1442 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



They are grown successfully on a wide range of soil. Good garden soil, 

 well prepared, will result in fine blooms. The seed should be planted 

 outdoors in May, I to \ inch deep, in rows 18 inches apart; the plants 

 should be thinned later so as to stand 12 inches apart in the row. 

 For early bloom the seed should be sown in hotbeds. If transplanted 

 once or twice the plants will be in the best condition for the development 

 of a large number of fine blooms. The average height of the plant is 

 12 to 18 inches. 



Stocks are useful for beds, borders, pot culture, and cuttings, and in 

 conservatories . 



Sunflowers 



Sunflowers may be grown in hotbeds and transplanted; or the seed 

 may be sown in the garden 1 inch deep in rows 36 to 60 inches apart, the 

 plants being thinned later to 24 inches or more apart in the row. The 

 average height of the plant is 6 to 10 feet. The blooms are produced 

 from August until the plants are killed by frost. 



Sunflowers are much used for backgrounds in flower planting or for 

 concealing fences. 



Some of the best varieties are Texas Silver Queen, Giant Russian, Orion., 

 and Double Flowered. 



Sweet peas 



The sweet pea is a very hardy annual and is of easy culture. It pro- 

 duces a large amount of bloom from July until September, especially if 

 the flowers are picked and no seed is allowed to form. Sweet peas should 

 be planted in April, 4 to 5 inches deep in double rows 8 inches apart, and 

 should be covered with but 1 to if inch of soil; as the plants grow, soil 

 should be filled in around them until the level of the surrounding 

 ground is reached. The seed should be planted thick. If more than 

 one double row is needed, the double rows should be 3 to 4 feet apart. 

 Good garden soil, not too rich in nitrogen, will give the best results. A 

 sunny situation is best. The plant grows to a height of 2 to 6 feet. 



Many varieties of the old formal type of sweet peas are still favorites; 

 but since the introduction of the loose, wavy Spencer type, this type has 

 practically superseded the former. 



Sweet william 

 A pleasing perennial in every old-fashioned garden is sweet william, 

 which is a member of the dianthus family. It requires a good garden 

 soil in the best condition, in which the seed may be sown in June 

 or later, \ to \ inch deep in rows 1 2 inches apart, allowing at least 6 inches 

 between the plants when they are 2 or 3 inches tall. For early bloom, 

 plantings may be made in the hotbed in March. 



