot thick over an
unused piece of land, then left over Winter for the frost to
act upon it, and is then coated with a good inch or more of
quicklime, and mixed, is an excellent top dressing material
for shrubs, fruit trees, poor vegetable land, or hardy flower
borders, and may be employed, albeit judiciously, for
adding to soil for a Sweet Pea crop indoors. Do not risk
using such material, however, on any large or important
scale, until its qualities (or the opposite) have been proved.

This leads us to remark that one can err as much on
the side of generosity as in niggardliness. Many a man
has seen his misspent labors come to naught through his
having dosed his soil too heavily with this, that, and the
other fertilizer, and when his plants assumed a sickly,
feeble appearance about the time they ought to come into
flower, has wondered why. The reason in some such in-
stances is that the system of the plant is surfeited and the
roots are poisoned or physically tmpaired for further healthy
action. Overfeeding, especially with nitrogenous manure,
predisposes the plants to disease.

HOEING AND WEEDING

In the early stages of growth the soil about the neck of
the plants and along the tops of the rows should be stirred
and hoed to keep the soil aerated. It is almost needless
to say that weeds should not be allowed to take possession
of any part of the soil, nor should pests ever succeed in
getting a foothold. Pods ought, of course, never to be
allowed to form on Peas for marketable cut flowers. The
CROPS TO GROW WITH SWEET PEAS 77

whole arcana of good cultivation may be summed up in
the following rules by a well-known gardener: ‘ Trench
deeply, manure liberally, plant thinly, stake quickly, water
early, and dispod promptly.”

CROPS TO GROW WITH SWEET PEAS

In most or all cases, a crop or crops can be grown in the
same house with the Peas. Among the subjects that are
suitable are Asparagus plumosus, Wallflower, Lupines,
Myosotis (Forget-me-not), Pansies, Mignonette, Candy-
tuft, Clarkia, Stevia, Schizanthus, Primula malacoides,
Primula obconica, and also Dutch bulb stock and later on
bedding plants. These can be accommodated on side
benches, leaving the middle of the house free for the Peas.
Pansy seeds may be sown in August to produce plants
for flowering in the greenhouse in Winter, and Clarkia,
Candytuft and Schizanthus in the early Autumn.
Wallflowers may be grown from seeds sown in July, or
from cuttings taken early in the Spring. All of these
plants may be grown in a night temperature of about
50 deg. and a day temperature of about 60 deg. to 65
deg. They will produce flowers late in Winter or early in
Spring. Set the Pansies 5 in. or 6 in. apart each way,
the Wallflower, Clarkia, and Candytuft 8 in., and the
Schizanthus 10 in. to 12 in. apart. The Pansies and
Candytuft should be grown in benches; the others either
m benches or pots.

Violets may be grown between the lines of Peas, but
in that case at least 4 ft. apart is necessary. Tomatoes
form a fine crop to follow with in Summer, and if the
plants receive a good start, much of their crop will be
ready before the outdoor fruits are ripe. An average of
7 Ibs. per plant can be produced.
CHAPTER. V-

Sweer Peas IN THE CuoIcaco REGION

The cultivation of Winter-flowering Sweet Peas
during the past few years has grown to large proportions
in the vicinity of the Chicago wholesale cut flower market.
Their cultivation is widely diffused; nearly all the growers
produce more or less stock. There are some, of course, who
make a specialty of them and have had their greenhouses
built so as to conform to the requirements of the crop.
There are also some growers who give them pre-eminence
above all other stock. There are still some who make a
specialty of Chrysanthemums and Sweet Peas and grow
nothing else. In that case, the Peas follow the Chrysan-
themums in the Fall, and generally Jast on the benches
unti! the planting season for Chrysanthemums comes
around again.

There is a general periodicity in the sowing of Winter-
flowering Sweet Pea seed, except among those who make a
specialty of them. These usually plant in July, which
is necessary to secure a crop to begin blooming by Thanks-
giving and continue through the Midwinter months when
these flowers bring the highest market price. When the
grower is depending on this crop exclusively, he has to have
the flowers in bloom when highest prices are paid, to make
it profitable. The grower who cultivates them in con-
nection with other crops can afford to take chances on what
the crops will bring when he is depending on neither one
solely for his returns.
IN THE CHICAGO REGION

 

Sweet Pea Mrs. ALEXANDER WALLACE
(LavENDER)

 

 

79
80 IN THE CHICAGO REGION

There is a large amount of Sweet Peas planted during
late October and November. These plantings usually fol-
low Chrysanthemums, and Peas have been grown with
success for this market when sown as soon as the early
crops of Chrysanthemums have been cut, so that a good
start can be had before the real short days begin. The
crop to follow the later Chrysanthemums is usually sown in
small pots some weeks in advance so that no time may be
lost as soon as the benches become vacant. These plant-
ings make good Jate Winter and early Spring crops. The
first sowings are usually made in July for the earliest Win-
ter crops, and successive sowings follow as the space and the
opportunity presents itself to the grower, so that he may
have blooms from Thanksgiving to Memorial Day. The
Memorial Day trade usually nearly finishes the crops of
indoor grown Sweet Peas, and no sowings are made for
indoor culture that will come at a later date.

During the past two vears the Winter-blooming Spen-
cers have been the favorite varieties grown for this market.
They have to a very large extent eclipsed all the others;
that is to say, the grandifloras that have been cultivated
for so many years. The growers have also originated
some varieties of ster!ing merit in the vicinity of this mar-
ket that were offered to the trade for the first time in 1914.
These were Winter-blooming orchid-flowered Sweet Peas.
The merits of these are best known to all who have had
regular access to the Chicago wholesale market. The
limited stock of these that was offered was all sold at a
price equivalent to about six cents per single seed. These
same growers have other varieties, the quantity of which
is still limited, for which a price many times larger has been
offered and refused for the seeds.

The Winter Sweet Pea has now acquired a prominent
IN THE CHICAGO REGION 81

place in this market. Following Roses and Carnations,
the Sweet Pea is a lively competitor for third place during
the Winter season when the best varieties are in. It is
displacing Violets and Valley, in many instances, for general
use, and for corsage effects it gives both of these old favorites
a close run. Each appears to be in the other’s way. The
Violets sell best when Sweet Peas are scarce, and again
the Sweet Pea growers state that before and after the
Violet crops are on the market the Peas sell best.

Sweet Peas can be grown in the greenhouses during
the Winter months to perfection in any soil that will grow
Carnations or Roses well. Some growers prefer a lighter
and more friable soil for the Peas than either, but this is a
point that each grower decides for himself. The type of
houses favored are those of high roofs with good ventila-
tion. The Sweet Peas sometimes get to be of considerable
height, and only houses with high roofs will accommodate
them. They are generally planted on solid beds in the
greenhouses that give them the full opportunity to utilize
all space from the beds to the glass.

The Winter of 1913-14 was not a good one for the Sweet
Pea growers in this section on account of the dark, cloudy
weather that prevailed during the Midwinter months. The
Sweet Pea must have sunshine for its best development,
and the months of December and January of the past
Winter were notably lacking in this respect. This causes
the buds to drop, and an unusual shortage of supply was
caused during two months of the season when these would
have brought the best money. One prominent grower
stated that while he had two houses more of Sweet Peas
that Winter, his returns were not equal to what he re-
ceived the year previous with considerably less growing
capacity. Another large grower had decided not to plant
82 SWEET PEAS IN INDIANA

any additional because of the poor returns for the past
season. With these exceptions, the great bulk of the
growers are satisfied with the returns in this particular line
of stock, and while one or more may drop out, others will
come in, so that the crop will always be fully equal, if not
superior, to any in the past.

INDIANA

The cultivation of Winter Sweet Peas is extensive
in Indiana, and is widely distributed among many florists.
The grower who does not have them to offer is an exception
rather than the rule. There is a reason for the alteration
of crops in the greenhouses at a time when there is perhaps
no other flower which would produce as prolifically in the
same length of time. Again, the Sweet Pea is very adapt-
able in its uses. Nearly every small grower is fortunate
in having a quantity on hand when funeral work or counter
trade is flourishing.

August is the month in which most Winter Sweet Peas
are sown, and are offered in the Indiana market at anv time
from Thanksgiving to Easter. Many of the more success-
ful Carnation growers are having an abundant crop of
Sweet Peas for Easter. It is generally found that no great
harm is done by the Sweet Pea vines trailing about the
posts in the Carnation houses, and they produce at a time
when Carnations are at a low ebb and often almost un-
available.

The varieties are, of course, enumerated under the
Spencer types. Mrs. A. A. Skatch, Bridal Veil, Pittet’s
new Rose Queen, Mrs. Chas. Totty, and the new lavender
Anita Wehrman, are the favorites in this community.

It is a self-evident fact that any flower that maintains
a prominent position in the flower world for a protracted
SWEET PEAS IN INDIANA 83

period makes itself burdensome among the flower lovers in
that it becomes common in being seen at all times and
places, at all prices and under any adverse conditions.

 

Cut Biooms of New Orcurp Tyre oF Sweet Pea RosE QUEEN

The Violet, of course, has its own particular beauty like
any other flower maintaining a worthy position among

the flower shop’s staple articles.
The newer varieties of the Sweet Pea have made their
84 THE PHILADELPHIA SECTION

appearance just lately. Isn’t the stem grand! Are not
the colorings beautiful, the fragrance all that could be
wished for, and don’t the color combinations in baskets or
corsage bouguets give a sense of novelty and newness not
found in the stereotyped bunch of Violets! This does not
mean that the Sweet Pea is a finer flower than the Violet:
it simply means that we are improving the Sweet Pea all
along. We are asking the public to take cognizance of it,
and they are supporting the florists liberally.

The writer always did maintain it does not do for a
grower to place too much stress on one particular flower for
too great a length of time, unless there is a great market
which will appreciate it. The rules Jaid down by promi-
nent growers, such as Messrs. Sim and Zvolanek, are closely
followed by growers in this vicinity. They are given all
the attention that is detailed by the larger growers, and the
houses are just as large as may be afforded.

IN THE PHILADELPHIA SECTION

In Philadelphia and vicinity the growing of Winter
Sweet Peas is somewhat widely diffused, there being no
really large growers, in the modern sense of the word, who
specialize on them. A well known firm at Brandywine
Summit, Pa., some 30 or 40 miles from Philadelphia,
specializes on a very large scale, and has the reputation
of growing the finest quality.

There is a continuous supply of Sweet Peas in the
markets of this city and this is maintained by sowings made
from time to time. The new Winter-flowering Spencers
are very greatly in favor, so much so, in fact, that the old
grandiflora types are almost unsalable. It is to be expected
that only the newer types will be grown soon. It is almost
impossible to name the favorite varieties, as they are all
SWEET PEAS IN PENNSYLVANIA 85

given a trial; novelties are tested, and it will, in all proba-
bility, take another year or two before the best of these in
their respective colors will be known.

The Sweet Pea is a favorite flower in the Philadelphia
market, and has apparently displaced the Violet to a great ex-
tent; indeed, in the late Winter of 1914 there was scarcely
any call for Violets here—they seemed to have lost favor.

 

 

Sweet Pea Kinc Wuite, ONE oF THE BEST OF THE
SUMMER-FLOWERING SPENCERS

Most of the growers in this section plant in solid beds and
in rows varying in width up to 3 ft., in houses with plenty

of head room.
IN PENNSYLVANIA

Usually, the first sowing is made about the middle of
August with us, although some growers sow earlier. August
86 SWEET PEAS -IN PENNSYLVANIA

is a very troublesome time to sow Peas, as the intense heat
we often experience then is entirely adverse to the con-
ditions under which the plants thrive.

