136 Growing Flowers 



To keep bugs off the sweet pea vines, spray every 

 few days, or once a week, at least, with a solution 

 composed of strong smoking tobacco soaked for 

 twenty-four hours in cold water. A pound of 

 tobacco to two gallons of water will be a good pro- 

 portion. When desired to use at once, boil for an 

 hour or more instead of leaving to soak overnight. 



Sweet peas will stop blooming if they are allowed 

 to go to seed. The blossoms should be picked regu- 

 larly and thoroughly. 



To keep sweet peas fresh after cutting, take them 

 from the vines early in the morning while the dew 

 is still on them and put in water to which has been 

 added a little soft charcoal. 



For growing long-stemmed sweet peas, the seed 

 should be sown the latter part of January or the 

 early part of February. The seed should be sown 

 in dirt bands, or paper cups, and the cup planted 

 with the young plant as soon as the ground is 

 sufficiently warm to justify the planting. 



Sweet pea blossoms should always be cut from the 

 vines, never broken or pulled off. Pulling them is 

 liable to injure the vines by loosening the roots. 



