238 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



Directly the plants begin to form tendrils and they will do 

 this very soon after they are fairly established the sticks which are 

 to support them should be placed in position. It is wise to order 

 these betimes, because then they are ready at the moment they 

 are wanted. Larch, Ash, Hazel, and Chestnut are all employed ; 

 the local supply generally governs the kind used. The main point 

 is that they should be tall and strong, so that when firmly fixed 

 they will be capable of supporting a heavy mass of plants. The 

 ends should be sharpened, and forced into the ground to a depth 



of eight or nine inches. If the sticks 

 are set about ten inches apart in lines 

 twelve inches asunder on each side of the 

 plants, they will serve their purpose. The 

 side branches of the sticks will cross each 

 other, and the shoots can be interlaced. 

 It may be necessary to tie the plants 

 to the sticks while they are developing 

 the first thirty inches of main stem, but 

 this is easily done with raphia or green 

 raffiatape. Directly side-shoots begin to 

 form they will attach themselves tightly 

 to the sticks by means of the tendrils. 



A plan of treating the plants which 

 is practised by one of the leading growers 

 with the object of getting a succession of prize blooms is worth 

 mentioning, and that is to pinch out the tip of the leading shoot 

 of every alternate plant when it has reached four feet high, serving 

 those left in the same way when they have reached a height of 

 six feet. This plan secures early and late flowers. Of course 

 the plants grow on again, and eventually reach a height of eight 

 to eleven feet. 



In view of the beauty of Sweet Pea flowers for decorating 

 rooms, it is gratifying that cutting helps the plants to keep up 



SWEET PEAS EARTHING OP AND 



STICKING 

 A, A, soil drawn up to young plants ; B, 



stout stakes placed at each side of row 

 for support of sticks. 



