22 SWEET PEAS 



plants each way. The circles are 6 feet in circumference and 8 feet 

 high, with eight plants round each circle ; six would be ample if it 

 were certain that every plant would come true, but 9 inches is a good 

 distance to plant out in any case. The training is to the outside and 

 the growth is kept straight. Bent stems are a nuisance, and when 

 any get bent cut them out. If in rows, plant in the centre and train 

 the growths outwards to both sides, leaving the centre clear. A 

 double row of wires or stakes is needed for such training, and it is a 

 splendid way. I have seen them trained on a single wire, but the 

 work is excessive. Old wild raspberry canes are ideal first supports, 

 being a nice length, and in many parts they can be obtained on 

 roadsides or in woods. 



Sowing the Seeds. February 1st is a good date on which to 

 make a start sowing under glass in slight heat. The moment the 

 plants peep through the soil remove them to a cold frame and 

 gradually harden them off. I sow ten seeds round the edge of 

 a 10-inch pot, and to ensure even germination I snip a tiny portion 

 off each seed with a sharp knife. Some seeds have abnormally 

 hard skins, and unless that is done germination is uneven. The 

 best supports for the seedlings are the tops of hawthorn hedges. 

 These have little knobs on them, and tying is easily done. 

 When the time comes for planting out (and do not be in a hurry, 

 the second week in April for England and the last week for Scotland 

 are safe dates) water should be withheld for three or four days 



FIG. 5. TRANSPLANTING SWEET PEAS FROM POTS INTO OPEN 



GROUND 



N, seedling plant from deep (4-inch) pot: q, sturdy plant ; r, ball of soil with 

 roots entire ; *, surface level ; t, birch or hazel twigs to afford some 

 shelter from keen winds and spring frosts, the twigs arching slightly 

 over the plants at about 1 foot height, plants 12 inches apart in row. 



Plants raised in 5-inch pot, Fig. 4, G. O, turned out and planted with ball 



of soil entire, thus about 4 inches apart ; ?/., position for second " turned- 



' out" pair of plants. P, plant from pot similar to O, the pair divided 



(called a " split ") and corresponding to O and P respectively, about 



12 inches distance apart. 



Q, plant from 6-inch pot, Fig. 4, K, L, M, carefully breaking up ball and 

 separating plants : v, roots with some soil ; w, depth of planting. R, 

 plants raised in 6-inch pot planted 6 inches apart : a?, spruce or other 



I evergreen twigs placed at sides of row of Sweet Peas to protect from 

 cold winds and spring frosts. 



