For Febnmrv, 1920 



51 



The Sweet Pea — Its Culture — Some Representative Varieties 



G. W. Kerr 



Xo other annual flower is so widely LniJiivated, perhaps, 

 as the sweet pea, which is largely due to the fact that 

 the merest novice in gardening is successful with it. 

 Then, too, there is the question of cost — for a few cents' 

 worth of seeds we can have a row or clump of the most 

 exquisitely colored and delicately fragrant flowers. The 

 sweet pea will thrive in virtually any good garden soil, 

 though, of course, extra cultivation will repay the grower. 

 And if the blooms are cut systematically and the pods 

 are not allowed to set, the vines will continue to flower 

 for about three months, sometimes longer. 



The following points should be observed m the cultiva- 

 tion of sweet peas : First, the soil should be drained, 

 unless the ground be of such a nature that in a season of 

 excessive rains the water will not lie, and so cause the 

 roots of the plants to rot, or start mildew. Second, the 

 seeds should be >own in such a position that no excessive 

 shade will interfere with the sturdy growth of the vines, 

 as too much shade encourages a spindlv and weak vine, 

 witli few, if any, flowers. 



You should choose, therefore, a spot in the open, where 

 the ])lants may have all the available light, and air, though 

 a little shade from the scorching mid-day suns of June 

 and July will be found beneficial. 



Soils that are prepared for a vegetable garden will 

 give excellent results, but for this queen of all annual 

 plants, a little e.xtra care will be well repaid In- the addi- 

 tional size of flower, longer stems, better color and a 

 prolonged period of blooming. 



Whatever mav be the composition of the soil, a start 

 should be made in the Fall of the year by trenching it to 

 a depth of two or three feet. If the sub-soil is poor, it 

 would be absurd to bring it to the surface, Init it should 

 be broken up, turned over, and mixed with any old 

 garden refuse or stable litter. This is especially valuable 

 in the case of very heavy land, since the rough material 

 will tend to drain the soil and sweeten the trench. 



Thoroughly mix with the upper soil a liberal quantity 

 of half-decayed stable or cow manure — the latter is pref- 

 erable if the soil is light — adding a good dressing of 

 l>one meal as the work proceeds. The top of the trench 

 siiould be filled in as rough as possible, at the same time 

 mixing with the soil thoroughly rotted manure, and leav- 

 ing all Winter, so that the frost, snow and rain may have 

 a better chance to exert their mellowing influences. 



-As soon as the frost is out of the ground in the early 

 Spring and the soil is in a nice dry condilinn, the rows 

 should have a fairly heavy coating of acid phosjihate. 

 which can be raked into the soil and all made ready for 

 planting. Soils deficient in lime will be greatly benefited 

 by a good dusting of fresh lime ]nit on as soon as it is 

 slaked. 



To those who want the very best results we advise,' 

 mowing the seeds in pots. This should be done in January 

 or February, acording to location using pots of three to 

 four inche> in diameter. .\ suitable comj^ost for this 

 consists of turfy loam, leaf soil, and a little sand, all 

 thoroughlv mixed. Four seeds will be sufficient for each 

 pot. The pots are then placed in a frame or cool green- 

 house as near the light as possible, .-o that the growth 

 will be kept sturd\- and dwarf. When the vines are two 

 or three inches tall, insert a few twi^s in the soil to keep 

 them in an upright position. 



Avoid watering the plants too heavily on account of 

 frosts, for the same reason, and the careful grower will 

 see that the frame is covered and protected on cold nights. 



.\ir should be gi\en on all favorable occasions. As Spring 

 advances the sashes should be entirely removed during 

 the middle of the day, subsequently keeping them off all 

 day and night as the season for "planting- outside" ap- 

 proaches. According to locality and weather conditions, 

 the young plants should be set out from early March to 

 early May. 



■One pot is sufficient for a good clump. When planting 

 in rows each potful should be set out about eighteen 

 inches apart. Place the entire ball of soil with [)lants and 

 twigs, takii-ig care to keep all intact, in the ground. 



Those who have not the conveniences for the pot 

 method of culture should sow the seeds as early in the 

 Spring as soil and weather conditions will permit. A 

 small trench or furrow about four inches deep should 

 be made, and the seed sown evenly, using one ounce of 

 seed to a fifteen-foot row, covering the seed with two 

 inches of soil. 



When the seedlings are about two inches high, thin 

 out the young plants, leaving one to every six inches, as 

 this will be found to give more room for air and light to 

 circulate among the growing vines. As the vines grow 

 the soil should be hoed up to them on either side, thus 

 strengthening the plants and keeping them in an upright 

 position. 



To jirolong the blossom season it is advisable to sow a 

 few of the new Early 1-^lowering Spencers. Started at 

 the same time, they begin to bloom two to three weeks 

 ahead of the regular Spencer Type, while if the flowers 

 are regularly jiicked the\- will bloom over quite as long 

 a season. 



Might I suggest the following varieties as being repre- 

 sentative of both ty]3es and which under normal weather 

 conditions will give satisfaction to the exacting grower: 



Eary Snowstorm, pure wliite. 



Early Pink Beauty, deep pink. 



Early Daylireak, cream, ground pink. 



Early Zephyr, pale hlne or lavender. 



Early Blueliird, mid blue. 



Early E.xquisile, cream, edged rose. 



Early Daintiness, vvliiie, edged rose. • ' 



Early Splendor, deep rose, self. 



Early King. crim.son scarlet. 



Early Lavender King, lavender, self. 



Early Mauve Beauty, mauve, self. 



Early Glorious, rich purple. 



King White, line pure white. 



Constance Hinton, black, seeded white. 



Floradale Fairy, cream, self. 



Elegance, pale lilush. 



Elfrida Pearson, light pink. 



Margaret .•\llcc, rose-pink on cream. 



Beryl, salmon pink. 



Hercules, deep pink. •. 



Barbara, salmon. 



The President, orange-scarlet. 



Fiery Cross, bright lire-red. 



George Herbert, rosy carmine. 



King lulward. large crimson. 



Orchid, lavender. 



Royal Purple, warm jjurplc. 



Cherub, cream, edged rose. 



Mrs. Cuthbcrtson, rose-pink and white. 



Warrior, maroon. 



ON THE WRONG SCENT 



Half the world is on the wrong scent in the ]mrsiiit 

 of hap])iness. They think it consists in having and get- 

 ting, and in being served by others. It consists in giving- 

 and in serving others, — Drummo.vd. 



