HOW TO SOW SWEET PEAS 59 



distinction with. Label, and water in with clear water 

 from a fine-rosed can. 



After being left for a time to drain, stand the pots on 

 shelves or on the side-benches of the cool greenhouse, 

 or in a cold frame where protection from frosts can be 

 provided. 



During the process of germination the temperature of 

 the glass structure should be not less than forty degrees, 

 nor more than fifty degrees at any time. A warmer 

 temperature would have a most debilitating effect on the 

 young plants, so for this reason careful ventilation of the 

 glass structure should be afforded. 



As soon as the young plants are two to three inches 

 high, they should be placed in cold frames to keep them 

 steady and to encourage a sturdy form of growth. 

 When five to six inches high, at which time the first 

 trendrils will be developing, insert small twiggy stakes 

 for their support, and as more genial weather approaches, 

 give air freely, and harden off previous to planting out- 

 doors in mid-April. 



When Sweet Peas are grown outdoors, the seed should 

 be sown about three inches deep, in a trench of a shallow 

 nature that has been carefully prepared. The soil 

 should be made fairly firm and the sides of the trench 

 should be treated in similar fashion. We sow two rows 

 of seed in such trenches, disposing the seeds six inches 

 apart on both sides of the row, taking care, however, to 

 see that they alternate ; in this way the most is made of 

 available space. 



Where still better results are desired, we sow the 

 seeds six inches apart right through the middle of the 

 rows. Wonderful results are obtained by these means. 



The date of sowing is fully considered in another 

 chapter, to which the reader's attention is directed. 



