70 THE BOOK OF THE SWEET PEA 



difficult to appreciate this statement. Plants set out in 

 rows as above suggested cannot get overcrowded, and 

 in consequence are better able to take advantage of both 

 light and air. They are trained so much easier too. 

 When the laterals are taken out to either side it is very 

 simple to train them and keep them under control, and 

 in the earlier work of staking this may be done with 

 little or no trouble, and very expeditiously. Weeds 

 will develop, we are all only too well aware, and when 

 our Sweet Peas are planted in rows, the former may be 

 kept under with comparative ease. When planted in 

 clumps the weeds always seem to develop so quickly 

 right in the centre of the clump, making their removal 

 a matter of difficulty, owing to the risk of pulling up 

 the plants at the same time. Then there is syringing 

 to be done in the late afternoon of hot days, and by 

 taking both sides of the rows in turn, we may have the 

 satisfaction of knowing that the whole of the plants 

 have derived the full benefit of this timely detail of 

 culture. How very simple too is it to shade Sweet 

 Peas when planted in rows ! Tiffany or similar material 

 may be strained from one end of the row to the other and 

 secured to stakes and other supports speedily, and with 

 very little trouble. In this way protection from the 

 scorching rays of the sun may be provided, and if 

 necessary the same material may be used as a screen in 

 stormy and boisterous weather. This is quite a different 

 matter when the plants are set out in clumps. What 

 of the daily gathering of blossoms ! When the plants 

 are in rows, both sides of the rows may be taken in 

 turn and the blooms picked more expeditiously and 

 with little or no inconvenience, but this cannot be 

 said of plants in clumps. Not the least important 

 aspect of the question is that of economy of space. 

 In gardens of a limited area, rows have many points of 

 advantage over clumps, in that there is no waste of 



