THE NEW SWEET PEA GROWING 155 



in number, but often consist of three. When they have 

 extended four or five inches they are generally stronger 

 than the leader, which is forthwith removed. If it is 

 decided to allow the plant to grow with three branches, 

 the subsidiaries, which now become primaries, are grown 

 on in place of the old leader, and all lateral shoots 

 which form on them are picked out as fast as they show, 

 the same as in Tomato-growing. If the plant is only to 

 carry two branches the weakest of the three is removed ; 

 if it is to have one only the best is kept and the other two 

 are removed. 



The branches are kept about six inches apart, and are 

 trained vertically or diagonally to wires or rods. The 

 haulm becomes broad and flat, and the leaves grow very 

 large and assume a bluish colour. 



If a plant does not throw up shoots naturally from the 

 base it can be made to do so by taking out the point of 

 the leader when four inches high. 



One result of growing Sweet Peas on the restrictive 

 principle is that they produce very long thick flower 

 stems, and here lies a danger. The stems may be so long 

 that the flowers are spread over them in a loose, irregular 

 way, with wide gaps between them. In such a condition 

 the sprays lack elegance, they are coarse and unsightly. 

 On this account it is unwise to apply the system in its 

 utmost severity in the case of very strong sorts, which 

 should not be reduced below three branches. Weak 

 growers may be restricted to two, or even one. 



While a writer of a modern work on gardening must 

 take cognizance of every prominent development, it does 

 not follow that he is in complete sympathy with it in every 

 case. Those who grow Sweet Peas for garden decoration 

 and for supplying cut bloom are advised to leave the 

 hard-pruning system to exhibitors, and to grow the plants 



