20 SWEET PEAS 



must be worked into that condition by the incorporation of some old 

 lime rubble, ashes, or similar substance. This operation should be 

 done in good weather, when the soil works easily and the rows can be 

 made firm (which is very important). A common error is to take 

 out a trench in a piece of undug ground. When this is done and dry 

 weather comes, huge cracks are likely to make their appearance, 

 then, of course, evaporation from the soil is increased. The whole 

 border should be trenched and the special part, which ought to be as 

 broad as possible, taken out afterwards. The manure used must be 

 old and sweet, and thoroughly incorporated with the soil. 



Planting and Manuring. I find this gives better results than 

 placing the manure in layers, although a layer of fresh cow manure 

 over the drainage is good, and tends to retain moisture. A sprink- 

 ling of soot and lime reduced to powder, with a dusting of bone meal 

 as the work goes on, makes an ideal foundation. If the ground is 

 prepared as advised, the beds, if of a circular form, are about 6 inches 

 lower in the centre than the ground level, like a saucer ; and the 

 centre of the rows the same if grown in that way. I grow half my 



FIG. 4 RAISING SWEET PEAS FROM SEED IN POTS FOR 

 TRANSPLANTING OUTDOORS 



A, the seed, bold, dark-coloured, sound. B, section of seed A, showing : 

 a, testa (outer leathery coat) ; b, endopleura (inner coat) ; e, cotyledon 

 (seed-leaves) ; d, radicle (young root) ; e, plumule (young stem). 

 (Magnified). 



C, light-coloured seed, perfect. D, the seed C, magnified. 



E, unsound seed ; /, diseased spot. F, the seed E, magnified. 



G, section of 5-inch pot in which two seeds are sown,the plants to be turned 

 out of pot entire when planting : g, drainage ; h, rougher parts of com- 

 post ; i, soil ; j, seed ; k, fine soil ; I, watering space. 



H, position in greenhouse for placing seed pots : m, shelf 1 foot from 

 glass. I, plants in pot H at stage for removing to cold frame for 

 hardening. J, the plants sturdy and healthy. 



K, . subsection of 6-inch pot with seed placed about inch from side, say, 

 ten seeds in each pot, the plants to be divided at planting time ; re- 

 ferences as for G. L, plants at stage for removing from shelf in 

 greenhouse as H, I, and placing in cold frame to harden off. M, 

 section of cold frame : n, pots stood on ashes ; o, line to height of 

 ashes if used to keep plants near the glass and sturdy ; p, pots stood 

 on inverted pots, placed in saucers in which a little sulphur is 

 sprinkled. 



