Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 107 



districts this proves a very paying crop. The seeds are sown in pots or 

 boxes about the middle of October, placed in cold frames, and well watered, 

 every care being taken to guard against trouble from mice and slugs. 

 Plenty of ventilation is afforded as soon as the seedlings are through the 

 soil, and should damp warm weather follow it may presently be advisable 

 to pinch out the growing points just above the third pair of leaves. Early 

 in December each plant should be potted in a 3-in. (60-sized) pot, in good 

 loam to which some old manure and sand have been added. Plunge the 

 pots in ashes and keep the frame rather close for two or three weeks after 

 such potting; afterwards proceed to ventilate freely as weather permits. 

 Real business commences early in February, as by this time growth will 

 begin in earnest, and more root room will be needed. It must now be 

 decided whether the Sweet Peas are to be grown in pots or whether they 

 are to be planted out in light airy houses. If pots are to be used, then three 

 plants should be put in a 12-in. pot, or two in an 8-in. pot, and these large 

 pots should have three or four holes near the bottom, through which the 

 roots may pass at a later date. A rich, fairly substantial compost is desir- 

 able, as also is firm, but not hard, potting. 



At this period the plants must be kept well up towards the glass, because 

 weak spindly growth cannot produce good blooms. When planting out is 

 to be the method, then each Sweet Pea plant must be potted into a 48-sized 

 pot, kept well up to the light until in March they are set out in trenches, 

 in well-drained soil of a similar character to that used for the large pots. 

 Careful ventilation, light houses, and a sufficiency of tepid water must be 

 provided, and full advantage be taken of sun heat. When the large pots 

 are well filled with roots the top growth will have made considerable 

 advance, and the pots should then be partly plunged in trenches of rich 

 compost loam and old manure or, if the houses are lofty and there is 

 room for the plants, they may be stood on the stage and have soil banked 

 round and under the lower part of the pot. 



No matter which of these two methods is followed under glass the Sweet 

 Peas ought to be about 2J ft. high by the beginning of April; the haulm 

 short -jointed, and the leaves deep green, and about 3 in. long by 2J in. 

 broad. During April growth will be fast, often J in. per diem. To secure 

 the finest flowers the side growths must be removed until flowering com- 

 mences. By May-Day, if treatment and conditions have been favourable, 

 the plants should be about 4 ft. high, and showing plenty of spikes just 

 ready to expand their flowers. Now is the time to commence feeding, and 

 there is nothing better than soot water and liquid cow manure, using these 

 alternately, and giving one watering of each per week. 



Whether sticks, canes, or wire frames are used as supports must be left 

 to the judgment of the grower; good results may be obtained with each, 

 provided the growths are tied up regularly from February onwards. When 

 the flowering season begins, all spikes must be removed when fit, no matter 

 what the demand may be, for under glass, even more than out-of-doors, it 

 is utter foolishness to allow flowers to seed, as this so taxes the energies of 