We often have trouble with the tender vines dampening
off at the ground; in fact, on.more than one occasion they
damped to the extent of s0 ft. to 100 ft. of row. We have
tried different methods to prevent this trouble—have used
lime in the soil at planting time, sterilized with formalde-
hyde, and tried keeping the soil both wet and dry, and have
come to the conclusion that a partial preventive is a well
dampened soil at sowing time, and care in keeping condi-
tions as uniform as possible.

We have with us a disease called “ black root,” which
seems to be the most troublesome during extremely hot
weather. The writer has on several occasions sown an
entire house which became affected with this disease. It
is noticeable soon after the vines appear above the surface
by their stunted, yellowish appearance. The roots, on
examination, are found to be black for several inches of
their length below the surface of the soil; also, many of the
rootlets are entirely rotted off. If one has patience, with
the coming of cooler weather many of these vines will
send out new roots and make a fair growth of vine, but
never as good as those not affected.

Make a furrow beside the diseased rows and sow a
fresh supply of seed; this generally gives good results, as
the second sowing, while in the same soil, is naturally made
considerably later in the season. On one occasion, owing
to a fear of again having this disease to contend with, we
planted another crop in the house and delayed sowing Peas
until the beginning of October, and had little or no trouble
from the disease, which goes to prove that it is a hot weather
disease. Peas for Midwinter blooming were sown in
NEW YORK AND EASTERN STATES 87

August at a new location remote from the older houses,
where we could find no trace of this trouble. Possibly, by
using movable greenhouses we could travel ahead of it.

The “green worm” never caused us much trouble
until 1912, when it seemed to come in droves. Poisoning
was tried with different compounds, but very few worms
seemed to be killed by this means, and we had to resort to
hand picking.

Bud dropping is caused by too sudden changes from
Iong continued warm weather to dark, cloudy weather, or
the reverse, or from too high an artificial temperature,
followed by a sudden drop.

As to temperature—during Midwinter we run a night
temperature of 50 deg.; during cloudy weather 55 deg.,
and 60 to 65 deg. during bright, clear weather. Toward
Spring we drop to 45 to 47 deg. at night and the same day
temperature as during Midwinter.

Sweet Peas require constant attention after the vines
are tall enough for support, to see that they are kept growing
erect; in fact, from that time on during the blooming period
more labor is required than for any other greenhouse crop,
that is, if you wish to handle the stock carefully and for profit.

NEW YORK AND EASTERN STATES

As it was from New York and New Jersey that the
first early flowering Peas were heard of, and as Winter
Sweet Peas have been sold in New York and Eastern mar-
kets for upward of 20 years, it will be understood that in
the intervening period the development in the flower and
its culture have been as noticeable here as in any other
section. Probably more Sweet Peas are grown in the
region under note than in any other. Zvolanek, Sim,
Schuneman, Harvey, Barker, Morgan and many others
 

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NEW YORK AND EASTERN STATES 89

have been instrumental in spreading a love for, and better
knowledge of, this desirable flower. For years large houses
have been added, and new growers have taken their place
in the ranks.

Remarks on William Sim’s system of culture appear
in our general treatise, and it should be stated that he
also grows Violets in the same house. The Sweet Peas
are grown in solid beds 5 ft. apart, in cool, high, airy houses,
in rich soil. This distance leaves room for three rows of
Violets at a foot or more apart between the Peas. The
latter are grown lengthwise of the house, and on the north
side of the rows, where too much shade would be cast on
the Violets, a space is left, and one row of Violets is taken
close up to the base of the Peas on the sunny side.

There are also many growers in Long Island, New
Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts;
while in New Hampshire and Maine the Summer crop is
much in evidence. So far, the newer varieties have not
been so much employed owimg to the cost of the seed, but
the leading growers are investing in the more expensive
kinds. The best cultivators recognize the fact that the
rows must be wide apart, and for the older varieties at least,
the plants must be grown on the cool side to get the finest
results over the longest period.

This is a crop well suited to the man who does most
of his own work, and there are many who grow on contract
for a wholesale house or large retailer. The soil in many
cases is worked with a small hand cultivator. It is found
that the medium grade of blooms frequently sells well
because they are so useful; even more so in certain cases
than the flowers with stems 18 in. Jong. The blooms with
stems 12 In. to 14 in. in Iength usually find a ready market
in the lesser cities.
go SWEET PEAS IN THE SOUTH

TENNESSEE

It cannot be said that there are many Sweet Pea growers
in this State, and, indeed, the only one to cultivate a surplus
has been Addison J. McNutt, who hasbeen ableto ship blooms
to the Kansas City and Cincinnati markets. This grower is
now testing the Orchid or Spencer varieties for the first
time and Is devoting a house 120 ft. by 20 ft. to them.

The earliest sowing is made about August 15th, which
is found, all things considered, to be an excellent period.
Christmas Pink and similar free-flowering, sturdy varieties
have hitherto been employed almost exclusively. Of
course, plenty of head room has been given, and plants of
good height and flowering over a period of many weeks have
resulted. The rows are usually planted the length of the
house, running north and south, these being 3 ft. to 4 ft.
apart, and the plants 3 in. from one another in the row.

Hitherto the Sweet Pea crop has not been thought of so
carefully as to necessitate the keeping of exact records of the
yield, but there is a feeling among the growers that since
the finer varieties are being offered it will be necessary to
do this, just as it has in the case of Carnations, so that the
least worthy kinds can be discarded and be replaced by
others that prove good.

The ruling price for the older varieties, such as the
Christmas Pink, is $1 a hundred during December and
January, the price falling to 50c. a hundred in February,
March and April. It is found that the main cost of pro-
duction is in preparing the beds. These are turned 2% ft.
deep and 6 in. of rotted manure is placed in the bottom,
and about 3 in. of similar material worked on the top.
It also pays to use about 4 lbs. of muriate of potash to 100
sq. ft. of ground bed.
SWEET PEAS IN THE SOUTH gI

 

New So-caLtLep DousBLE SPENCER FORM OF THE ORANGE-PINK
Variety MacciE STARK, A SUMMER BLOOMER
g2 SWEET PEAS IN CANADA

TEXAS

Not a great many of the florists in Texas grow Winter
Sweet Peas, although a few cultivate them extensively.
On the other hand, almost every one who pretends to grow
flowers at all grows Peas in the Spring and Summer. The
seeds are generally sown so as to furnish a succession of
flowers. There are several varieties which have proved
very satisfactory, notably Snowbird, Christmas Pink, and a
lavender of that type. The Winter-flowering Spencers
have been tried with rather poor results. In our list of
cut flower quotations we give place to Carnations, Roses and
Sweet Peas in this order. The Sweet Pea is easily third in
favor with us at all times, and during April and May it
contests with Carnations closely for first place. Growers
here consider the Sweet Pea much in advance of the Violet.

SWEET PEAS IN CANADA

In the eastern part of the great sister Dominion, and
in the Toronto region in particular, Sweet Pea culture
in greenhouses has far better results than outdoor culti-
vation. Sweet Pea culture under glass is practiced far and
wide and with success. The matter of temperature, soil,
and treatment in general, is under the command of the
grower, which Is a great gain in this northern climate. The
usual Winter bloomers are grown here, and the new sorts
with fancy prices are being tested in a mild way.

It is found that soil that has grown some crop already
is by no means good enough for Sweet Peas. Turf is best,
just chopped up roughly, with some bonemeal through it; let
the turf trench be deep and 12 in. wide at Ieast. In private
establishments sometimes a bed is made on each side of
the greenhouse and plants are trained up each side of the
glass without interfering too much with the growth of the
SWEET PEAS IN CANADA 93

other material on the benches, such as Cyclamens, Primu-
las, Lorraine Begonias and other Winter-flowering stock.
The dwarf sorts for Christmas flowering are sown 2 in.
apart in the row, also the taller kinds, if there is abundant
head room. They are the most productive.

 

Vase OF Sweet Pea Curistmas PINK

The middle of September is the date for sowing for
Christmas blooms, and a night temperature of 55 deg. Fahr.
all Winter is maintained. To raise it higher often means
hard firmg. Plenty of water is given when growth is
going well. Use stout twine and stretch it along as you
94 SWEET PEAS IN CANADA

would outdoors. Look after the supports, as keeping the
stems straight and tidy counts much in the long run.

When flowering commences, constant picking and
judicious feeding are required. Albert’s concentrated
manure is good, also liquid cow manure.

For an Easter crop sow the taller varieties about the
last week in December. The photograph on page 43 shows
the Spencer types 7 ft. high, with four stout flowers on
stems 15 in. long—really magnificent blooms. These
flowered continuously from April to the end of June.
During these months water was supplied unsparingly, and
thousands of blooms were cut from a short row. Either
in small houses (15 x 100 ft.}, or in the mammoth houses
of some Americans, Sweet Peas are truly a profitable crop
for the private or commercial grower. Do not treat them
as a secondary consideration; give them the best attention;
give them what you know is a fair trial.

 
CHAPTER VI

VARIETIES*

The matter of varieties deserves close attention.. We
want free-flowering, vigorous, healthy kinds. What each
man’s special market calls for, especially as regards color, is
for him to discover. There are also seasonal demands
for special colors: in New York, for example, whites and
lavenders give way to the brighter colors, such as reds
and pinks, at Christmas. As a rule, good rose pink Peas,
also pure white and the lavender colors, are general
favorites in all sections. When we can offer a Winter
Spencer of the color of the new Robert Sydenham
variety, which is a Summer bloomer, one ventures to think
the fortunate first owner will make money by it. The
color of this is a clear, translucent, orange coral. Such a
color would be very rich and effective for a table decora-
tion, unless the color alters under artificial light. In any
case, the raisers will likely enough in time add these colors
to the prevailing list of today. The coming of Zvolanek’s
Apricot Orchid has brought us appreciably nearer.

The new pink Yarrawa is at present much in demand,
not only because of its delightful soft rose color, but also
because of its distinct vigor and the lengthy period during
which it throws up its Jong-stemmed, much-waved or
fluted flowers. It is unfortunate that so much of the Cali-
fornian seed stock of this variety should have been lost in
the first year of its introduction. Anita Wehrman, clear
lavender; and Pittet’s Rose Queen, a very free and early
pink, are also in the front rank of novelties.

; *In this book the term ‘“Winter-flowering” is synonymous with “‘early-flower-

ing.” This strain of Sweet Pea can also be employed for Summer-flowering, but the
varieties do not last so long then as the recognized Summer-flowering types.
96 VARIETIES

The Winter bloomers that are at present most widely
grown are, of course, Anton Zvolanek’s “‘ Orchid-flowered ”’
varieties, the terms ‘ Orchid-flowered ”’ and ‘ Butterfly-
flowered ” being practically synonymous with the Spencer
type. The beautiful Countess Spencer first appeared in
1901 in England, and the prettily waved Gladys Unwin,
introduced by W. J. Unwin, was shown in 1904. Since then
the present race of Zvolanek’s ‘‘ Orchid-flowered ’’ Winter-
flowering varieties have all come into being. The reader
is referred to the chapter on the ‘“‘ History of the Winter
Sweet Peas”? for other particulars in this connection.

Of the novelties of the Orchid type that were offered
In 1913, those bearing the plain color name, as White,
Red, Lavender and Pink and White were mostly in evi-
dence. As in the case of the new Yarrawa, however, the
seed crop of some of them in 1914 proved to be very limited,
largely owing to the destruction wrought by aphides.
These Orchid-flowered White, Red, Lavender, etc., were
splendidly exhibited at New York Flower Show in March,
1914, and sold well in the various markets. They all grow
tall. Bridal Veil is one of the best new whites.

Of the new double varieties it is too early yet to speak:
possibly by and by they will be so improved and come so
true that they will be a reliable commercial commodity.
They ought to be tested wherever possible.

