OUTDOOR AND INDOOR SOWINGS 53 



It is a very open question! Something may be said in 

 favour of both systems. Some growers are of opinion 

 that an indoor sowing gives better results, providing the 

 plants are not coddled. This coddling is always a 

 danger with the inexperienced grower. Others say, if 

 properly treated, an outdoor sowing is better. Then 

 again, should the season be a late one, owing to cold 

 and unseasonable weather, plants raised under glass 

 undoubtedly gain thereby. We know of authorities 

 who aver that the flowers, both in colour and size, are 

 distinctly better when the Sweet Peas are raised 

 indoors. 



On the other hand, adherents and supporters of the 

 method of raising Sweet Peas outdoors are very decided 

 in their opinions. Some of our best growers affirm 

 that from seeds sown outdoors in the autumn, the 

 flowers partake of better colour and are larger, owing to 

 the stronger character of growth of such plants. 

 Generally speaking, however, much appears to depend 

 upon circumstances. Soil, situation of the garden, early 

 or late seasons, and a variety of other reasons, are 

 responsible for the variableness of the results attained. 

 We should rather be disposed to support the system of 

 raising Sweet Peas under glass, provided the seedlings 

 are not allowed to become drawn and weakly. By 

 removing the young plants to the cold frames in good 

 time, and by seeing that their requirements are met 

 regularly each day, and subsequently planting them out- 

 doors, when carefully and properly hardened off, in 

 specially prepared quarters, we feel confident better 

 results can be obtained than by sowing outdoors as 

 advocated by others. 



The best flowers are invariably evolved on plants of 

 a robust character, and any method of culture by which 

 such plants can be produced is the one that should be 



