76 THE BOOK OF THE SWEET PEA 



preparatory hardening off above described. There are 

 generous individuals who advocate sowing the seeds 

 thickly, in this way anticipating the depredations of 

 birds and satisfying the tax levied by them on those 

 growers who are injudicious enough to ignore the bird's 

 work of spoliation. Ultimately, the seedlings that are 

 left, are thinned out to the required distance, viz , six, 

 nine, twelve, fifteen or eighteen inches apart, according 

 to requirements. 



