CHAPTER III 



Sweet Pea Difficulties Made Clear 

 Selection of Sweet Peas 



Q. Please say how you would improve on the following collection 

 of Sweet Peas, most of which I have .already got. 1, Zephyr ; 2, 

 Crimson Paradise ; 3, Evelyn Hemus ; 4, Paradise Ivory ; 5, Paradise 

 Carmine ; 6, Constance Oliver ; 7, Elsie Herbert ; 8, Olive Ruflell ; 

 9, Mrs. Charles Foster; 10, Helen Paradise ; 11, Gladys Burt ; 12, 

 Edna Unwin ; 13, Clara Curtis ; 14, Arthur Unwin ; 15, Master- 

 piece ; 16, George North Improved : 17, Mrs. H. Bell ; 18, Etta 

 Dyke; 19, Marjorie Willis ; 20, Syeira Lee. R. G., Ellon. 



A. The list of varieties is a strong one. I should add Douglas 

 Unwin or Prince of Asturias for a maroon ; Mrs. Hardcastle Sykes 

 or Princess Victoria for a blush ; The Marquis or Tennant Spencer 

 for mauve ; and Helen Pierce for a veined blue. These will make 

 up two dozen. 



Manure for Sweet Peas 



Q. I have prepared 2 -feet trenches for growing Sweet Peas next 

 year, and have mixed with the soil, which is fairly rich, a good 

 supply of j-inch bones. In my yard I have a well which receives 

 the drainings from the stables of six horses. Would the sediment 

 and the liquid be safe applied now (November) ? And what quantity 

 should be used ? Would you advise letting it remain on the ground 

 until spring or digging in at the time applied ? Would the result 

 from this be equal to stable or cow manure 1 H. J. F., Portsmouth. 



A. On the whole the ground would benefit by the contents of the 

 well ; the only drawback is that it may tend to make the soil slimy. 

 If you have left the ground rough and lumpy you may safely put the 

 stuff on direct, otherwise you should mix it with ashes before apply- 

 ing it. You might put it on 2 inches thick. Leave it on the surface 

 before turning it in. It could hardly be so good as stable manure, 

 because it would produce less humus ; still, it has got to be disposed 

 of somehow. The best plan of all would be to use it on ground to 

 be planted with Greens, and employ stable manure and chemicals for 

 the Sweet Peas. 



48 



