SOIL AND PREPARATION 



ANY ordinary garden soil will suit Sweet Peas, pro- 

 vided the following points are observed : 



FIRST. The ground should be drained or the soil 

 be of such a nature that in a season of excessive rains 

 the water will not lie and so cause the roots to rot, 

 or start mildew among the plants. 



SECOND. The seeds should be planted in such a 

 position that no excessive shade shall interfere with 

 the sturdy growth of the vines, as too much shade 

 encourages a spindly and weak vine, with few, if any, 

 flowers. You should choose, therefore, a spot in your 

 garden right in the open, where your plants may have 

 all the available light and air, though a little shade 

 from the scorching mid-day suns of June and July 

 will be found most beneficial. 



Soils cultivated and prepared as for your vegetable 

 plot will give fair results, but for this, the Queen of 

 all our annual plants, a little extra care and selection 

 of soil will be well repaid by the additional size of 

 flower, longer stems, better color, and prolonged period 

 of blooming. 



Whatever may be the composition of your soil, 

 a start should be made in the fall of the year by trench- 

 ing it to a depth of from two to three feet. Should 

 the subsoil be poor, it would be absurd to bring it to 

 the surface, but it should be broken up, turned over, 

 and mixed with any old garden refuse or stable litter. 

 Thoroughly mix with the second spit a liberal quantity 

 of half decayed stable or cow manure the latter for 



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