The great favorites hitherto have been the improved
grandifloras, quantities of which are still grown annually.
They have many merits; they come rapidly into bloom and
yield an abundance of very useful sprays. Those in most
demand are, in white: Florence Denzer; in pink: Christmas
Pink, Mrs. W. Stm and Mrs. W. W. Smalley; in lavender:
Mrs. Alexander Wallace, Wallacea, Boddington’s Christ-
mas White and Snowbird are also in very considerable
VARIETIES 97

demand. Flamingo, as a scarlet, has also come into favor.
Others that are of much merit include Christmas Stella
Morse, cream and pink; Le Marquis, a pretty rose violet;
Mrs. A. Farenwald, early, large, dark pink; Mrs. F. J.
Dolansky, soft pmk; Mrs. Zvolanek, variegated blue;
Watchung, pure white, and Wm. J. Stewart, blue. Mrs.
Chas. Totty, sky blue; and Mrs. A. A. Skatch, light pink,
are also in favor.

In America we do not hear much about the Télemly
varieties, though they are very meritorious. References
to them appear in Chapter XI.

In the list of Summer bloomers, those that have proved
good are:

America Spencer. Flaked red and white.

Blanche Ferry. Light pink.

Blue Jacket. Blue.

Charles Foster. Rosy lavender.

Clara Curtis. Primrose.

Countess Spencer. Pink.

Dobbie’s Cream. Rich cream.

Dorothy Tennant. Lavender.

Elfrida Pearson. Pink.

George Herbert. Carmine.

Helen Lewis. Orange red.

Illuminator. Ruby red.

Inspector. Brilliant orange.

John Ingman. Cerise.

King White. White.

Lady Evelyn Eyre. Soft blush.

Loyalty. Flaked blue and white.

Mrs. C. W. Breadmore. Blush cream.

Mrs. Cuthbertson. White and pink bicolor.

Nubian. Chocolate maroon.
98. VARIETIES

Orchid. Lavender.

Primrose Beauty. Primrose.

Prince George. Rosy lavender.

Salmon Spencer. Salmon.

Vermilion Brilliant. Crimson.

Wedgewood. Light blue.

The following varieties were included in the class of
25 distinct kinds that won the Boddington Cup as first
prize at the annual exhibition of the American Sweet Pea
Society on June 27, 1914: Elfrida Pearson, Lady Evelyn
Eyre, Charles Foster, Empress Eugenie, Martha Washing-
ton, Mrs. C. W. Breadmore, Prince George, Nubian, Queen
of Norway, Dorothy Tennant, Wedgewood, Hercules, Mrs.
Cuthbertson, Blue Jacket, Clara Curtis, Maud Holmes,
Helen Lewis, Loyalty, King White, Rosabelle, Etta Dvke,
America, Thos. Stevenson, Orchid and John Ingman.

Among the best favored Sweet Peas at the exhibition
of the British National Sweet Pea Society in 1914 were
these: Dobbie’s Cream, Seamew, Barbara, Orchid, Blue
Picotee, King White, Thomas Stevenson, Maud Holmes,
Elfrida Pearson, Afterglow, Margaret Atlee, Mrs. Hes-
lington, Queen of Norway, Alfred Watkins, Red Star,
Agricola, R. F. Felton, Edrom Beauty, King Manoel,
Lavender George Herbert, Mrs. Cuthbertson, Princess
Victoria, New Marquis, Sunproof Crimson, I!luminator,
and Mark’s Tey. One of the great Peas for 1915 will be
Robert Sydenham, which, if it reproduces the wonderful
clear yet deep salmon orange color it had when first seen in
1913, will certainly be wanted by every grower. Frilled
Pink, Margaret Atlee and Maggie Stark are each good.
CHAPTER VII

PICKING AND PACKING FoR MarKET

One cannot always choose the best time to pick the
blooms, as circumstances govern cases. The sprays ought
to be picked when the top bloom of the spike is less than
half open. Some growers advise cutting as the sun goes
down, while others cut the first thmg in the morning.
This, as we have said, depends upon the time of shipment,
distance from market, and other circumstances. In any
case, after the blooms are picked, place them from two to
two and one-half or three hours in water, so that they may
have a good drink. Pots of 81% in. in diameter and 8 in.
deep, with the hole cemented up, are as useful as anything
else, and this allows of the spikes being placed a proper
depth in the water, that is to say, about 7 in. of their
length.

There is art in gathering the blooms, and the art
should be learned. They ought not to be cut with either
scissors or a knife, but by a sharp, quick, upward pull
the whole stem comes away from the axil of the leaf in
which it grows; or the picker can seize the stalk quite at
the base, and with a sharp side movement and upward
pull, done quickly, take it clean away. In any case, no
jagged, wounded or protruding piece of the stem should
be left, as in either or any case decay might set up and
harm the vines. It is well, after the picking, to cut the
ends of the stems slantingly, and place them in water
directly they are cut. A light, cool packing room is best
100 PACKING AND MARKETING

suited for the Peas when they are in water. A little air
circulating among them will not hurt them in the least.

Many of the flowers will improve a great deal after
being cut, the blooms enlarging quite perceptibly. Blue
varieties gain in quality up to about 12 hours after cutting.
From that the color declines in brilliancy. Scarlet, pink
and orange varieties retain their fine color for a good while,
but are apt to take on a magenta tint if allowed to remain
too long in the water after being cut. Two hours is sufficient
for them. Should the flowers be damp or wet—and this,
of course, refers to blooms from the open air—it is advisable
to place them in a house where a warm current of air may
pass over and among them, because it is essential that
before packing and shipping the blooms be quite dry. The
warm air will do this and will not in the least detract from
the value of the blooms.

The boxes in which the blooms are packed vary in
size, some being 10 in. by 2 ft. Iong, and 4 in. deep; others
20 in. long, 12 in. wide and 5 in. deep; while boxes even
larger still are used for the ordinary crop and for the
Summer flowers (see illustrations). In the former, 24
bunches of 19 spikes of Peas are packed. In the latter, 30
to 36 bunches. In the case of the shorter stemmed grades
these are often bunched in twenty-fives, and are packed in
an upright position. An illustration of this method is given.
The boxes are of light but strong corrugated paper.

Of course, according to the season, or the condition of
the weather, so will there be a need for heavy or light
packing. In frosty weather, every precaution must be exercised.
It is worse than useless, because it is money thrown away,
to send out a box the contents of which are sure to get
frozen. See, therefore, that sufficient packing material
is put around to insure safe transit of the flowers. News-
Qayreur YOK MON] 02 Juas sv ‘IIe UddoO 9y} ULOI} Svag JOWUING 918 2AOgE OY L *sso13 v JO ,saBeyovd,, ul pjos a1e pue ‘yours
skeids ¢g urequos sayoung ayy, “deep ‘ui g Aq Buoy ‘ur Zp Aq apim ‘ul QT SI pus ‘raded payedni100 ynoys Jo si a104 UMOYs Xoq OY],

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102 PACKING AND MARKETING

papers may be used as the outer lining, and blue or white
tissue paper next to the wax paper upon which the flowers
are laid in close rows; one row one way until the box is
half filled, the other rows in the opposite direction.

Pack fairly tight, so that the blooms cannot move about,
and remember that large Spencers are easily bruised. When
the flowers have to travel several hundred miles, or remain
packed from fourteen to twenty hours, especially in dry or
warm weather, it is well to place a narrow strip of damp
cotton across the base of the stem of each flower. Some
varieties travel better than others, and for long distance
shipping these are invaluable and have to be discovered.
Layers of wax paper must be put between each stratum of
flowers.

John C. Grace, president of the Retail Florists’ Asso-
ciation of Philadelphia, writes in regard to packing and
shipping as follows:

“‘ First, in bunching the flowers, arrange 24 in a flat
or three quarter bunch: this will protect the flowers from
bruising and be a help in packing them. Use a flat box
that will hold one or two layers of bunches; place a roll of
newspaper in the box so the bunches will rest in a partly
upright position; wrap each bunch of Sweet Peas in wax
paper, and after each row of bunches place a roll of news-
paper till the box is filled. J believe this method would
keep them from bruising and also from overheating in
warm weather. I have often seen large boxes and baskets
of Sweet Peas arriving at the commission houses in a use-
less condition, owing to the large number of bunches there-
in, and the warm weather. One advantage of the half or
three-quarter bunch is that it makes a much larger showing
for the money, and the flowers would not bruise. I believe
this method is worth a trial.”
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104 PACKING AND MARKETING

An account of the daily cut of blooms should be kept,
also of the ruling wholesale price per 100, which may be
called the office tally, which will be a check to the com-
mission agents’ vouchers or receipts. Ifthe cut from special
varieties is to be tabulated apart, together with the prices
received, columns can be left blank for them.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Ruling
No. of Whole-
Date sprays sale Remarks
cut price
per 100
Feb. 29........... 1700 $1.00 Cold, dull. Spencers very fine.
March 1 1400 1.00 Clear, frosty. Fumigated.
March 2 1000 1.00 Clear, frosty.
March 3 1278 1.25 Clear, frosty.
March 4 1522 1.25 Clear, frosty. 12 above zero.
March 5. 1325 1.50 Clear, frosty.
March 6 1875 1.50 Cold, dull. * Easter cut in 3 weeks.
Weekly cut and
average price..... 10,100 1.0614
March 7........... 1025 1.50 Snow
March 8..... 1100 1.50 Dull.
March 9 1475 1.00 Clear and eo Fertilized.
March 10. 1400 1.00 Clear and mil
March 11 1282 75 Clear and mild.
Weekly cut and
average price..... 6242 1.15

 

 

 

 

In regard to the disposal of the crop, unless one can
retail in a store of one’s own, or can supply a number of
retail stores, the simplest plan is to send to the wholesale
market. The wholesale commission charges are usually
1§ per cent., and a reliable commission house would be
likely to handle the product to better advantage than for
one to attempt dealing direct with the stores, the commis-
sion man being better posted on the subject of credits.
CHAPTER VIII

 

Raisinc New VARIETIES

Almost everyone who becomes thoroughly enthused
in the cultivation of a floral subject has a desire to raise a
new variety, and the Sweet Pea growers are no exception
to the rule. This flower, however, offers certain difficulties
that simple flowers like a Primruse or Poppy do not. For
instance, what are called the essential organs, which com-
prise the anthers and stigma, or male and female parts,
are encased in a fluted petal arrangement, which com-
prises the keel, on either side of which are the wings, and
above, the standard. The pollen of the anthers, which is
the male fertilizing element, is ripe some days prior to the
stigma being in a receptive condition, so in making a cross
the anthers must be removed early from the flower (or two
flowers, the others being taken away) that is to become the
seed bearer, so as to preclude all possibility of pollination
by its own pollen. This is simple enough, but at the same
time requires skillful and careful handling. At an early
stage in its development, while the flower is halfway in the
bud state, before the pollen can possibly have become fully
developed, slit the keel along the bottom with a needle,
and with the fingers, or with small scissors, remove the
anthers and let back the keel. When the pollen from the
other flower that has been chosen for the cross Is seen to be
dry and powdery, and therefore ripe, take it off by means
of a very soft brush, such as a camel’s hair brush, and
apply it to the viscid surface of the stigma, after which a
label recording the names of the varieties of the cross should
106 CROSS-BREEDING

be attached, and a muslin bag tied over the flower. Some
cross-breeders do not think the muslin bag is necessary;
but we prefer it. In a day or two the flower will have
withered and the seed pod begins to swell rapidly. The
seeds must, of course, be kept well under supervision, never
be allowed to get mixed, must be harvested when properly
ripened, and be sown in due course.

Many folks imagine, or used to, in the old days, that
the direct seedlings furnish a brand new true variety
from which a stock of seed could be worked up. But the
first year’s seedlings count for nothing, for the flowers may
be like one of the parents or totally different. Assuming
that six seeds were saved, the crop from each plant must be
saved separately, even though the flowers on each may
appear exactly alike. The following year there will be a
general mixture. Many may be similar to one or the other
of the parents, whilst the rest may or may not be distinct
and good. Assuming that there are several promising seed-
lings, the seed from each must again be saved separately.

