SWEET PEAS UP TO- DATE 



overnight in warm water. On examination any 

 seeds which show no sign of swelling should then be 

 chipped as shown on the illustration. 



White seeded varieties are also a cause of much 

 annoyance at times, as they are apt to rot in the ground 

 should the weather be wet and cold after planting. 

 We, therefore, advise sowing these rather thicker than 

 the dark seeded sorts, and not so deeply; or, to hurry 

 germination, and so avoid the risk of them rotting in 

 the soil, the seed should be soaked in warm water for 

 twelve hours previous to planting, or, if starting them 

 in pots, use an inch layer of sand, as advised on page 12, 

 this being the method 1 always use when planting 

 scarce and new varieties, and with most satisfactory 

 results. 



Another method to insure perfect germination is to 

 soak the large plump dark seeded sorts in pure sulphuric 

 acid for thirty minutes. After soaking, wash thorough- 

 ly in three changes of water. Do not subject the white 

 or small mottled varieties to the acid, or if doing so, it 

 should not be for more than five minutes. 



INSECT PESTS AND BLIGHT 

 THE CUT WORM. This pest is in some seasons most 

 destructive to the vines in early stages of growth, and 



32 



