78 NEBRASKA STATE IK )KTI('l L 11 KAL SOCIETY 



GROWING SWEET PEAS. 

 J. W. Lawson, York. 



Mr. Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen: Tlie subject I have been as- 

 signed is Growing Sweet Peas. The first thing to be considered is the 

 seed. Buy the best seed procurable of any reliable grower or firm. Buy it 

 early, and in advance of time to plant. Don't wait until your neighbors' 

 peas begin to show through the ground, before you plant yours. 



In regard to varieties, the grandiflora types are beautiful, but the 

 Spencer varieties are fast superseding them, and are procurable in the 

 same beautiful shades and colors and are indispensible either for exhibi- 

 tion or decorative purposes. 



What colors shall we grow? We grow only a few such as white, pink, 

 mauve, lavender, purple, and scarlet. 



Next before planting let us consider the soil and the preparation of 

 the ftanie. This soil should be rich and deep and prepared early. The 

 better plan is to prepare in the fall of the year. A good rich turfy loam 

 is the ideal soil for growing sweet peas thoroughly enriched with well 

 rotted manure or bone meal dug in as deep as possible. Before sowing 

 pulverize the soil well in trenches three or four inches deep. 



Don't use the same soil year after year. 



When to sow: For outdoor planting, sow early, as soon as the frost 

 is out, provided the ground is not too wet, while the ground is cool and 

 moist, which insures good roots before growth commences. Do not sow 

 too thick, thin them out to about two inches apart. We plant in double 

 rows about ten inches apart to lessen space, time and cost of staking. 



We find a four or five-foot wire netting held in place by posts, the 

 most convenient method of staking. This should be in place by the time 

 the peas are two or three inches high. Better still, as soon as planted. 



Dry hot weather affects the sweet peas very quickly. They should 

 be watered often and thoroughly. A good spraying of cold water evenings 

 after hot days and an application of liquid manure once in ten days also 

 greatly improves them. A good heavy mulch of coarse straw around the 

 peas as soon as the weather is warm prevents the ground from drying 

 out, and keeps it cool and mellow. 



The flowers should be cut daily and all seed pods removed as soon 

 as they appear which will greatly lengthen the blooming season, which 

 should last till frost. And by this time the winter flov/ering varieties. 

 if planted the latter part of July or first of August, will be starting to 

 bloom. For growing the winter blooming peas under glass, the ground 

 bed will be found most convenient. A bed six inches deep filled with a 

 compost of three parts soli and one part well retted manure in a light, 

 well ventilated house with plenty of head room with a temperature of 

 45 to 50 degrees at night, and 60 to 70 degrees on bright days. 



The rows should run north and south, this gives the plants full benefit 

 of the sun. When the plants reach the heighth of a few inches they 

 should be given support. The best method lor same is to stretch one 



