232 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



that culture has gone a little beyond this, and by raising plants 

 under glass in September, growing them under glass throughout 

 the winter, planting them out in rich soil in spring, growing them 

 in a moist climate and constantly cutting the flowers before they 

 had time to ripen seeds, has kept the plants growing and flowering 

 for fourteen months. Further, it is possible to propagate Sweet 

 Peas by cuttings a method of increase which can be practised 

 with very few annuals. Still, a hardy annual the plant is. 



Dealing first with the seed, this ripens on the plants in summer, 

 earlier or later according to the time of sowing and the weather. 

 Those who grow for seed often find themselves at a disadvantage 

 if the plants go on growing right through the summer, because 

 the weather at the end of summer may not be favourable for 

 ripening. On this account they do not prepare very rich, moist 

 soil, and persist in cutting the flowers ; but use ordinary soil, and 

 are quite satisfied if the plants only grow four feet high, and go 

 out of bloom and into pod in July or early August. 



It will be seen from this that the interests of growers for seed 

 and of cultivators for prolonged garden beauty are not served by 

 the same cultural methods. It is possible, of course, to serve 

 both purposes fairly well, but it needs a little give and take. In 

 the main, growers of Sweet Peas will be wise to decide at the first 

 whether garden display or seed production is the principal con- 

 sideration. Amateurs at all events will be well advised to let 

 seed-saving fall into second place, or even be abandoned altogether. 

 Seed is cheap, and as a rule is more reliable when bought from 

 a recognised dealer than when saved at home. Those who par- 

 ticularly want to save seeds of one or two varieties should cease 

 picking flowers from a few plants in July. These will soon form 

 pods, which will change colour in August. Should this month 

 be wet and dull, so that the plants break into fresh growth and 

 bloom instead of finishing off the crop, the plants may be drawn 

 from the ground or cut off at the soil level, but left hanging on 



