2i6 THE SCHOOL GARDEN BOOK 



in which the flowers are very much the shape of those of the 

 snapdragon. But they do not appeal to one as do the nor- 

 mal forms, and with the double sweet peas they are passing 

 to a deserved oblivion. 



For revealing the beauty of the sweet pea blossoms in- 

 doors almost any simple flower- jar which is not too high 

 will serve very well. Clear glass rose bowls are particularly 

 attractive, the stems showing through in a way that adds to 

 the grace of the picture. Japanese or other vases, colored 

 in neutral or broken tones and decorated only by the blend- 

 ing of colors in the glaze, may be used with any of the vari- 

 eties. 



There is one precaution which nearly always needs to be 

 taken in using sweet peas for indoor decorations. The 

 blossoms are so beautiful that one is tempted to pick them 

 indefinitely, and crowd them in a solid mass into the recep- 

 tacle. But on the vines they are not so crowded; each one 

 stands sufficiently alone to reveal its loveliness. We may 

 well take a hint from this, and place them so loosely in our 

 jars that each blossom will be in view. And we shall also 

 find much more satisfaction using each variety alone, or com- 

 bining only a few varieties, than in the indiscriminate min- 

 gling of many sorts in the same receptacle. 



BEANS FOR GARDEN CULTURE 



There are few crops which yield so great and so satis- 

 factory a return for the amount of labor required as the ordi- 

 nary string beans or snap beans, as they are often called. 

 These well-known plants are grown for the thick edible pod, 

 and are of the very easiest culture. Two common types of 

 the bush beans are grown : in one the pods are yellow — these 



