THE SWEET PEA 175 



Birds and mice are great enemies of the sweet-pea grower in 

 the earliest stages of cultivation. Here is the method recom- 

 mended by Mr Eckford for circumventing their depredations : 

 " It is always wise to red lead the seeds prior to sowing, to prevent 

 birds or mice taking them away. An easy way to coat the seeds 

 is to place them in a pail or other vessel, and sprinkle with water 

 sufficient to damp thoroughly every seed (not to soak them). 

 Pour off superfluous water and then sprinkle the seed with red 

 lead, a little at a time, stirring them the while with a stick, until 

 each seed is dry coated and free. Paraffin may be used instead of 

 red lead, but it is not so certain. The soil is such a purifier that 

 the odour of paraffin goes off quickly, and when we remember that 

 the seed is attached to the plant for quite a considerable time, it 

 will be seen that the substance that adheres longest must be the 

 most effectual. When paraffin is used, place the seed into a vessel 

 and pour paraffin over it, only allowing the seed to remain a short 

 time, then sow directly it is removed." 



These preliminary preparations complete, all is now in readiness 

 for committing the seed to the ground, and the question that next 

 arises is " How far apart should each seed be sown ? " The answer 

 depends upon the purpose for which the flowers are being cul- 

 tivated. If for exhibition, then nine or even twelve inches would 

 not be too great a distance to allow between the plants ; but if for 

 simple garden decoration and for cutting, six inches will be amply 

 sufficient. The old method of sowing in zigzag lines, thus : 



is now seldom practised by the expert. Instead, the seed should 

 be placed in single rows, thus : 



I do not believe in deep sowing in early spring. The ground for 

 some time to come is certain to be cold and clammy, even at the 

 surface, and if the seed be sown too deeply it will be slow to 

 germinate. The drills should be drawn three inches deep, the sur- 

 face be made fairly firm, and the seed covered with not more than 

 an inch or an inch and a half of soil. If this be done a shallow 



