SWEET PEAS UP TO DATE 



winter and started away strongly with the first mild 

 weather in March, the earlier varieties showing flower 

 on May i5th, while the ordinary varieties of grandiflora 

 and Spencer types were in full bloom early in June. 



These experiments in Fall planting 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 before severe frost sets in, or it may 

 be put on shortly after planting, removing it early in 

 March. 



The advantages of Fall plantings 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. 



STAKING AND TRELLISING 

 A great diversity of opinion prevails over the ques- 

 tion of the most suitable material for staking Sweet 

 Pea vines. According to the NATIONAL SWEET PEA 

 ANNUAL FOR 1907, the opinions of fifty-two experts 

 were asked, forty-seven of the number voting for sticks, 

 most of them regarding hazel brush as being the best. 

 My own opinion on the matter is strongly in favor of 

 good twiggy boughs cut in the late winter or early 

 spring, that they may be on the green side and so tough 

 enough to last the season. If boughs are used, they 

 ought to be inserted at least one foot in the soil with the 

 tops inclining, if anything, a little outwards: /. e., the 



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