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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



yard manure, bone meal, lime and a little sulphate of 

 potash. If this could be done in the late fall so much the 

 better for the future well-being of the plants ; failing 

 which, of course, it must be done in the spring, but 

 should be allowed to settle for some davs previous to 

 planting. Unless the trench is thoroughly consolidated it 

 will dry very quickly, therefore tread it well before plant- 

 ing the seed. 



The average grower sows his seed too thickly. Make 

 a drill along the center of the trench two inches deep 

 and place the seed from one to two inches apart, and after 

 covering make all firm either with the back of the spade 

 or treading. When the seedlings are about two inches 

 in height, thin out to four inches apart, and stake as soon 

 as possible. The best material for this great essential in 

 the well-being of the sweet pea is good twigy brush, fail- 

 ing which poultry wire or string run horizontally from 

 poles placed in the ground four or five feet apart may be 

 used. During dry weather the plants must be regularly 

 supplied with water, but never give it in small doses. Un- 

 less you have the time and facilities for giving the plants 

 a thorough soaking better leave them alone. The hoe 

 must also be used at least once a week, oftener if possi- 

 ble. This will keep down the weeds and at the same time 

 form a dust mulch and so conserve the moisture that is in 

 the soil. Should the vines be troubled with green aphis 

 or pea louse, spray immediately with weak kerosene 



or three seeds are sown in a Zyi or 4-inch flower pot 

 during February or early jMarch, the plants being set out 

 in ground prepared as above some time in April, each 

 potful being turned out intact without disturbing the 

 roots, one foot to 18 inches apart in the row. and un- 

 doubtedly much better results are to be had by this 

 method. 



The above notes would not be complete without sug- 

 gesting a few of the finest and most distinct varieties. 

 The original of the Spencer type Countess Spencer must 

 be included. Other beautiful pinks are to be found in 

 Mrs. Hugh Dickson, soft rosy pink on cream ground ; 

 Elfrida Pearson, an e.xceedingly large blush pink ; W. T. 

 Hutchins. a lovely shade of apricot pink : White Spencer, 

 pure white ; Dainty Spencer, white edged rose ; King 

 Edward Spencer, crimson ; Vermilion Brilliant, scarlet ; 

 j\Iarie Corelli, rose ; George Herbert, carmine rose ; Othel- 

 lo Spencer, blackish maroon ; Senator Spencer, striped 

 chocolate on light ground ; Helen Lewis, orange ; Florence 

 Nightingale, lavender; Flora Norton Spencer, pale blue; 

 Queen \'ictoria Spencer, primrose ; Mrs. C. W. Bread- 

 more, deep cream, edge pale rose ; Irish Belle, purplish 

 lavender ; Aurora Spencer, white striped orange pink ; 

 Thomas Stevenson, rich orange scarlet; Sterling Stent, 

 bright Salmony orange ; Afterglow, one of the new pastel 

 shades, color might be described as a rich electric blue, 

 an exceedingly strong grower, invariahlv producing four 



"HERCULES.' 



WINTER FLOWERING SPENCER. 



WINTER FLOWERING SPENCER. 



emulsion, using it every four days until the plants are 

 perfectly clean again. Alternate this spraying with one 

 of pure water. It is seldom that sweet peas or other 

 plants are attacked by insects when they are growing 

 strongly, therefore it is well to apply a little liquid ma- 

 nure at this stage. This might take the form of acid 

 phosphate, dissolving one ounce in two gallons of water, 

 or acid phosphate or Scotch soot might be dusted along 

 either side of the row applying it after first stirring the 

 ground, then thoroughly water it in. 



To prolong the flowering season never allow a seed 

 pod to form. The more flowers you cut the more there 

 will be to cut. To those who have the conveniences of a 

 cool greenhouse or cold frame even better results may be 

 had by starting the seed in pots, this method being ex- 

 tensively vised by the majority of the best growers. Two 



flowers on a stem ; Barbara, salmon colored self, a mag- 

 nificent flower of good size ; Charles Foster, a pastel 

 shade variety, the color being a unique combination of 

 salmon, amber, mauve and rose ; Charm, white with a 

 suffusion of pink and lavender, a most beautiful and 

 chaste flower ; Decorator, one of the best and brightest for 

 decorations under artificial light. It might be briefly de- 

 scribed as a "Rose du Barri" Spencer; Margaret Madi- 

 son, color pale blue self; May Campbell color cream 

 daintily marbled with carmine ; Mrs. W. J. Unwin is one 

 of the brightest of the flake varieties, somewhat in the 

 way of Aurora Spencer, but decidedly richer in color. It 

 has been aptly described as a Helen Lewis flaked white. 

 Nubian, is a new maroon of giant proportions ; Orchid 

 is, without exception, one of the most profuse and free- 

 flowering varieties I have yet seen. The color is rich 



