40 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Sweet Peas after the War. 



By the Rev. MacDuff Simpson. 

 The titanic struggle wliich has convulsed Europe 

 and caused uplieaval over the wide world, has had 

 a terrible effect on our common industries and 

 ordinary occupations. Those who guided the 

 destinies of our Empire called us to concentrate 

 all our energies on the production of food, and a 

 loyal response to that call induced many lovers of 

 the Sweet Pea to restrict or abandon the culture 

 jf this favourite annual. In many cases societies 

 did not hold their shows, while others I'urtailed 

 their prize lists, so that there was naturally a sad 

 falling-off in the interests of floriculture. 



Happily all this belongs to the past, and the 

 outlook for the future becomes brighter. The 



It is. perliaps, too far advanced in the season to 

 undertake the proper preparation of the soil, nor 

 need we explain the best method by which very 

 early flowers can be secured. Our task at present 

 is to show what can be done with the opi)ortunities 

 still left to us. 



Seed may be sown of once in gentle heat under 

 glass, and when the plants are two inches high 

 they may be hardened off and ijlanted out in 

 April; or seed may be sown in the open ground 

 in March or April, when the weather is fine and 

 the soil in a suitable condition. On no account 

 are seeds to be put in wet and cold grmuid when 

 germination is at a standstill, as the seed may rot 

 before germination can take place, and the bulk 

 of some choice varieties may be lost. I strongly 

 recommend starting the plants in pots or boxes, as 



TT. ' 



1,\ Fli.WCB 



". Silvery Enso, sljll one of tlie best. 



clouds of war have rolled away, and the sunshine 

 of peace calls us to return to the garden, which 

 four stern years of war have forced us to neglect, 

 and I anticii)ate that lovers of the Sweet Pe;i will 

 soon get back to their delightful hobby, for there 

 is no other which has so many fine (pialities to 

 recommend it. For a trifling sum the cottager can 

 produce ii glowing effect at the door of his humble 

 dwelling for a long jjcriod of the season, whilst the 

 rich will feel amjjiy rei)aid for a more generous 

 outlay. The scientific expert can find keen 

 phiasure in watching the law which moulds the 

 life of this favourite flower; and as he sees the 

 effects of environment, and views the results 

 which may be obtained by intensive culture, lie 

 feels the fascination which makes his garden " a 

 thing of beauty and a joy for ever." 



It needs no further apology for introdiicing an 

 old favourite and giving a few helpful hints to 

 those who wish to take up with fresh enthnsiasm 

 their pre-war hobby. 



you thus save your precious seed from many 

 risks, and you will have better results by planting 

 them out one foot apart than you could obtain 

 from twelve seeds sown in the same si)ace in the 

 open ground. 



As already hinted, it is too late for such deep 

 trenching as we usually complete before the end 

 of the year, but you can dig out a trench or hole 

 12 to 18 inches deej). In the bottom of this opening 

 l)lace six iiu'hes of well-rotted dung, and over this 

 give ii good dusting of artificial manure, and then 

 cover in the loose earth, which may be allowed to 

 settle for a week or two before the young i)lants 

 are put out. 



During the growing season plenty of moisture 

 nuist be supplied. Put instead of a" daily sprink- 

 ling give a thorough soaking once a week. If this 

 is done with lif|uid manure the advantage will 

 be very great. Kapid growth is the secret of 

 getting long stems, and withont ])lenty of moistm-e 

 this result cannot be secured. 



