42 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



this is to get strong growth, impossible in the stewing heat of 

 a hot-house. 



It is impossible in some gardens to afford artificial heat, 

 and in such cases sowing must be deferred until May outdoors. 

 This is not the proper course where means are available for 

 sowing under glass. 



SWEET PEAS 



This annual flower is too beautiful and fragrant to simply 

 enumerate in a general list without further reference to its 

 importance in all gardens, whether of the palace or of the 

 cottage. In the days of old, the mixed packets of seed 

 afforded a great variety of colours, pink, purple, rose, and 

 others, but at the present time we have the beautiful kinds 

 raised by Mr. Eckford and others, which may be obtained in 

 mixtures or in separate packets that is, in distinct kinds. 



WAYS OF GROWING THE FLOWERS 



Autumn Sowing. Several annuals are better for this 

 practice. They gain great strength during their slow progress 

 in the winter months, and the vigour of the plant when it has 

 made its full growth in late spring or early summer is only 

 equalled by the size and quality of the flowers. But in no 

 annual garden plant is the gain of autumn sowing so conspicu- 

 ous as in the Sweet Pea. Instead of having to wait until July 

 for the flowers, the earliest autumn-sown plants are in full 

 bloom in the earliest days of June, and the flowers are so much 

 larger and longer stalked than on those sown in spring, and 

 more welcome as the only thing of the climbing Pea kind 

 then in bloom. Perhaps the seedlings would not be sure to 

 stand the winter in the colder parts of our islands, and even 

 south of the Thames a very cold winter may now and then 

 destroy them ; but the advantage of securing this fine early 

 flower display in most years is well worth the risk of occa- 

 sional loss. The best way is to sow the seeds in a shallow 

 trench in a double zigzag line, giving each plenty of space, not 

 less than three inches from pea to pea. The seedlings will be 

 about four inches high to stand the winter. If unusually cold 

 weather comes, a protection of Spruce boughs or anything 

 suitable can be used. When they are making strong growth 

 in spring slightly earth them up, and a little not over strong 

 manure water is beneficial. 



Spring Sowing is the usual practice. Those who are 



