STAKING 105 



a plant or two to die, and vacancies of this kind should 

 be made good, but not before the enemy has been found 

 and killed. 



Staking. When the plants are from 9 inches to i foot 

 high staking should be done, and this is a task that necessi- 

 tates some little trouble. A few years ago one just staked 

 Sweet Peas as an ordinary row of culinary Peas, but now 

 that more trouble is taken in thinning the bine or haulm, 

 staking has to be done accordingly. I know no better 

 method than putting a strong pole at the end of each row, 

 with one in the centre if a long row, with cross-pieces, one 

 about 3 feet up and the other 7 to 8 feet. To these cross- 

 pieces strain a wire from end to end, and then use long 

 hazel stakes, inclining them towards the wires, and placing 

 a tie here and there to make them tidy and flat. By 

 inclining the tops of the stakes inwards, and training the 

 plants on the outside of these, all the flowers will develop 

 freely, and not come deformed, as many of them do, if 

 allowed to grow up anyhow between the stakes. This 

 method entails much extra labour, but it results in the 

 flowers having good, strong, and straight stems, which 

 are easy of arrangement when they are brought to the 

 exhibition. 



For supporting clumps it is a good plan to make a 

 strong wire hoop, or a twisted hazel will do, any size that 

 is required. To this the tops of the stakes can be tied, 



