Culture of the Sweet Pea 711 



The cutworm. — In some seasons the cutwonn is very destructive. The 

 preparation of the soil in autumn, with the winter freezing, tends to 

 eliminate this pest. The use of trap plants, such as lettuce, sown along- 

 side of sweet pea rows has been suggested. Poisoned baits can sometimes 

 be used, but not so safely, so far as other animal life is concerned, as in 

 the greenhouse. The larva should be hunted down in its hiding place 

 and destroyed. An application of soot, air-slaked lime, or tobacco dust 

 has some value as a repellent. 



Diseases- 

 Powdery mildew. — Among the fungous diseases that attack sweet peas, 

 the powdery mildew (Erysiphe Polygoni DC.) is often found late in the 

 season, when the plants are almost through blooming. Sometimes the 

 disease appears earlier. In 19 10 it appeared in August and proved very 

 serious on some varieties. The stems, leaves, and other parts of the plant 

 become covered with a white, powdery coating of the mycelium and 

 summer spores. The disease may appear after a rain followed by very 

 cool nights and hot days. Spraying with potassium sulfid, or dusting 

 the plants with sulfur or with a mixture of lime and sulfur — two parts 

 of the former to one of the latter — will control the disease. 



Pea spot (Ascophyta pi si) is a parasitic fungus attacking sweet peas in 

 England, and, while the writer does not know of its occiirrence on sweet 

 peas in this country, the fact that it is known to attack garden peas here 

 is sufficient indication of danger. The disease causes round or angular 

 spots on the leaves and pods. The spots are one fourth inch or less in 

 diameter, usually with a narrow, but distinct, purple border. The use of 

 potassium sulfid or dilute bordeaiix mixture is recommended. 



Other diseases attacking sweet peas in England are pea blight {Perono- 

 spora trifolionum) , root rot {Thielavia hasicola), and streak (apparently 

 a physiological trouble). 



exhibiting sweet peas 



The foundation for success in raising sweet peas for exhibition is laid 

 the previous autumn in the thorough preparation of the soil, followed by 

 a careful selection of varieties, thin planting, and very liberal culture. 

 In order that good flowers may be obtained for exhibition, it is best to 

 remove all flowers about a week before the exhibition date, and to allow 

 only the spikes with the longest stems to develop. The size of the flowers 

 may be increased at this time by the use of ammonia or nitrate of soda. 



All varieties subject to scorch or scald should be shaded with cheese- 

 cloth or tiffany. If such varieties are planted together the shading may 

 be more easily accomplished. The varieties having orange in their color- 



