II 



CULTURE FOR THE AVERAGE MAN 



BY the average man I mean the man who requires 

 good average sweet peas for home decoration, 

 for cutting and giving away to friends, and who 

 is therefore not prepared to give their culture 

 anything like the great amount of attention 

 bestowed by the keen exhibitor on his plants. 



The basis of successful sweet pea culture is 

 laid in the autumn in the preparation of the soil. 

 A site in the garden ought to be selected which 

 is well exposed to the sun, and sheltered from 

 strong and draughty winds. Whether the plants 

 are to be grown in lines or in clumps, I advocate 

 the digging two spits deep of the entire area. If 

 the subsoil is poor do not bring it to the surface, 

 but dig it all the same. If the work is honestly 

 carried out, the soil should be moved to the 

 depth of two feet. Manure should be incor- 

 porated in the soil in the process of autumn 

 digging it is immaterial what sort of dung is 

 used, if it is rich and well made, that is, old and 



17 



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