8 SWEET PEAS 



gardens. In a large garden, of course, netting-out is impossible, 

 on account of the labour and care involved, unless the anticipated 

 results are such as to make it worth while, as, for instance, in the 

 case of growing new varieties. When neither black cotton nor 

 netting-out is to be thought of on account of the large area to be 

 covered, the best thing to do is to engage a boy to frighten away 

 the birds for a week or two. When the seedlings are staked and 

 are growing more vigorously they seem less toothsome to the birds 

 and the latter do little damage. At least, a year or so ago I might 

 have written this with conviction, but now I am sceptical, for only 

 last summer I had to protect my Sweet Peas until they were 

 practically in bloom. Perhaps I was exceptionally unfortunate. 

 It was, at any rate, a new experience for one who has grown 

 Sweet Peas for years. 



Staking the Plants. When the seedlings are an inch or so 

 high they need some support, and the best kind to give them is that 

 of the tops of hazel sticks, those twiggy pieces that are so excellent 

 for the tiny tendrils. When they have got well hold of these twigs, 

 and are, say, about six inches high, the final staking takes place, and 

 for this purpose I know nothing more satisfactory than hazel sticks. 

 Alternative methods are described later on, but personally I prefer 

 the old-fashioned one so generally practised. Attention to such 

 practices as those of watering, occasional applications of manure, 

 picking off dead and faded flowers, is necessary during the season. 



Sweet Peas for Garden Decoration. The following notes 

 by Mr. T. Stevenson, a grower of renown, will be read with interest. 



Many dull and bare spots may be brightened by a clump or 

 two of Sweet Peas of a suitable colour, and the flower border is one 



FIG. 1. SOWING SWEET PEAS OUTDOORS 



W, thick sowing (inadvisable). X, thin sowing in single wide drill, but seeds 

 placed in alternate fashion 3 inches apart. Y, sowing in double-row 

 drill drawn on both sides of line, and seeds placed in each drill 6 inches 



apart : i, drills ; j, soil drawn out. Z, double row after covering seed : 

 k, section showing depth of covering ; I, short branches of hawthorn 

 placed on row where cats are troublesome ; m, stakes laid over row to 

 protect early sowings from sharp winds and frosts. 



A, clump sowing on borders : n, opening made with hoe about 3 inches deep 

 and 6 inches or more wide at bottom six or more seeds are placed in ; 

 o, sowing in circles, drill about 1 foot across to contain 12 seeds ; 

 p, clump covered over. 