On this second generation, generally termed F2, the
raiser must be very careful to keep each plant separate,
for some of them are “‘dominants”’ and others “ reces-
stves,” which terms are explained Jater in this chapter.
Both may appear alike, but whereas the recessives will
breed true, the others wiJ] come mixed in the third year and
continue to do so over a period of vears.

Until Mendel’s theories were understood, raisers were
in the habit of putting all seed saved from plants whose
flowers were apparently the same, together; consequently,
it took many years to rogue down the stock. Certain
crosses will not produce a fixable variety. The beautiful
rose colored Audrey Crier and its near contemporaries,
Miriam Beaver and Syeira Lee, cannot be fixed.
RAISING NEW VARIETIES 107

Having saved seed from the selected seedlings, each
plant separate, the raiser will, in the third year, discover
which are dominants and which are recessives. Those
that come true in the third year will remain so; the others
are not worth keeping unless of distinct color, in which
case a few separate cultures may be grown on.

The main point ts to keep the seed of every plant
separate until fixity is assured.

Of course, there is much of technical interest in Sweet
Pea breeding, and to grasp the subject fulJy one should
study one or more of the books devoted to breeding on
Mendelian principles. The average person can, however,
succeed if the above outlined details are followed, provid-
Ing, of course, that time and space are available. One
need hardly state that when several thousands of single
plant cultures have to be tabulated the work is by no means
light. Unftxed stocks of varieties in commerce can be
thoroughly fixed by the adoption of the single plant culture
system, if the grower knows the varieties thoroughly, and
it would be well for all concerned if seed growers generally
set about improving their stocks by this means, and thus
relieve us of the bad mixtures that even now are all too
prevalent.

The symbols employed by breeders ta denote the
generations of their seedlings are Fr and F2; usually the
third generation is referred to in words. F stands for filia,
a daughter, and the numbers simply denote first or second.
The symbol is handy and universally understood among
those engaged in the work. The term “dominant” means
that a certain characteristic or group of characters always
assert themselves. Mendel found, for instance, that
smoothness as a character of the seed was dominant over
wrinkledness, also that yellow was dominant over green.
108 CROSS-BREEDING

And, ipso facto, wrinkledness and green are recessive, and
when a group of recessive characters are combined in one
plant that plant breeds true; it cannot do otherwise.

The pursuance of this matter opens up the subject of
gametic coupling and other fine facts of embryology. The
gamete is “a unisexual protoplasmic body, incapable of
giving rise to another individual] until after conjugation
with another gamete, the joint production being a zygote.”
The latter is therefore the body or germ, produced by fer-
tilization, and this tiny protoplasmic mass in the ovule
carries In It certain of the characters of the parents.

The Sweet Pea raiser must exercise great discrimination
and have abundance of patience. He must select the most
likely parents, for haphazard crossing rarely produces
anything meritorious. He must never cross two weak
varieties, and he must avoid as much as possible those
varieties that have certain failings, for such failings are
invariably dominant in the offspring.

 
CHAPTER [IX

 

CULTIVATION IN THE OPEN AIR

The cultivation of Sweet Peas in the open ground out
of doors is simpler than in the case of the indoor crop. The
fundamental principles are similar: the ground should be
as well prepared and as liberally treated; the seeding ought
to be as carefully done or the planting, if seedling plants
are put out; while the staking, tying and keeping the
plants clean and free of insects, and dewing them and
watering them in dry weather is equally important and
does not differ materially from the same practices applied
under glass. As a rule, the outdoor crop, though profit-
able, does not get all the care its value deserves, and there
is no reason why this should be.

Sowing in Autumn is not very frequently undertaken,
but it can be done. Sow the seeds almost level with the
surface of the ground at about 2 in. apart, and when they
have appeared, draw up the soil on either side of the row
to prevent water from collecting or standing around the
neck of the plants, and so cause them to damp. For Win-
ter grown outdoor Peas the soil must be specially well
drained.

After the first sharp frost has occurred, a mulch of light,
strawy manure is placed over the row, and the plants are
not again exposed to light until Spring begins to open up.
With the return of the warmer weather the plants should
then be examined and the mulch removed, but it should
be kept near at hand, or between the rows, so as to be
strewn over the plants if necessary. It is doubtful if
110 AUTUMN SOWING OUTDOORS

Autumn sowing Is worth the trouble in this country, except
perhaps, of course, south of Philadelphia: there is fre-
quently a large mortality owing to the frost or the rains.
However, even if a very little growth appears, growth will,
most likely, start strongly, and the plants will certainly be
considerably superior to those sown in the Spring because
the roots get down deeper and supply sap and nourishment
even in the hot spelJs in the flowering season. Such sow-
ings are made in September or early in October.

Growers who desire plants for the June and July
exhibitions start their seeds in heat indoors in March and,
when germinated, take the pots to a cool house or frame
and grow the plants along slowly and sturdily. The seeds
ought to be sown in 3 in. pots, three or four in a pot in soil
similar to that mentioned on page s9, the pots being placed
in a house with a temperature of between 540 to 60 deg.
Fahr., and when the seeds have germinated, and are
through the soil, ether lower the temperature to 45 deg.,
or remove the plants to a house of that temperature. Later,
when they have grown to 3 in. in height, they should be
potted into 5 In. pots and have a few twigs placed around
the edges of the pots for support. Then transfer them
to a coldframe, where they may remain on an ash bottom,
grown as cool as possible until they are planted out about
the middle of ApriJ, sooner or later, according to the weather.
The coJdframe should have the protection of double sashes
or an overhead covering to the frames in very severe
weather, but only then. Allow them as much air and
light as possible without subjectng them to alternating
thawings and freezings. This is what does harm, and
causes mortality. The Pea is a hardy annual, a fact that
growers should never forget.

There is no gain, however, in planting too early, and
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112 CULTIVATION IN THE OPEN AIR

it is better to wait until the soil has become nicely warmed,
or at all events perfectly free from frost before planting
out the young seedlings. At the same time, avoid getting
the plants stunted by confinement in the pots.

The soil, of course, must have been thoroughly prepared
during the Autumn and Winter, being enriched in the
same way as suggested for the indoor crop, and in planting
take the utmost care to see that the long roots are not in
any way doubled up, but either Iet them go straight down
or spread them slantingly in the hole that is made. The
soil must, of course, be moist and crumpling, but not at
all wet, and should be well firmed. Immediately after
planting all the plants should be watered in.

Staking, tying, spraying, hoeing the soil, and keeping
the plants clean will occupy attention during the growing
season, while good supplies of water, and later, when the
plants are flowering, supplies of liquid manure, should be
given. It is advisable in watering, to do so on an ascending
temperature, that is to say, usually early in the morning,
rather than late in the afternoon, or in the evening.

One thing of importance is that the stakes must be
firmly fixed, and branches are perhaps as good as
anything for supports, unless, of course, exhibition blooms
are wanted, and in that case, if first prizes are expected in a
keen competition, the single stem system may be adopted.
This, however, is neither necessary nor desirable where
average good blooms are wanted for growing decoration
or for cut flowers for the house.

It should have been stated that after germination it
would be well to save only two of the strongest out of the
three or four seedlings in the pot, and to separate them
gently, so that they will stand 4 in. to 6 in. apart ina row,
and the rows may be from 3 ft. to 5 ft. apart, a shallow
CULTIVATION IN THE OPEN AIR 113

trench being made. Dusting for mildew is sometimes neces-
sary out of doors, and forceful syringing may have to be
practiced to clear the plants of green fly. However, by care-
ful and assiduous attention all the time, no green fly ought
ever to gain a foothold. Stirring the soil along the rows
with a hoe is necessary, and a light mulch of decomposed
manure helps to retain the moisture and affords nutriment
when rains come. Where the sun scorches the blooms a
line of shading material can be rigged up as already sug-
gested for the Peas under glass.

Where the seeds are planted or sown directly in the
soil, a good method is to place three seeds triangularly an
inch and a half apart in little hillocks in a trench that is a
couple of inches deep. These hillocks are made at inter-
vals of 6 in., and the seeds are put 2 in. deep and the soil
made moderately firm. At least one of the seedlings, if
all of them germinate, must be removed and a couple of
shoots or vines be trained up. Excellent Peas will be got
from these.

The great majority of growers, however, still sow their
seed in a furrow that is taken out with a spade or a draw
hoe, the latter generally. Such furrow may be 8 in. wide.
The seeds are strewn along so as to fall at intervals of 2 in.
to 3 in. apart all over, and are covered 2 in. deep and
moderately firmed, the surface, however, being left loose.
This 1s done by drawing a small rake very lightly along
the row. In times past, Sweet Peas were sown too thickly,
but the varieties then did not grow so tall as those today;
most likely it was because they had not the chance.

For mulching in Summer Jawn mowings are sometimes
used, but there is no nourishment in these, though they
conserve the moisture. Occasionally they become closely
matted, in which case they must be stirred up.
CULTIVATION IN THE OPEN AIR

114

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UP-TO-DATE CULTIVATION FOR MARKET IN ENGLAND II$

Until recent times the commercial grower in Eng-
land was content to grow Sweet Peas as he did other
things, that is to say, he produced the best he could without
any special pains being taken. The best growers natu-
rally obtained a superior grade of bloom, but in such cases
it was due more or less to good cultivation and the allow-
ance of space between the plants. When, however, the
amateur exhibitors and the Sweet Pea specialists started
producing the very long-stemmed flowers, limited quantities
of which found their way into the markets, it naturally
followed that certain keen market growers began to inquire
into things.

The indoor grower of ordinary blooms who thought
he was doing well if he made 6/- ($1.50) to 8/- ($2) a gross
early in May, opened his eyes when double and treble
these prices were obtained for blooms the like of which
had only been seen at exhibitions.

During the past two or three years several growers
have made an attempt to produce such blooms under glass,
but generally speaking, no bona-fide cut flower grower has
yet succeeded in equaling the specialists—like Damerum,
Alsen, or Dobbie & Co. Not a few have been turning out
some really fine sprays, but if prices soared above 12/- ($3)
it was safe to say that the flowers had come from a grower
who was not entirely dependent upon the cut flower business.

So far as the writer is aware, the highest figure made
for Sweet Peas in Covent Garden in the Spring of 1914
was 18/- ($4.50) for 12 bunches, containing one gross of
stems. These were indoor grown, their season lasting from
the Jatter end of April to mid-June, when the outdoor crop
came in and depressed prices.

The finest of the outdoor blooms came toward the
latter end of June, and the prices ranged from 6/- ($1.50)
116 CULTIVATION FOR MARKET IN ENGLAND

to 10’- ($2.50) per dozen bunckes, according to the state
of the market. The ordinary short or medium-stemmed
samples at the same period never exceeded 4/- ($2), general-
ly 3/- (75c.) or less. Very few growers, however, were
producing the giant samples, Lowe & Shawyer, and W. H.
Page being, perhaps, the only bona-fide market growers
who followed in the footsteps of the exhibiting specialists.

The first named concern is unquestionably the largest
producer of the giant or exhibition sample of Sweet Pea
in that country for market cut bloom. Lowe & Shawyer’s
first effort was made in 1913 when they grew 25,000 plants,
but the next year the aiea was greatly extended, several
acres being devoted to the crop. To the ordinary mind
this may not appear a very great item, but when one
realizes that each plant is set out a foot apart, and that
most plants demand two 1o-ft. bamboo stakes apiece, it
will be seen that this up-to-date method of Sweet Pea cul-
ture entails a considerable outlay.

