SWEET PEAS AND THEIR CULTURE 83 



Soil Considerations. The ideal soil for sweet 

 peas is a heavy, deep loam, inclined to stiffness. 

 However, ordinary garden soil will produce good re- 

 sults. Do not plant the sweet peas on soil too poor 

 to grow anything else. While a little shade will 

 be particularly appreciated when the sun is hot in 

 July and August, the plants should have plenty of 

 light. Many successful growers plant in the open 

 garden, where there is free circulation of air and 

 sunshine. 



The best preparation of the soil means a start 

 the preceding fall. Dig a trench 24 to 30 inches 

 deep, and mix the soil with light stable dressing or 

 something to provide humus for the plants. Re- 

 place the soil, putting in a good layer of well- 

 decayed cow manure, which is also covered with a 

 few inches of dirt. Allow to remain over winter, and 

 early the following spring the ground will be ready 

 for planting. The trenches can be 18 to 24 inches 

 wide for the rows, and rows themselves four to five 

 feet apart. 



Sowing. There is little danger of sowing sweet 

 pea seed too early. In fact, many believe in starting 

 the seed the preceding fall. In the southern states 

 fall planting can be safely done, perhaps in October, 

 but in the latitude of New York, November and 

 early December would be better. If they are sown 

 too early they will get too much of a start and be 

 frozen back through the winter. The ideal thing 

 is to have the seed just nicely germinated before 

 going into winter quarters. Of course the advantage 

 of fall planting is to secure flowers early. In north- 

 ern latitudes the advisability of fall planting is 

 questionable. 



