EXHIBITING SWEET PEAS 



soot may now be obtained from many establish- 

 ments). 



In showery weather it may be dusted along the 

 soil on both sides of the plants, or used as a liquid 

 manure as advised on page 20. 



EXHIBITING SWEET PEAS 

 Intending exhibitors must keep the blooms hard cut 

 from the vines until, say, four days previous to the 

 date of the show, and all varieties that are likely to 

 scald with the sun should be shaded with cheese-cloth 

 or other light material, as in close competition a single 

 scorched flower might make all the difference between 

 a first or second prize. Do not erect the shading until 

 three days previous to the date the flowers are required, 

 and remove it immediately after cutting, as continued 

 shading rapidly weakens the plant. 



Varieties that have orange in their colorings (such 

 as Stirling Stent, Thos. Stevenson, Helen Lewis), the 

 scarlets, and the blues, should all be protected. The 

 blooms should be cut at the last possible minute, 

 choosing whenever practicable the early morning or 

 the evening, putting the flowers immediately into water 

 and placing in a cool room or cellar until packed. Pick 

 only young, fresh blooms with the last flower just 

 open or in the opening stage, as should you be cutting 

 the day previous to the show, it will be fully expanded 

 by the time the judges come around. Cut with as long 

 stems as possible. The ideal spray should have a 

 stem of twelve to eighteen inches long, with four good 

 flowers on it. Therefore, aim at the ideal. If the 

 flowers are wet when cut they must be put very thinly 



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