We shall briefly outline how the up-to-date grower
handles his crop, which, of course, is grown out of doors.
The system really originated with the amateur exhibitor.
The seed is sown between mid-October and the first week
in November, according to the district. In the North,
sowing is usually delayed until February, when seed, of
course, is raised in heat. The Autumn sowings are made
in coldframes; those with plenty of accommodation sow in
pots, others sow in fairly deep boxes. As soon as the
seedlings appear, the lights are kept off as much as possible,
and even during the severest weather nothing in the way
of coddling is attempted, otherwise the plants become
drawn. Ten degrees above zero is considered ‘‘ severe
weather.”

If sown in pots six seeds are placed in a 5-in. pot and
CULTIVATION FOR MARKET IN ENGLAND T17

 

Two Sprays OF THE BEAUTIFUL NEw Rosy-sALMON SUMMER-FLOWER-
ING SPENCER, MarGARET ATLEE. C. C. Morse & Co. Say oF It:
“Iv 1s THE GRANDEST SweET PeEA We Have Ever Grown”
118 CULTIVATION FOR MARKET IN ENGLAND

the plants are not disturbed until planting time. Even
when in boxes some growers do not disturb them, but
others will pot off in February, allowing one seedling to a
214-in., or two to a 3)4-in. pot.

In one or two places the growers prefer to plant in the
open in November, but in most cases they over-Winter
their plants in frames. When the plants have made
four or five leaves, by which time they are 3 or 4 in.
tall, the points are nipped out to induce the basal eyes to
push forth. Small twigs are inserted in the pots to keep
the plants erect, and about the Jast week in March and
during the first fortnight in April they are set out in their
flowering quarters.

Opinions differ regarding planting, some arguing that
single plants in small pots grow away better than those
that have to be shaken out of the soil, which is necessary
when more than one plant is grown ina pot. The writer’s
experience is that single plants suffer no check, and thus
they come into flower earlier. Plants that are shaken
out are apt to stand still, especially if cold winds are preva-
lent; but on the other hand they have, perhaps, a longer
period of blooming. It need hardly be stated that the
plants are thoroughly hardened off before planting. Feb-
ruary sowings naturally require careful hardening off, and
as a general rule they are not ready for planting out so
early as the Autumn sown. Weather conditions and
disease allowing it, the Spring sowings will carry on the
blooming period over a longer season, but personally, we,
ourselves, have given up February sowings, as disease
affects them so seriously.

The method of planting generally adopted is the
double row system. The plants are set 12 m. apart and
15 In. between the rows. Five feet is the average between
CULTIVATION FOR MARKET IN ENGLAND T1Q

each double row, some giving more space. Where the
bamboo system is adopted it is usual to fix up all such
supports before planting. The method of erection is
illustrated on pages 62 and 63.

Immediately after planting the growths are supported
either by twigs or ties, and right through the season this is
closely attended to. The first pinching out of the tops
induces side growths, and with the general run of varieties
the two strongest shoots are retained, the others being
removed. Weak growers are carried upon the single
stem principle, while very vigorous varieties are allowed
three or perhaps four stems, otherwise the flowers come
very coarse. When in full growth the plants need daily
attention, for they require tying to the bamboos at nearly
every joint. Furthermore, all side growths must be snapped
out as soon as they can be got at, but it is unwise to remove
the topmost side growth, until the leading point is clearly
seen, otherwise the plant may run off blind. Or caterpil-
lars or other causes may destroy the point, and if the lateral
immediately below is removed, the plant’s existence is
fished, unless by chance a dormant eye remains at the
base. In addition to the removal of side shoots, all ten-
drils are nipped off as soon as they are clear from the
leaves. On bamboo canes the tendrils serve no purpose,
and they are apt to seize the flower stems and make them
crooked.

The plants grown on this system do not open flower
until they are at least 3 ft. high, more often 4 ft., and in
norma] weather a two-stemmed plant wil] average three to
four fully developed spikes per week. In dull weather the
average will be less, and in warmer weather the average is
higher, but in the latter case the flowers are not so fully
developed, while in hot spells the stems are much shorter.
120 CULTIVATION FOR MARKET IN ENGLAND

As a matter of fact, four days at a temperature of go deg.
ruins most of the outdoor Sweet Peas in the south of
England, for the pJants turn hard and short jointed.

Of course, much depends upon the preparation of the
ground and feeding. Poor soil cannot possibly produce
plants with vines an inch wide, and leaves four or more
inches across. The general preparation of the soil takes
place early in the year. Trenches about 3 ft. wide are
made, the soil being broken up and heavily manured to
the depth of 2 ft. or 3 ft. Dung im liberal quantities is
worked in, whilst the top spit is supplied with bone meal or
superphosphate of lime, and sulphate of potash a month
or so before planting. Potash is essential, while abun-
dance of lime must also be applied. Nitrogenous ferti-
lizers must be sparingly used. Very high feeding is ruinous,
and the grower can only find out what his ground will
stand by experience. Phosphate of ammonia and phos-
phate of potash in minute quantities, a quarter ounce of
each in 20 gallons of water, is a wonderful stimulant, but
it is unwise to feed plants until they have settled down to
bJoom. | There are many specia] Sweet Pea fertilizers on
the market, but there is nothing better than soot and
tankage. Mulching with manure or spent hops is a
valuable help in hot weather, but the plants must never be
allowed to get dry at any period. Aphis, too, must be kept
down rigorously.
CHAPTER X

Insect PrEsts AND DISEASES.

The most annoying and persistent, as well as destruc-
tive pest of Sweet Peas is certainly aphis, or green fly.
Red spider is also troublesome under certain conditions.
The subjugation of these, however, is discussed on page 70,
under fumigation and spraying. Snails, eelworm, striped
Potato beetle, and climbing cutworms have also all to be
reckoned with. The eelworm spreads what is called the
root knot disease, which cripples the roots by drawing upon
their sap and injuring their tissues, and swellings aie also
produced. The cutworms may be picked from the plants
at night while they are feeding, or poisoned baits may be
placed about. One of the best is a mash of bran arsenic.
This can be made by mixing one part of white arsenic with
one part of sugar, and adding sufficient water to form a
mash. Place this about among the plants so that the
cut worms may eat it. Dusting with soot and lime is
advised against snails.

As to the fungous diseases, it is a somewhat general but
erroneous belief that the Sweet Pea is usually free from
them. Certainly, if the utmost care is taken in its culti-
vation, much can be avoided. Nevertheless, even with
the closest attention a collapse may occur because of
Anthracnose or Sclerotinia disease. These are undoubted-
ly to be carefully guarded against. Taubenhaus mentions
having found: Sclerotinia libertinia, which resembles in all
appearances the damping-off fungus of Lettuce seedlings
122 SCLEROTINIA DISEASE

and many other plants. The spores of the Sclerotinia,
he thinks, must have been introduced to the greenhouse
with the soil or with manure, and therefore the Sweet Pea
crop ought not to follow a crop of Lettuces which suf-
fered from this disease. The same fungus can also at
any time and in certain climatic conditions attack Sweet
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ReEsuLt oF SCLEROTINIA DISEASE

“In regard to anthracnose, it was first described by
Prof. Sheldon of the West Virginia Agricultural Experiment
Station. It is apparently an old disease known under
the name of ‘ wilt’ or ‘drop.’ In some works it is spoken
ANTHRACNOSE 123

of as ‘bud drop,” and is attributed to heavily manuring,
and also to wet seasons. A rich soil and wet climates can-
not produce the drop. These are only factors which help

   

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ANTHRACNOSE OF THE SWEET PEA

the disease in its destructive work. The cause of the
anthracnose disease is a fungus (Glomerella rufo-maculans),
which also is the cause of the bitter-rot of the Apple.
124 MOSAIC DISEASE

Cross inoculations have been carried on with these two
organisms and their identity definitely established. This
means that if your Sweet Peas grow near some Apple
orchard, and if the latter suffers from the bitter-rot, it
will be carried readily by the wind or some insect to the
Sweet Peas and produce anthracnose. It is thus seen how
serious a proposition this becomes when we consider the
many hosts which can communicate this disease.

“The symptoms of the anthracnose of the Sweet Pea
are diverse. Sometimes the disease is manifested in a
wilting and dying of the tips. These diseased parts become
whitish and brittle and soon break off. Sometimes the
dying works downward, and this involves the entire branch.
Oftentimes the leaves are attacked and they soon die. On
the leaves the disease starts as a white spot, which enlarges
and involves the entire area. On the blossoms the fungus
either attacks the junction between the flower buds and the
peduncle—in this case the bud drops off, leaving the
peduncle intact—or it attacks both flower bud and peduncle,
and this time both dry up but do not fall off. The seed
pods are also attacked in all their stages of development;
in this case the fungus works inward until it reaches the
seeds. The fungus is capable of living over Winter on
diseased parts of the plants, in the soil or on the seeds, as
was definitely proved in our experiments.’’—(Taubenhaus.)

The third annoying trouble is what is called the Mosaic
disease, which may be recognized by the yellow dotting or
mottling of the leaf, presenting in some instances a beauti-
ful mosaic structure. This disease makes its appearance
after the seedlings are from three to four weeks old and in
bad attacks it curls up the leaves and dwarfs the plants.
Sometimes, by judicious management as to watering,
temperature and feeding, the affected plants outgrow the
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126 STREAK DISEASE

disease entirely. At other times the growth continues
slowly, the disease keeping pace. It is believed that
this disease is contagious, and that the punctures made
by aphis may be responsible for the spread of the mosaic
disease.

Fourth may be mentioned the Streak disease which,
however, has been much more heard of in England than in
America. The symptoms and appearances are very
similar to those of the anthracnose. Taubenhaus and
James F. Manns have arrived at the conclusion that the
origin of streak is bacterial, and the same bacteria can
affect the common Clover of the fields. Plants may be
perfectly healthy until they reach their flowering period
at a height of 3 ft. or more. Suddenly brownish or reddish
patches in streaks appear on the stems, not necessarily at
the base, but even at lateral growths. The result is a
crippling of the growth, a curling of the flower buds, and a
peculiar contorted appearance in the flowers when they
expand. Jn severe attacks the whole plant collapses and
has to be removed. It has been observed that this disease
comes into evidence after a sudden change downward in
the temperature, or in watering with very cold water which
is thought to chill the roots. Being of bacterial origin it
is suggested that so far as possible the stems ought to be
protected from spattering by mud.

Mildew is, of course, another common fungus pest,
but is controllable by dusting the flowers with sulphur as
previously mentioned.

The general treatment recommended for controlling
the foregoing bacterial diseases is that of sterilizing the
soil, a subject dealt with already on page 50. There is
also the formalin process of killing germs as they lie in the
soil. “This treatment consists first In spading the soil
CONTROL OF DISEASES 127

and bringing it to a good tilth condition as to moisture
content. Then the soil is treated with a solution of for-
malin made of two pints of a 40 per cent. formalin in 50
gallons of water, at the rate of one gallon of the preparation
to each square foot of the surface. The application may
be given with an ordinary watering can. After the heavy
wetting down the soil should be left free for about two
weeks, until all the formalin evaporates. This treatment
will rid the soil of all fungous pests. But it will not be
effective in controlling nematodes, hence the steamheating
method is best for them.”—(Taubenhaus.)

Little advantage has been found to result from the
use of potassium permanganate as a fungicide so far as
our own experience goes, for we have seen rows of Peas
treated with strong and weak solutions which were no
better than part of the same row left untreated. Never-
theless, in the case of an attack of anthracnose, or streak,
or the mosaic disease, one may be prompted to use a pale
wine-colored solution.

Root rot, caused by the fungus Thielavia basicola,
eats away the roots and may travel up the stem a little at
the base. For a time this was believed to be the cause of
streak. Chilling of the roots or overwatering will tend to
induce an attack. Other root pests are the Rhizoctonia
disease and the Fusarium wilt, each of which at times, and
under certain conditions, cause the seedlings or young
plants to droop or damp off.

