SWEET PEAS UP TO DATE 



mass of roots at the base in the hole previously pre- 

 pared for its reception. If the plants are well watered 

 the day before planting, the ball of soil will be more 

 likely to remain entire when knocked out of the pot. 

 Should the weather be very dry at the time of planting, 

 it may be found advisable to give the newly trans- 

 planted vines a thorough watering, and this will like- 

 wise help to settle the soil about the roots. 



A good ring of soot (which should be collected dur- 

 ing the season from the stove-pipe) put on the soil 

 round the plants will now be of the greatest possible 

 benefit in warding off insects, and even a slight dusting 

 of the same material over the young vines has been 

 used also to advantage. 



SOWING OUT OF DOORS 



Those who have not the conveniences or, perchance, 

 think it too much trouble for the pot method of 

 Sweet Pea culture should plant the seeds as early in the 

 spring as soil and weather conditions will allow. 

 Whether the ground has been prepared as advised in 

 a previous chapter or simply dug over one spit deep, 

 the procedure is the same. 



A small trench or furrow about four inches deep 

 should be taken out and the seed sown evenly, using 

 about one ounce of seed to a fifteen-foot row, covering 

 with two inches of soil. After covering make the sur- 

 face soil fairly firm and finish all by putting a good 

 dusting of soot along the row, as this will keep away 

 birds and insects. 



When the seedlings are about two inches high, thin 

 out the young plants, leaving one to every six inches, 

 as this will be found quite sufficient to give you a good, 



14 



