78 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



streak. What it really is, or whence it comes, no one has 

 any clear idea ; or if they have they are keeping the know- 

 ledge to themselves. Streak is not one half as prevalent as 

 the alarmists would have us believe. Directly a man finds 

 a plant yellowing a little at the base he decides that it is 

 streak, whereas it is far more likely to be ordinary Pea 

 mould, or even failure, for which no reason can be found, 

 but which is, generally speaking, more prevalent in old, 

 thoroughly cultivated garden soils which have been manured 

 year after year with natural manures and have gradually 

 become overstocked with humus. 



There is undoubtedly a condition known as streak, but 

 so long as it remains in its present stage growers have no 

 cause to worry. It will destroy odd plants, but if these are 

 pulled up as soon as they are seen the grower will not suffer 

 very great loss. Those who do not understand the differ- 

 ence between streak, mould, or yellowing need not give 

 themselves a moment's anxiety in the matter. The thing 

 is to pull up and burn the plant in any case, for the simple 

 reason that the mould is difficult, and often impossible, to 

 cure ; the yellowing is not a disease in the strict sense of 

 the word, and cannot be cured ; while nothing being known 

 about streak, it is obviously impossible for the cultivator to 

 take any effectual remedial measures. 



If the enemies and diseases which attack Sweet Peas 

 were as numerous and varied in character as those that pay 



