PEACHES. 



357 



PEA STICKS. 



greatest profusion and in succession during 

 the greater part of the year under glass, 

 and out of doors during summer and 

 autumn. They are among the most im- 

 portant and effective of plants for training 

 in conservatories, or covering the 

 fronts of cottages and villas in the 

 town or country. . 



They are propagated by means of 

 young shoots taken from the parent 

 plant with a heel, set in light 

 sandy soil in small pots, and 

 placed in a close frame or under a 

 handlight. They will grow in almost any 

 kind of soil, provided that the drainage, 

 when in pots, is efficient. For outdoor 

 culture Passiflora c(zrulea t or the blue 

 passion-flower, is the most hardy, and there- 

 fore the most suitable. For indoor deco- 

 ration of the conservatory and greenhouse, 

 the white variety known as " Constance 

 Elliott," and P. coccinea, with its beauti- 

 ful red blossoms, are very desirable. Some 

 of the varieties bear edible fruit. 



Peaches. 



Peaches, like nectarines, should be 

 pruned in February, grafted in March. 

 Protect from frost, and syringe with 

 tobacco water if green fly appears. Stop 

 leading shoots in May, and thin thickly-set 

 fruit when stoned. The best varieties are : 



circular form, connected by two horizontal 

 bars, one on either side, the whole being 

 covered with galvanised wire netting of f 

 inch mesh. These protectors are made in 

 3-feet lengths, and are supplied at about 



Pea Guards or Protectors. 



The wire coverings known as pea guards, 

 and used for the protection of the young crops 

 from birds during their early growth,consists, 

 as will appear from the accompanying illus- 

 tration, of two pieces of wire bent in semi- 



PEA GUARD OR PROTECTOR. 



73. 6d. per dozen lengths, including twx 

 stop ends to every dozen, so as to preven- 

 ingress of birds at the extremities of th 

 rows if left open. These appliances an 

 most useful, and can be employed witl 

 advantage to protect other seeds that ar* 

 likely to receive injury from birds. 



Pea Sticks, Substitute for. 



The following simple and easily con 

 structed substitute for pea sticks anc 

 pea hurdles is thus described by a writei 

 in " Gardening Illustrated," who says : 

 " Having found some years ago a diffi- 

 culty in getting pea sticks while in 

 Guernsey, I tried the plan of an old 

 French gardener, and have done it ever 

 since with every success. First, get some 

 square garden stakes (these I have now 

 had for three years) of the height of your 

 pea we will say 3 feet ; then with a sprig 

 bit place holes at about 6 inches apart, 

 beginning at the top, leaving i foot to go 

 into the ground (the stake should thus be 

 4 feet in length) ; then make your trench, 

 say I foot wide ; plant your peas, and when 

 just appearing drive your stakes in along 

 each side, say about 8 feet apart ; drive in 

 two strong pieces of wood, one at each 

 end, get some strong twine that will go 

 through the holes you have made, wax it 

 well, put it through your holes, and secure 

 it at one end, running it through the hoits 

 made in the stake at the other end. 1 ao 