Dropping of the buds results from supplying a too
highly nitrogenous food ration, and also by sudden fluc-
tuations, especially lowering, of the temperature. Tauben-
haus says: ‘‘ We have successfully controlled this trouble
within one week by the application of phosphoric acid and
sulphate of potash along the row.”
CHAPTER XI

OUTLINE OF THE History OF WINTER-FLOWERING
Sweet Peas

Nearly forty years ago a writer in “The Gardener,” a
British monthly publication edited by David Thomson,
described his treatment of Sweet Peas in pots. (See issue
for March, 1876, page 140). By sowing the varieties of
his day in large pots in March, he had them in flower
throughout a large part of the Summer and until late in
October. ‘‘I had a dozen potfuls,” he says, “‘ coming into
bloom about the end of October out of doors, but the
situation being subject to inundations, they had the mis-
fortune ‘to be three days under water, and they never
recovered from the effects of this. Under more favorable
circumstances, and with the assistance of a Jittle warmth,
I feel certain they might have been in full blossom at
Christmas.’ After this one would have expected to hear
more of Sweet Peas for Winter blooming, but much water
was to flow under the bridges before a race of early-flowering
varieties had been produced and made it possible to have
blooms all Winter.

The origin of the present strains dates from about
1892, and the man above all others who placed this type
on a commercial basis and brought it to the notice of the
trade at large was Anton C. Zvolanek. He is a native of
Krucemburg, Bohemia, and has had a love of flowers from
his youth up. In 1876 he went to Vienna as a florist,
and in the Autumn of 1888 came to America. Later he
ZVOLANEK’S WORK 129

was given charge of the greenhouses of H. Bolte, Allen-
town, Pa.; and afterward those of Emil Leuly, Angelique
street, West Hoboken, New Jersey. He had been working
upon Sweet Peas during this period and previously. He
had even tried to hybridize some species of Vetch with
the Sweet Pea. In this connection he wrote to S. B. Dicks,
of Cooper, Taber & Co., wholesale seedsmen, London,
England, in April, 1907: ‘““The Vetch I have used for
hybridizing grows, and is being largely sown, in Bohemia,
mostly for green fodder. There are two varieties, one
blue, the other red.” Mr. Dicks points out that Zvolanek
does not say which of these he used, and adds: ““The blue
flowering Vetch is no doubt Vicia villosa, and the red is
probably Lathyrus tuberosus, as this plant grows very
freely over the whole of Bohemia. The flowers are very
sweetly scented, and the tubers are edible.” In August of
the same year Zvolanek added the following information:
“The Vetch has flowers similar in color to those of the
Sweet Pea Captain of the Blues, but they are very small.
On the Moravian boundary of Bohemia, in a very moist
and cool locality, it begins to bloom early in June.”

In 1892 Mr. Zvolanek discovered among his Sweet
Peas an earlier flowering variety among some Lottie
Eckford, which was two weeks ahead of the others and was
of dwarfer habit. This sport or early form was separated
and from the seeds sown the next year he got plants which
he cross-bred with Blanche Ferry. Blanche Ferry is, and
was, well known for its precocity. Thus two distinctly
early blooming Sweet Peas were mated. The seedlings
from them, by selection, gave the first distinctly recog-
nized Winter-flowering variety of Sweet Pea, 19 years ago,
and was named Zvolanek’s Christmas. It was intro-
duced in 1899. Here was encouragement to go ahead,
130 HISTORY OF SWEET PEA BLANCHE FERRY

and the practical Zvolanek, who had the stock m his
hands, did not allow the grass to grow under his feet.
Within two years he had three houses filled with the new
Winter-flowering Peas, and New York market began to be
well supplied with the blooms.

Other crosses and selections were made, some of which
were exhibited before the New York Florists’ Club, and
one, Florence E. Denzer, was registered with the Societv
of American Florists & Ornamental Horticulturists in De-
cember, 1900. Mr. Zvolanek said of it: ‘‘ This excellent
sport surpasses its mother, Zvolanek’s Christmas, in the
size of its flowers, as well as m the length of stem, pro-
ducing over 20 per cent. of its blooms with four flowers,
on very long stems.”

Progress from now onward was steady, the Christmas
variety being largely employed with others to get a wide
range of colors. Selections were also made the whole
time toward the improvement of the size and strength of
the flowers. Mr. Zvolanek still continues his work, but
is now in California.

HISTORY OF SWEET PEA BLANCHE FERRY

The history of Blanche Ferry, already mentioned, is
interesting, and it has played a vitally important part in
the development of the indoor type of Pea. It was the
most grown variety in some of the markets. Until 1896
and later there was not sufficient of any other Winter Sweet
Pea grown, at least in the Chicago region, to create a
demand for them. The honor of having created this
great American variety does not belong to any one whose
name is blazoned on the horticultural scroll of fame, but
to a humble woman, a quarryman’s wife in Jefferson Co.,
New York, who was fond of flowers, and had a natural
HISTORY OF SWEET PEA BLANCHE FERRY 131

tendency to cultivate and improve them. Some 45 years
ago she procured seeds of a bright flowered plant of Painted
Lady, and for many years thereafter she sowed and se-
ected, and as her garden overlay limestone, and was of
very shallow soil, averaging not more than a foot in depth,
her strain of plants gradually became more compact. At
the end of 25 years the type she had been selecting was of
bushy form and was grown without support. W. W. Tracy,
Sr., of the firm of D. M. Ferry & Co., Detroit, who is now
superintendent of the Testing Gardens of the United States
Dept. of Agriculture at Washington, D. C., saw the plants,
and being immediately impressed with their distinctiveness
and merits, obtained a small stock, only about 100 seeds.
This was the famous Blanche Ferry, and was introduced
in 1889 by the firm above mentioned. It was honored by
having a colored plate in the firm’s catalcg that year.

Srx years later Messrs. Ferry introduced the Eastra
Early Blanche Ferry, and described it in these words:
“The Extra Early Blanche Ferry is more dwarf, very much
earlier, and fully equal in all other respects to Blanche
Ferry. How much earlier we hardly dare say, but the most
competent observer who compared it with upward of 40
varieties, declares it is two or three weeks earlier than any
of them. Our careful observation convinces us that it is
so early and dwarf that in these respects it outclasses all
other Sweet Peas, and while these qualities make it in-
comparably the best Sweet Pea for forcing, its dwarf habit
and persistent blooming make it equally desirable for
outdoor culture.”

The House of Burpee distributed’ Earliest of AI] in
1898, when it was described in the catalog of the firm as
“Not only the earliest to bloom in the open ground, but
also the most desirable for forcing under glass for Winter
132 HISTORY OF EARLY-FLOWERING SWEET PEAS

cut flowers. The dwarf habit of the plant (only 2 ft.)
renders it much more easily grown upon benches, admits
closer planting, and from seeds sown in the latter part of

 

A Spray oF THE NEw Wavep Form oF TELEMLY SWEET PEas
Tuts VARIETY 1S PINK

August blooms may be cut for the holidays, while with
the taller varieties no blooms can be cut before February

or March.”
HISTORY OF EARLY-FLOWERING SWEET PEA 133

Four years later Burpee & Co. sent out a still earlier
strain under the name of ‘“‘ Gould’s Extreme Early Earliest
of All.” This Earliest of All strain originated with Thos.
Gould in California.

“Mont Blanc was introduced by Ernest Benary, of
Erfurt, Germany, in 1900. It is said that this variety
came from Emily Henderson. Burpee, in his catalog for
1901, says that it is the exact counterpart of Earliest of
All except in the color of the flowers, which are white.

“Earliest Sunbeams appeared in 1904 and was de-
scribed as a primrose Mont Blanc, with which it was
identical except in color.

“In 1904 Thos. Gould, of California, the originator of
the strains of Earliest of All, found a white sport in a stock
of the Reselected Earliest of All, which was identical with
Earliest of All in every respect except color. Unlike Mont
Blanc, it has a black seed. This variety, Earliest White,
was introduced in 1906 by Burpee, who strongly recom-
mended it for forcing.

“Thus we had, in 1906, a group of early-flowering
varieties represented by Blanche Ferry, Extra Early Blanche
Ferry, Earliest of All, Extreme Early Earliest of All, Mont
Blanc, Earliest Sunbeams, and Earliest White, which were
of distinct habit from the usual garden types and which
were sometimes forced under glass. These varieties were
all descendants of Blanche Ferry, from which they originated
as seed sports either directly or indirectly. A further
significant fact is that Blanche Ferry is a descendant of
Painted Lady, which is the common name of the Sweet
Pea described by Burmann in 1737 as a new species from
Ceylon.” —(Bulletin 319, Cornell University, Sept., 1912,
Sweet Pea Studies, by Prof. A. C. Beal.)

From these facts, therefore, it is apparent that although
134 THE TELEMLY STRAIN

Zvolanek’s name is most intimately associated with the
indoor or Winter type, several other firms have been
largely instrumental in the development of early bloomers.

Curiously, two Winter strams came to light almost
during this exact same period, to wit, Carl Engelmann’s,
at Saffron Walden, England; and Rev. Edwyn Arkwright’s,
in his garden at Telemly on the Mustapha Hill, near the
city of Algiers, Algeria, Africa. The beginnings of each of
these were recorded in the Sweet Pea Annual of the National
Sweet Pea Society of England in 1907.

THE TELEMLY SWEET PEAS

“Tt was about the year 1900,” said Mr. Arkwright,
“that a sport from Blanche Ferry showed itself in my gar-
den as early as February, and was promptly isolated from
all others. The next year I had some plants flowering in
January, and among them one red one, a cross apparently
from Mars, on which a blossom or two had come out in
May of the previous year. From these parents I have now
ten or twelve of the usual colors, ranging from white to
purple, and including duplicates, or shall I say imitations,
of Honorable Mrs. E. Kenyon, Jeannie Gordon, Lady
Grizel Hamilton, Mars, Black Knight, etc., which begin to
flower about Christmas time and last for five months.
That they form a distinct group is evident from the fact
that Eckford’s Sweet Peas, which I sow at the same time,
i. e., at the end of September, do not flower till May.
Moreover, the Jeaf is considerably narrower than in Eck-
ford’s varieties and more pointed and the stem appears to
have more woody fiber.”

Mr. Arkwright, writing to the author in August, 1914,
says he still continues to grow his special varieties and has
now almost every possible shade of color. He finds that
Rev. Epwyn ArkwriGHT AND His TELEMLY Sweet Peas

 
136 THE TELEMLY STRAIN

the waved varieties are much the more popular. These
he has had for the past several years and “there is no
limit to their sporting powers,” but as his object is to sell
them for the benefit of the English hospital in Algiers, he
says he is obliged to limit the number of definite colors to
about twenty, so that the work may not get beyond him.
He has also sold seeds to so many nursery gardeners that
he does not expect the Telemly Sweet Peas to remain much
longer in his hands.

The greatest success recently scored by the varieties of
this strain has been in Australia, where letters inform Mr.
Arkwright that they have revolutionized the Sweet Pea
cult. At the Queensland Horticultural Society’s show a
gentleman of Brisbane, who had bought Telemly Peas
the year before, came out first in each of six classes and
“swept the board.” Mr. Arkwright has had many enthu-
siastic letters and orders for his seed in consequence.

A photograph of the originator of this strain, together
with a separate photograph of a spray of one of the finest
blooms of his waved kinds, appears in connection with
these notes. These Peas were awarded the gold medal of
the Horticultural Society of Algiers in 1907, while a similar
gold medal was awarded for a collection of the large new
waved varieties in 1911. There are no names applied to
the varieties other than those of their color, such as Apple-
Blossom, Rose, Ruby, Lavender, and so on.

