176 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



trench will be left, and the raised sides will afford some protection 

 against cutting east winds during the very earliest stages of the 

 young plants* existence. 



A very effective plan, if it is not convenient to sow sweet peas 

 in long rows, is to arrange them in round clumps half-a-dozen 

 seeds in each. The clumps may be dotted heffi ftlld there at the 

 back of the mixed border, and the effect will be very pleasing. 



You may perhaps wish to fill up an odd corner on a gravel path 

 near a window so that the fragrance of the flowers may be wafted 

 into the house. This may be accomplished by sowing the seeds 

 in a large pot or in an old butter bucket painted green on the out- 

 side. Sow three or four seeds in a pot, or half-a-dozen in the tub, 

 make the soil rich, and you will not be disappointed. 

 I As soon as the tiny plants begin to peep through the soil 

 / pea guards should be used, or black thread may be stretched over 

 -' them zigzag fashion, to prevent the birds taking the tender tops. 

 ? Slugs and snails, too, should be watched for, especially on moist 

 evenings. An occasional dusting with soot or lime, or both, will 

 prevent these pests doing much damage. 



Sweet peas cannot be afforded support too early. Directly the 

 seedlings are two or three inches above the soil their slender 

 tendrils should be assisted in their natural efforts to cling to a 

 support. This is best provided by the short twiggy tops of hazel 

 sticks. A little later the final staking must be attended to. This 

 should be provided by longer hazel sticks, five or six feet high. 

 These are put into the ground in unbroken straight lines on either 

 side of the trench, at an inclined angle, slanting in one direction 

 on one side and in the opposite direction on the other. 



If the weather in May and early June be genial the plants will 

 climb over these rapidly, but it would be a mistake to leave them 

 altogether to their own devices. It is not enough to place the 

 stakes in position and to expect the plants to take care of them- 

 selves. If the rows or clumps of sweet peas be examined it will 

 be found that many of the leading growths are being throttled by 

 the tenacious grip of the tendrils. These should be carefully 

 untwined and trained in another direction. The leading growths 



