FALL SOWING 



stood the Winter and started away strongly with the 

 first mild weather in March, the earlier varieties show- 

 ing flower on May I5th, while the ordinary varieties of 

 grandiflora and Spencer types were in full bloom early 

 in June. 



These experiments in Fall sowing seem to show 

 us that we ought to aim at sowing the seed at as late 

 a date as possible, that the seed may just germinate 

 previous to frost, thereafter lying dormant all Winter 

 and so be ready to take advantage of the earliest mild 

 days of Spring, long before we could get on the ground 

 to make early plantings. Give the rows a mulch of 

 strawy litter or hay as soon as the ground freezes hard, 

 removing it early in March. 



The advantages of Fall sowings are early flowering 

 and, on account of slower top growth in the early stages, 

 a much stronger root growth which will carry the plants 

 safely through periods of drought and so secure an ex- 

 tended flowering season. 



_ Another, and perhaps the best, method for fall sow- 

 ing in this locality, or in fact any section where periods 

 of severe frost may be expected during the winter 

 months, is to use what I call the Sweet Pea frame. 



Boards six to nine inches wide are placed on edge 

 lengthways, eight or nine inches apart along either side 

 of the row of Sweet Peas, holding them together with 

 small braces of wood and make ends tight with a piece 

 of board to fit the opening, as shown in the accompany- 

 ing illustration. Glass is laid along the top of the frame, 

 and may be fastened with string to hold it in position, 

 or special slots made in the boards into which the glass 

 fits. 



When using this frame the seed should be sown about 

 17 



