92 SWEET PEAS 



light on all favourable occasions to ensure sturdy plants when the 

 time arrives for planting in the open ground. When air is given 

 a piece of net or wire should be placed along the opening to keep out 

 cats, as they are very fond of crawling in a frame and sunning 

 themselves under glass in spring. The lights may be removed 

 altogether on fine days towards the end of March, and at night 

 by the beginning of April. The exact date of planting them in the 

 flowering quarters depends largely on the weather : from April 10th 

 to 20th is a good time. Holes in which to place the plants should 

 be made with a trowel. Carefully work in the soil round the roots, 

 and press firmly. 



HOW TO GROW SWEET PEAS IN POTS 



Sweet Peas are very useful for providing cut flowers, and the 

 demand for them is so great that it is the aim of all cultivators 

 to secure as long a season of bloom as possible. To this end, where 

 there is suitable convenience in the shape of a good-sized, light, and 

 airy house, a number of popular varieties should be grown in pots ; 

 then they may be had in bloom quite early in the spring, say, during 



FIG. 9. GROWING SWEET PEAS IN POTS 



T, section of 5-inch pot in which to sow five seeds : s, drainage ; t, rougher 

 parts of compost ; w, soil (four parts turfy loam, one part decayed 

 manure and leaves from an old hotbed, one part in equal proportions 

 of sharp sand and charcoal dust, with a sprinkling of steamed bone- 

 meal) made tolerably firm ; i\ seeds ; w, fine soil ; x, space for holding 

 water in watering. 



U, section of small lean-to greenhouse : y, shelf near glass on which seed 

 pots are to be placed ; z, front sashes opening ; a, top ventilators : 

 temperature night, 40 to 45 ; day, 45 to 50, the latter with free 

 or full ventilation. 



V, plants transferred from 5-inch to 8-inch pot : J, drainage (crocks, 

 oyster shells, cinders) ; c, \ inch bones (steamed) and charcoal (" nuts ") 

 in equal proportions ; d, rougher parts of compost ; e, soil made toler- 

 ably firm ; /, ball of soil and roots ; g, watering space. 



W, plants after potting into 8-inch pot and staking. 



X, position of plants in cool greenhouse (frost excluded), or with tem- 

 perature named under U. 



Y, plant from seed sown in 3-inch pot, stopped at third joint and shifted 

 into 6-inch pot. 



