CHAPTER X 



Sweet Pea Trials and Troubles A Chapter of Replies 

 to Questions 



New Sweet Peas for a Small Garden. I should advise 

 Countess Spencer, Evelyn Hemus, Etta Dyke, John logman, James 

 Grieve, A. J. Cook, Mrs. Andrew Ireland, Constance Oliver, and 

 Helen Lewis. Some of these may be rather expensive, but as you 

 do not mention the price I assume that this will not matter. 



Sweet Peas for Market. Yes; if you are situated in a 

 district in which good markets for cut blooms are readily accessible 

 the plants will pay, but they must be well grown. Excellent 

 varieties are Countess Spencer, Dorothy Eckford, King Edward 

 VII., and Lady Grisel Hamilton, and they are procurable at reason- 

 able prices. 



Selection of Sweet Peas. The list is ao excellent one, 

 but I should substitute Etta Dyke for Nora Unwin. You ought 

 also to grow A. J. Cook and Lord Nelson as blues, and Menie 

 Christie for its colour, cerise, though the blooms are often rather 

 small. Rosie Adams and The Marquis are quite distinct, but both 

 are not required in a set of twelve. Of the three you mention I 

 should recommend John Ingman. 



The Perennial or Everlasting Pea, The seed pods should 

 be collected when quite ripe, and spread out on paper in a dry 

 and airy place. When thoroughly dry the seeds may be taken out of 

 the pods and kept dry until the time for sowing comes round. 

 March is a suitable time for sowing ; loamy soil, plentifully enriched 

 with stable manure, is the kind of soil from which the best results 

 are looked for. This Pea is of great service for covering arbours, 

 fences, and trelliswork, and it does not look amiss when allowed to 

 ramble over the stones of a rockery. 



Manure for Sweet Peas. Farmyard manure is excellent, 

 but it must be applied in the autumn, and the ground should be 

 worked at least 2| feet in depth. In February, or as soon 

 afterwards as you can get on the ground, prick in a mixture of 3 



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