Gardening for Amateurs 



539 



the middle of May, nice bushy sticks about 

 2| feet long affording sufficient support 

 until then. 



Training the Plants. As we are now 

 dealing only with the cultivation of Sweet 

 Peas in order to secure both quantity and 

 quality (see a later page for exhibition 

 treatment) we advise that every shoot or 

 growth the plants make be retained and 

 tied to the supports, so that the latter may 



kept clear sun and air are allowed free access 

 to every part of the plant, and vigorous 

 stems and leaves, so necessary for the pro- 

 duction of good flowers, are ensured. 



Treatment before Flowering. In their 

 desire to obtain early flowers, some growers 

 attempt to force the pace by the use of 

 artificial or animal manures, but it often 

 happens that this mistaken kindness pro- 

 duces an effect the reverse of that antici- 



Sweet Peas in a Scottish garden. 



be covered in the shortest possible time. 

 Endeavour to get the base well furnished 

 first, then at the time of full flowering, the 

 plants will be one mass of bloom from top to 

 base. The laterals or side growths should be 

 kept on the outside of the sticks, especially 

 before flowering begins, otherwise they soon 

 become a tangled mass, and owing to their 

 brittle nature the necessary rearrangement 

 is attended by much risk ; yet if this is not 

 done badly-shaped flowers on crooked stems 

 are certain to result. 



When the inside of the clump or row is 



pated. Early applications of stimulants 

 force the growth of the plants unduly, and 

 cause the buds to fall prematurely. Well- 

 prepared soil contains sufficient nourishment 

 for even the strongest-growing varieties 

 until the earliest flowers have opened. The 

 plants are benefited greatly l>\ l>ein. r -y ringed 

 at least once a day in hot \\eather. 



During early May it is advisable to do 

 this towards mid day. l>ut later on two sy- 

 ringings should be given, the tii>t al>out nine 

 in the morning, the second het \\een three 

 and four o'clock. This is, of course, a counsel 



