SWEET PEAS 57 



of fibrous loam. I use large wooden boxes, such as Sunlight 

 Soap boxes, so easily obtained from the grocers or oilmen. 

 These are, of course, fairly deep, and are rather heavy for 

 lifting about ; but it is important that there should be plenty 

 of room for the roots of autumn-sown Sweet Peas. Do not 

 forget to make holes in the bottom for drainage, and crock 

 the boxes as you would for pots. Press the soil fairly solid ; 

 this is necessary, as a loose soil causes the plants to be soft 

 and weak. When sowing the seed I use a handy little tool 

 of my own device, made of wood, something like a rake, 

 with large, blunted teeth half an inch in length. When well 

 pressed down on the surface of the box this makes holes at 

 equal distances and of equal depth, rendering it very easy 

 to drop in the seeds, the holes being about two inches apart. 

 Cover up the seeds with about half an inch of soil, and press 

 down with a block of wood. Label each box, and mark on the 

 back of the label the number of seeds in each, as it is interest- 

 ing to be able to count the failures or successes, as the case 

 may be. The boxes are now placed in rows with alleys, so 

 that I can get among them easily, putting black cotton over 

 them to keep the sparrows off. Of course, one Pea in a pot 

 is the ideal where possible. I place pieces of carrot about 

 the boxes to attract the slugs, which, unfortunately, are only 

 too plentiful. While they are enjoying the carrot, though 

 not exactly ' improving the shining hour/ at least they are not 

 eating my Sweet Peas. Look out for mice, which are almost 

 certain to visit you. I set the 'break-back' or 'Little Nip- 

 per ' traps. On the weather becoming cold I fill all the avail- 

 able cold frames with the boxes, and make a temporary 

 shelter for the others with oil sheeting, placed on wooden 

 supports, which is rolled up every morning, or when not 

 required to keep off heavy rain. This also protects them 

 from a certain amount of frost. But frost does not hurt 

 Sweet Peas. I have seen my seedlings laid down flat, like 

 dead men, during a sharp frost ; but when the thaw came 

 they stood up, and were as right as ever in a few days. 

 It is the damp and sudden changes that are harmful to them. 

 If the soil in the boxes gets stagnant or green on the top, 

 scratch it up with a sharp-pointed stick; this is equal to 

 hoeing them in their later stages. The tops are pinched 

 out of all my plants ; this makes the side growths much 

 stronger. 



" Planting Out. Early in April planting-out time comes. 

 Choose the right days according to the state of your ground 

 and the weather. In the garden I grow the Sweet Peas in 



