ANNUAL FLOWERS 43 



happy in possessing large gardens can sow them freely, 

 even to the extent of devoting a border to them ; but in the 

 small garden this is not so, and the Sweet Peas must be put 

 where there is sufficient space. By the margin of the vege- 

 table plot or the fruit trees will prove suitable, anywhere 

 their flowers are near together, and perfume the garden. 

 Where extra trouble is of little moment, a good way is to 

 sow a few seeds in five-inch pots in April. Place them in the 

 greenhouse to promote quick germination, and then to a cold 

 frame to harden the growth. At the end of May plant out 

 with as little disturbance as possible to the roots. By grow- 

 ing them under glass it must not be thought that anything 

 in the way of forcing is desirable. A very warm temperature 

 means a drawn-up, weakly growth, which will never give strong, 

 well-coloured flowers. Place the seedlings quite near to the 

 glass to prevent a possible attenuated stem. With spring 

 sowing out of doors, the usual way is followed: sow in April, 

 and mix some well-decayed manure with the subsoil. Keep a 

 watchful eye for slugs, and during the early stages protect 

 with twigs or ferns. Remember the advice given, that to 

 maintain a succession of flowers keep the seed pods picked 

 off ; and we must look over the plants two or three times a 

 week for this purpose. 



Select/on. Sweet Peas are very numerous, and not a few 

 so much alike that it is needful to make a careful selection. 

 Blanche Burpee and Sadie Burpee are the purest of the white 

 flowers unquestionably. Countess of Radnor is a soft mauve- 

 lavender, a very pretty shade ; and Lady Grisel Hamilton may 

 be best described as heliotrope. Creole, a deep purplish colour, 

 is very handsome ; and other good kinds are Mrs. Eckford, 

 Mr. Gladstone, or Apple Blossom, soft rose-pink ; Prince 

 Edward of York, rose and scarlet mixed ; Gorgeous, orange 

 and pink ; Lady Nina Balfour, mauve ; Lady Penzance, rose, 

 touched with salmon ; Etna, crimson ; Salopian, orange-red ; 

 Primrose, primrose shade ; Mars, crimson. 



