182 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



The staking of the plants must proceed simultaneously with the 

 operation of planting out. As each row or clump of sweet peas is 

 deposited in the ground the provision of suitable supports should 

 be attended to. Small hazel sticks should be fixed in the ground 

 round the sweet pea plant in the manner shown in Figure 2 of the 

 diagram, and not in the way depicted in Figure 4. In a few weeks' 

 time longer and stronger supports will be necessary, but the 

 important thing at the moment is to give the tiny tendrils some- 

 thing to which they can attach themselves with least trouble. 

 Even in the case of clumps round which stakes and string or 

 galvanised wire are to be used for support, the use of small twigs 

 at the outset will be found an advantage. 



Cupid or dwarf sweet peas are easy to grow and are extremely 

 useful when grown in pots for the decoration of window-boxes, 

 the conservatory, or the greenhouse. The Cupid variety may be 

 used in the open garden with excellent decorative effect if it be 

 provided with a suitable situation. The plants are very small, 

 they do not attain a height of more than a few inches, and though 

 they produce tendrils they do not climb. 



The Cupid sweet pea thrives best on a light and comparatively 

 dry soil ; therefore it is useless to sow the seed in ordinary heavy 

 soil which holds moisture. If this be done the plants will shed 

 their buds after the first heavy rainfall, and will produce very little 

 bloom. The better plan, therefore, is to sow them on a raised 

 bank or bed, or in a fair-sized niche in the rockery where there is 

 ample drainage and partial shade, or they may be utilised to form 

 an edging if they be sown one inch apart and be allowed to 

 grow away and follow their own devices. In this way delightful 

 ribbons of bloom in varying colours can be arranged. 



If the peas be sown in pots the latter should be large enough to 

 provide ample root space. Eight-inch pots answer the purpose 

 admirably, and in these a dozen seeds may be sown an inch or an 

 inch and a half deep. The plants may be grown either in a frame 

 or in a cold greenhouse, but, as has already been indicated, they 

 must not be exposed to heavy showers of rain, 