Mr. Arkwright advises that in Algeria, the Riviera.
and similar climates the seed be sown in August or Sep-
tember, and that the plants be treated similarly to the
Winter flowering strains known in this country. It
should be remembered that the Telemly type of early
flowering Pea starts from one single stem, which needs
sports when three or four inches high.
 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Pea Giapys Unwin, or A Type VERY SIMILAR TO
THAT OF CouNTESS SPENCER. THE LaTTER APPEARED
IN 1901 AND GLapys UNWIN IN 1904
138 THE NEWER VARIETIES

ENGELMANN’S STRAIN

In regard to Engelmann’s strain he recorded in the
same year (1907) and volume as follows: “It is nearly
four years since some plants of Captain of the Blues sported
with me and I have Winter-flowering varieties of quite
distinct habit. Ordinarily, stocks sown in Autumn will
not bloom under glass until the following April, but the
newcomers commence to bloom from six to ten weeks after
seed sowing, and continue to form branches and produce
flowers all through the Winter. I have now Winter-
flowering representatives of such varieties as Dorothy
Eckford, Lady Grizel Hamilton and Miss Willmott, as
well as a number of crosses between these, and the ordinary
type and Mont Blanc, so that almost all Sweet Pea colors
are represented. In 1906 I sowed my Winter-flowering
varieties at the end of August and beginning of September,
and the resulting plants commenced to flower in October
and were splendidly in bloom at the end of November and
early in December, and they should continue to flower
until the ordinary Sweet Peas come into flower.”

Engelmann ceased to grow his strain for the London
market as he found there was insufficient sun during the
Winter in England to enable him to produce good market-
able flowers from November-March, and he can get the
ordinary type of Spencer varieties in bloom from April,
so that there is no great advantage in growing the Winter-
flowering sorts. However, he is again beginning to work
up a stock in his new Riviera branch, as there the plants.
flower well in the open, as well as under glass, and will no
doubt have a great future in that part of France.

THE NEWER VARIETIES

Coming right abreast of the present day, we find that
THE NEWER VARIETIES 139

new Sweet Peas are beginning to be advertised almost
like the novelties in Carnations or Snapdragons. Pittet’s
Rose Queen, for instance, has given a good account of
itself. It has been most successfully grown in Indianapolis,
Ind., since 1910, but A. G. Pittet, in whose greenhouse it
originated, did not consent to its distribution until the
season of 1914. Indianapolis florists recommend it as an
earlier and more profuse bloomer than any variety in
existence. Flowers from these plants have been picked
from November 1 to June 15, and from the same bed. The
color is a pleasing pink, making it outsell any other Sweet
Pea line in that city. It is of the waved or Spencer type,
with flowers 214 to 21% inches in diameter, borne on long
‘stems, produced with the greatest freedom. They are of
rich dark pink color.

Yet another outstanding variety is Anita Wehrman,
which is becoming a favorite of the Chicago market. Henry
Wehrman of Maywood, III., was the fortunate grower in
whose hands this fine clear lavender Spencer Pea originated
in the year 1909, and like a wise man he has grown it since,
and through A. Henderson & Co., the Chicago seed mer-
chants, he offered seeds for sale in 1914. There are three
of four flowers on the 20-in. stems, and it is said of it that
it retains its Jength of stem Ionger than is usual with other
Winter-flowering varieties.

The merits of the Winter Peas speedily reached the
ears of the hundreds or thousands of ardent growers on
the other side of the world, namely in New Zealand and
Australia. Sweet Peas were among the most difficult
plants to cultivate successfully in the warmer regions of
these countries, because the older varieties bloom in the
late Spring when the country is liable to heat waves,
accompanied by drying winds; these shortened the flowering
140 EARLY-FLOWERING PEAS IN AUSTRALIA

season to a few weeks only. The introduction of earlier-
flowering varieties represented by Earliest of All Blanche
Ferry, the Telemly, and similar strains were therefore
received with great favor and as a distinct acquisition. In
an article written by Arthur Yates, the Sydney seedsman,
he observes that these varieties flower in Winter or Spring
in the warmer districts and yield a supply of blooms for
several months, at a time when there is very little else avail-
able.

Some of the enthusiasts took to selecting, and suc-
ceeded first in getting forms of the grandifloras. It hap-
pened as in so many previous instances that in the year
1909 a sport appeared, the novelty being in a batch of
Spencers in the garden of James Young, Sydney, and its
characteristics were larger blooms and an upright growth;
this was in full bloom when the others were only a few
inches high, and it had gone to seed before the normal type
had commenced to show flower buds. ‘‘ The seeds of this
plant were saved and sown the following Autumn, when it
came quite true to the parent, and instead of remaining
more or less dormant all the Winter, as the ordinary Spen-
cers do, it commenced to bloom in the late Autumn and
continued to flower right through the Winter, going to
seed in the early Spring as the Telemly and American
Winter-flowering varieties do in Sydney, the Winters here
being comparatively mild, with only light frosts.” A
point to which special emphasis is directed is the vigor and
strength of this variety, which has been named Yarrawa.
The flowers possess a bright rose standard with lighter
wings on a carmine ground, and it at once occupied the
place in Australia that Countess Spencer had on its first
appearance in England. It is the first of a race of Winter-
flowering Spencers which will be as popular in Australia
ECKFORD’S WORK

 

Tue Late Henry Ecxrorp, Wxo was CALLED THE
“Sweet Pea Kino’; He BroucutT THE GRANDIFLORA
Type to Perrecrion. On THE Ricut Hanp is W.
ATLEE BurpEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, WELL KNOWN As AN
INTRODUCER OF NEw SwEET PEas

I41
142 ECKFORD’S WORK

and as easily grown as the ordinary Sweet Peas are in
England. It is believed that for warmer countries the
Yarrawa strain will absolutely supersede all others. They
bloom in two or three months from sowing and by planting
them in succession a supply of blooms can be had during
the greater portion of the year.

THE LATE HENRY ECKFORD

The work of Henry Eckford in England in crossing
Sweet Peas began in 1870 or a little later, and can never be
overlooked in any account of the history of this beautiful
flower. Eckford worked steadily upon his crosses and
selections until he had one that he thought good enough to
introduce to commerce. This he named Bronze Prince,
and it was first offered in 1882. Thereafter, from year to
year his mtroductions were looked for, and so successful
was he that latterly he was called the ‘‘ Sweet Pea King.”
He entered into business for himself at Wem, Shropshire,
where his son still conducts a seed trade. Among the
best known of Eckford’s earlier varieties were Captain of
the Blues, Prince of Wales, Apple Blossom, Mrs. Sankey,
Lottie Eckford, Dorothy Tennant, Blanche Burpee, Prima
Donna, Black Knight and Lady Grizel Hamilton. It can
be said that Henry Eckford was instrumental in perfecting
the grandiflora type, which probably reached its highest
perfection in the beautiful white variety Dorothy Eckford.
In his namesake he also gave us the first of the orange-
colored Sweet Peas. Moreover, it was said to have been
a sport from Lottie Eckford that gave Zvolanek a plant to
cross with Blanche Ferry, out of which came Christmas
Pink. He was honored by the Royal Horticultural Society
of England, which awarded him the coveted Victoria Medal
of Honor. He died in December, 1905.
INDEX

(For General Contents and List of Illustrations see pages 7 and 8)

Page
Acknowledgments. .....0 0.6... ccc cece ccc eee e eee eees 6
Algeria, Sweet Peasin... 2.00000... ccc ccc cece tun eeeeea 136
Anthracnose disease... 06. cece eet teen cece bnew ena nenens 122
Aphine, spraying with.............00 0c cece eee eee creer eees 70
Arkwright, Rev. Edwyn and his Télemly Sweet Peas............. 134
Australia, Sweet Peas in.... 2.0.0.0... cee cece 136, 139, 140
Baltimore market, average wholesale prices....................-. 21
Bamiboo stakesin oases aagce eee ah mies ata Melee WE ee 119
Benches:
Crop tore scuscens sua dates ev ag ane Wad He ae Ses ON eae ee 76
Wield frombcceceisscesanse ders Meee Pee eRe RS side ba oe 32
Blanche Ferry Sweet Pea, history of............00.00 00 cc eee euee 130
Boston market, average wholesale prices..................... 20, 21
Branching of the Summer and Winter-flowering types............ 73
Budsidropping et. ccccstetss oe ck een tiGae tana sam ea nna Oke d 127
Buffalo market, average wholesale prices......................-. 21
Bulb stock as a side crop... 2.0... ccc eens 77
Canada, Sweet Peasin:y + s0s see es ne vagewey geen ea ee Ned ee ee 92
Candytuft as a side crop... ... 6. cette ees 77
Chicago market and prices... 0.1.0.0... cece eee eee 12, 21
Chicago region, Sweet Peas in the............ 0.0. e cece eee eee 78-82
Cincinnati market, average wholesale prices...................... 21
Clarkia asia Side Cropy.ccsiatscarenaeant See Bede bapa eeas 76
Cost of production and profits. ......0..0 00.000 24, 32
Cow ManUler suns spear ree Ee en peer Bee EET ES Pea e eee 74
Crops to grow with Sweet Peas. .....0.0 0.00 eee TF.
Cross-breeding Sweet Peas... 0.0.2.0... ccc cee eee eee ens 105-108
Cultivation of Sweet Peas:
FCCC G 2.1c.4 cis ws tne Mad Ae ae EH Bem mbecN ete Mel eae 74, 120
Fumipgating. jciacieagesgedacia awa oa ou ett de ane ema wh 70
Haein yt sion ahaicg aaa srawicietnacod amnet d peaiieaem nna koma wets 76
Mulching. S sce cvenahwai ee alia seni hoc awe aon deaged ademas 113

Pinching lateral growths... 0.0... 0. cece eee ee eee 72, 119
144 INDEX

Cultivation of Sweet Peas—Continued Page
Blanting 3.2 coc sa idaedect sine: dint ele ogee ee ARE sete ned bat 61
Screens‘and shading <i 0%4cuses4uecee¢Huie¢ue Pawo soe seeks 113
Seed; the sca aes é tite tenes oy ka pea sn” ane tagie ee 53
Soil preparation......0.0.0.00 0.0 cee cece eee 47

Sterilization.............. cables A SNARE Bava ances 50
OWING cated Ae ae netuenemnaaes neha. po Bh vem acca nan aeetars 54
LAME VOR ocvanreecs achanaver aa wae gi big fala dS eqs nena tenes ake 55
Ins Denese att alelc crete tatecstlnata iieeagead Catv wea eines mee 59
Tnsp0tss ois peexwigy's sGeee sas eee L aXh: els ee wae tena S's 58
Outdoors m Autumn........... ... he @ gh ei eae pa 109
SPLayING rs sc e528 cagSe cues ae Bee GR, «a heen. catpeuns 70
Staking, csc edi op dacinn eave ets oye dows : $ Fuahd, Wo Meine Yad
TNeMperaturesiea'ys 4 Mace oeakasaneien ss cle ob Ok dkenesdeees 67
MEntIAtINE, 28 au Awahacamacnacnih chibad p Gbnd ha nenees 69
WOLETING 2:12 ¢ mace emer ahaa ae ecb) A odatem heb amanoare 4 66

