THE SUMMER GARDEN 123 



giants, though mine grew 5 feet high last 

 Summer. It is invaluable for table decora- 

 tion, as its pure colour is, if possible, even 

 more brilliant under artificial light, blending 

 delightfully with the stiff bluish green foliage 

 and haulms, and lasting well in water. 



The secret of success in Sweet Peas in my 

 own garden, and in the little Flower Farm 

 I started with a neighbour last year, has 

 been due simply to treatment. The soil in 

 which they are grown is a good loam. It 

 is thoroughly trenched and manured, and 

 left rough for two or three months to 

 mellow. The seeds are sown 3 to 6 inches 

 apart (and thinned later) in blocks of colour 

 5 feet long, the trenches being 5 inches deep 

 and 8 wide ; and the moment the flowers 

 begin to show, liquid manure not too strong 

 is given freely once a fortnight, and copious 

 waterings once a week. The flowers are, of 

 course, picked early in the morning as soon 

 as they open ; and if they have to be sent 

 away are put into water immediately and 

 kept in a cool darkened place till they are 



