156 GARDENING WITH BRAINS *« 



vedly popular, and continuing in bloom, with 

 intelligent care, four months. 



During the war interest in sweet peas, as in 

 all flowers, fell off considerably, but it came 

 back again. "We sell by far more sweet-pea 

 seeds than we do of any other class of flowers," 

 Mr. Burpee informs me. "I have not yet," he 

 adds, "our figures for the 1920 season, but in 

 1919 we sold over six hundred thousand pack- 

 ages of sweet peas." 



CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 



In England, before the war, more than forty 

 tons of sweet-pea seeds were planted every year. 

 This means nearly half a billion separate seeds ! 

 Be sure and get some for your garden this 

 year! 



And before you plant them don't fail to read 

 the directions of Mr. Kerr in the pamphlet 

 Sweet Peas Up To Date, to which I have 

 already referred. Of special importance is his 

 advice how to secure perfect germination; al- 

 though as a rule there is no difficulty, especially 

 if the seeds are soaked overnight. 



I have given up growing sweet peas in rows. 

 Clumps on the lawn are far better because it is 

 easier to maintain a cellar temperature for the 

 roots and keep the water from spreading later- 

 ally instead of going down to the business end 

 of the roots. Make each hole as wide as you 

 please (sowing the seeds along the outer edge) 



