58 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



double rows i foot apart each way and 6 feet between the 

 rows, the ground being well trenched during the winter. 

 In the field the plants are put in with a trowel 10 inches 

 apart in single rows and 5 feet between the rows, which run 

 north and south. I plant the varieties that are similar in 

 colour next to each other for easy comparison. 



" Sticks for Support I use the ordinary Pea-sticks, which 

 are easily obtained round here, and have never used wire 

 or wire-netting or any other support. Short, branching sticks 

 are stuck in directly after planting, and the taller ones put 

 in later. Readers may ask, Why take all this trouble about 

 planting out ; why not sow in the ground ? The answer is, 

 The plants are much earlier, and you start with a perfect 

 plant to begin with, whatever happens afterwards. I believe 

 that Sweet Peas are something like children, and should have 

 time and attention given them in their early stages. Having 

 had a good send-off they will continue to grow up in the 

 right way." 



Although Mr. Christy so strongly and rightly advocates 

 autumn sowing under glass, the amateur, who for some 

 reason or other is prevented from doing so, can get good 

 results by sowing the seed in the open garden in March. In 

 warm localities, and where the soil is well drained, outdoor 

 sowing in September may be successfully adopted, and if the 

 plants survive the winter they will give better results than 

 those sown in spring. Thin sowing is essential, and the 

 plants should be subsequently thinned so that they stand at 

 least nine inches apart. 



Good Sweet Peas for Exhibition. Mrs. C. W. Breadmore, 

 cream, red edge ; Elsie Herbert, white, red edge ; John 

 Ingman, carmine ; Selected King Edward VII Spencer, 

 crimson ; Hercules, pink ; Nubian, maroon ; Helen Gros- 

 venor, orange pink ; Mrs. Routzahn, pale cream pink ; Queen 

 of Norway, mauve ; King White, white ; Florence Nightin- 

 gale, lavender ; Earl Spencer, salmon ; Clara Curtis, cream ; 

 Mrs. W. J. Unwin, white, red stripes ; Thomas Stevenson, 

 orange scarlet ; Doris Usher, cream pink ; Elfrida Pearson, 

 pale pink ; Arthur Unwin, rose and cream ; Scarlet Monarch, 

 scarlet ; Flora Norton Spencer, pale blue ; Mrs. Townsend, 

 white, shaded blue ; Charles Foster, pink, mauve shades ; 

 Marie Corelli, rose ; Queen of Spain Spencer, pink. 



In the above list the first twelve varieties form an excellent 

 all-round selection for those who require that number. Those 

 who require eighteen varieties should choose the first eighteen 

 in the list. Of course, in such a matter as the selection of 