Cultivation in the open air... 0.2... eee 109

Cultivation under glass.,<s ccssesesacueyave gay ay 4 see SAAR E ATOR YS 47

Cuttings, Sweet Peas frome:s si c255 cnereaeedigs 4 Baie seargads 60

Cutworms, remedy for ......0...000.0 00000 ccc ce ee 121

IDEGIGATION 85 8ec.ha ec baa et ks deus Snes Gan a ea Aia de Luau GES eee 5

Depreciation charges onestablishment.....................000.- 32

Detroit market, average wholesale prices...................00044 21

Diseases and insect pests... 2.0... eee ee 121

Diseases, controlling. .......... 0... nee 50, 126

Dratights fatale soci si ctle otaninaliaueverathd see ae Sexe eho Aacee as 69

Earliest of All Sweet Pea, Burpee’s.................. 200000000 131

Easter; Sweet Peas ate: +. see030% 43 pee ab iw dks ae dacs eye glcn Lewin: 14

Eckford. Henry, the Iate, his work.............0.0.0..00 cc. e ae 142

Engelmann’s strain of Sweet Peas.................000 cece cease 138

England, up-to-date culcivation for market in................... 115

Exhibits of Sweet Peas at flower shows.......................13, 22

Peed ing sae 2 sdvleeaceg ee aigeceen once breyani dik d $4.9 ug ts Skee beeetnn 74, 120

Fertilizers:

COStOl ta Oe PG unauh cee MURS asad bare eye See Oe SER ame nnteS 32
Kinds Oliv x2¢ secre et es seein sied taagshand Rea Baume etaenn aes 72, 76, 120
Flowers:
Actual yield from two houses....................00000 seus 31
Average yield per plant...............0..00.. 00 cc e ee eee 26, 27
PACKING: thes 5 simi sapateam ecu weniamtuan F athawmarenwaa chanel olen 99
Shading thei: ccs srsucasenating unde eames va heh ew yey eT 113

Formalin as a disease preventive. ........0...0.. 00000 e eee eee 126

Buel Costes. ois eo sails 9% WOR 254A Maelo tear dud baked od vs 32

PWT ACHE sag. econ cee abtinn 4 arene wipe uniins eog le ae eee mein eee Ree 70

Future, What has it in store?....................... tne etaaatoe II

Grandiflora and Spencer types. ........0.000 00000 c eevee eee 88
Page

FRCAUING ns 28 cece his soe kG a sets oe lain aa AAs ba A aw he 44
Piping required for house 130ft.x30ft............0.0.000.00005 46
History of early-flowering or Winter Sweet Peas.............. 128-142
Hoeing and cultivating the soil..............00.0000 0.0 cece eee ee 76
House for Sweet Peas, style of and construction.................. 36
Indiana, Sweet Peas in... ....0.0.000.00 000 cece cece cece eens 82-84
Insect pests and diseases... .......0..000 00 ccc eee cece sence ees 121
Interest on investment... ........0.0. 000 ccc ccc ees 32
Introduction:,..7 ajviewa ss vende vaxdeas Sawn eet essen ad eees aoa e 9
RAINE foes an ates we casts sate Satins Sapa aap eA Mace aes eas 75
Labor, estimated cost of.........0 0.00000. ccc cece e nee ence nes 32
Lateral growths in Sweet Peas, pinching.....................0055 119
Lupines as a side crop... 00... cece cece ence eee nens 77
Manures and fertilizers.........00.0.0000 000 cece cee eee 72, 74, 120
Market conditions and average prices..............0 000 ce ec eenes 12
Market cultivation in England..............000. 00000 cee ee eee 115
Marketing and packing..............0. 0000s cece eee eee eee 99-104
Mignonette as a side crop... .. 0.0.00. 0 00 c cece eee ne ees 76
Mildew on Sweet Peas.............. Socnaeeche aetna eet hae 70, 126
Milwaukee market, average wholesale prices..................... 23
Mosaic disease of Sweet Peas... ......0.000.0000 00 cece cee ee 124
Mulehing*: ce cscraaaenas evaces ee apkne da he ck Bene Gee eee OL Eee 113
Myosotis (Forget-me-not) as a side crop..............00 cee eee 77
New York and Eastern States, Sweet Peas in.................. 87-89
New York market, average wholesale prices.................. 17, 23
Nico-Fume, fumigating with... ........0000 00000 c ccc eee eee 70
Number of sprays from a plant... ............0 0 ccc teen 26
Office tall ye oi es8 ates as Siandauin dps sos! wodiop os bee Br games ae Doeud Me even BRM 104
Packing and marketing. .............0.0 00 cece cece cee eee 99-104
Pansies as a side ccrop....... gen A seston pal hte a techn hase ated a fo aya TF
Pennsylvania, Sweet Peasin..................... fest consti are 85-87
Permanganate of potash. .............00 000 c cece eee eens 127
Philadelphia market, average wholesale prices.................16, 23
Section, Sweet Peas in... 0.0.0.0 eee 84
Phosphatic manureS.............0.. 00 cece cee been eee eens 74
Picking and packing for market.............. 0000000 c cece eeees 99
Pinching tops and side shoots.............0000 cece cece cree 119
Pittsburgh market, average wholesale prices..................... 23
Planting (see also Sowing) ............ 000 cece cece eens 61
Distances apart win) icy e okie ad eae dehy Gane wage 30

On the double row system... 1.0... 00.0 e ce eens 118

Position for Sweet Peas................... A taih fe csiesie eaniaie oth ora 47
146 INDEX

Page
Potash...... Datel A Rahs ae OMENS Brine Cu aed ekg RS 74
Price of seeds............ 0000 cea Ne ud Bs sh pceiads ree ak OS 8s 27
Prices, average, in the wholesale markets...................... g-12
UI Selgin hahaa Mea RK ICE aoe PBL RU deh oh seo oa 22-23
Production, cost of, and profits.......... 0.000.000. cee eee 24
Profits and cost of production. ........0.0. 00000 c eee eee ee 24
Quicklime.. 0... eee seg denne a! a feces aks 75
Raising new varieties............ 000000000 cee cee tee ees 105
Regulating the shoots .............. 00 e cece eens 72
Retail florists as growers... 00.00.0000 ete 34
Root rot of Sweet Peas... 0.0... eae 127
St. Louis market, average wholesale prices....................... 23
Sclerotinia disease of Sweet Peas...............00.0.000 0000 cues 121
SGLEENS . e5 Selene Sa gsncire Soe x Gesds gid a GEG Vek aw eck WR Soke ae 47
Seeds: .
Amount required for given space.............. 0.000.000 0 00s 28
COStOl sii side tabi cbaietel Meck ed horses MOREERRIOR TERRE 32
Germination Of: «ics. cstenecaws se imw aya aasncrtaiede seid 53, 57
Growing plants under glass for.............0 0. cc eee eee 27
Number perounces i acsarsgeeaeey eed avenues reaakde ee 54
PLICES Obs on Vae nieuws Rhy eee des fees tes a Laie ge Bere at 27
‘Timesfor sowing’ 32% csas ngage ne en eked ee eh AH AETARS EELS 55
Wield rons. en acces Se hkaus coo bleed WP Ra sae ES ake eed 28
Shading the flowers... 20.00.0000 eee 113
SOS ps ATAU re ada to ee ese te a ton ee os hea gad wee eseiin t eeeyen a a 74
Shoots, regulating the ...........0.0 ccc eee eee ees 72, 119
Single stem system of growing Sweet Peas................. 42, 69, 71
Snails, preventive of ........0 0c ccc eee teens 121
Soil:
DDismMfecting verge aaj vad Rall Skene aa dL peda eI BRaea wes 52
Preparation c.c 2.08. ged swniciaanatacei scilGh ohn geias Gui ates ckd 47-49
Reclatined 2.2.4 ecucaisamadgeratuns Gu he pimek eemicna weiss aid oe 75
SLOLUIZA CON gd tes ce. cham & Slane ali miendraglelld cart ceeeacia ie eyelet nts 50
Sootsas fértilizetion. irs ds cungini cota Caad axle gree wae ine ee ew ee 74
Sowing in Autumn:
QUtdOOLS 5 5 soda oa ee Ee SS Sees Fae 9B WO Bs 109
Ti OOrS 22 oo cca tae d wie wate Bh eahews Grd a wired dn hipiabad beable masa .. 54
In benches indoors...........0.0000000 0 0 cece cee cece 59
RN POtsAciatouceMancigeeaniadaiosmats au batonget ee 58, 116
TEUIME LOE: seers aad Da NO AR EAs nee. a Radon lal canon yore 55
Spikes per plant per week. ....0....0.0000000 00 ccc ec ee 119
Sprayers, auto air pressure... 2... ec eee 70
SPIayilies hd xcoos eee ees cave gata, eau eer See ee ae 70

Stakes, cost of
Page
Staking and supports... 00.0.0 0 66. c ccc eee cece eee eens 61
Sterilization, soil.............. EBS ANIGY Le AGAR Le eee Renate A Asa ett, 50
Streak disease of Sweet Peas... 0... ....00. 000 c cece cece ven e ee ees 126
Sulphur as a preventive of mildew..............0 0... ceeae cease 70

Sweet Peas from cuttings, 60; in pots in 1876, 128; in the open air,
65, 114, 135; packed for market, 101; single stem system of

culture, 42, 69, 71; under glass..............0.0.. cee eens 25-47
Télemly Sweet Peas............ iantidie MER Ru eee eee A ata eee 134
Temperature for Sweet Peas indoors................ 000 ceeeeeeee 67
Temperature, night record. .........0.00.0 000 cece cece eens e ess. 68
Tennessee, Sweet Peas in... 60002 go
Texas) Sweet Peas ans. aisicinunurnad ii teks ahd ma edaneeeerindnaae 92
Tomatoes to follow Sweet Peas........0...0 000 0c c cece ee eee eee 77
WRENCHING: esc psn ede hae FHS Heaths) Garba e Aa hewn dem enn woe 120
Varieties:

Anita: Werhiiatiic. i. uieuxyde autor atures Bo ses eke ene Be ores 139

Blanche: Ferys i: ascccceaccaesiegnnsanegennd Ghage dod ieee 133

Christmas) Pink: 3. s:i¢c¢¢00250¢0u9 G46 ule gow d been eed to 35, 95

Earliest: Of All wx, nce)s cased cg odes hauneatentann higaweralhogion ews oe a 133

Frilled: Pintle. gon uid gaa dec naesa t eaoe edie alse a ue e mena thet 15, 25

Gladys(Unwins sven ver ue cae ated bad en ee esy see yee Ge aes 137

TnSpeCtor «42 aden saad. gna ne dacap RoScuai Wp grits ne HES en aenew A 30

King WIE. sc. c. gy cee fo pe Mend ea eres dawn dais dase Sonn en 65, 85

Maggie Stark, Doubles .c:.s 0s cease es saa 82424 ORG 4 OR Rea gl

Margaret Atlee................. Ch to Bid esi ke Fa ame a 117

Alont: Blanes ievusnes cya er Tere es Wet en emt ot Saiend eee oee & 133

Mrs. Alex: Wallacenncc5 saccade aoa aad sexione Salenla adddnaa aaa 79

NUS“ Wims SUN soa sce eiia cid eek Reed hued dan PhO d aun dG Reon Aaah 56

Painted Lady cai aviesdewrn ce eats seater Oke pase aie wena we 133

Rose Quceetinins: 22206 aq skh dnds deawaraaa Renn eres kore 33, 83, 139

“Lélemly2 tin e820 69% seh Win BY gua Wee ed oe Pea Ob aden 132, 135

MRE W Abe tec Shgs exces atsg ead eh RAPER cost AUR eM Wicd eee eeeed WRB SE 51
Varieties for exhibition in Summer, 98; for sowing in Winter, 96;

Selections: s¢n53 suc Ne ae ay Sess eR Ose ee Cee BOISE ETS 95
Veritilatings 15 ¢63 yf ane vas cog Pee Hod oak ee jot Gee We eee aS 69
Violets to grow with Sweet Peas............... 00.0. 77
Water cisterns and watering............000000 00000 c eee eee 66
Weeding and hoeing.............. 000s 76
Wallflower as a side crop....... 00... eens 77
Winter Sweet Peas out-of-doors... 2.0.00... eee 109
Zvolanek, Anton C., his work... 00... 00 0.000. eee ee 128
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