26 CULTURE OF THE SWEET PEA 



it is advisable to sow seeds of this color 

 close together and not so deep as the black- 

 seeded varieties. 



In some seasons, sweet pea seeds are 

 slow in germinating. It is well to exam- 

 ine such seeds in order to ascertain their 

 condition. If the seeds are found dor- 

 mant but still fresh and plump, the seed- 

 coats should be cut with a sharp knife and 

 replanted; they will then germinate well. 

 This difficulty is not confined to the sweet 

 pea; some of the other species of Lathyrus 

 behave similarly. The trouble usually 

 follows a very hot dry season, when the 

 seed becomes so excessively ripened as to 

 render the seed-coat impervious to water. 

 Sometimes, in order to expedite germina- 

 tion, the seeds are soaked; a better method 

 for the amateur is that recommended by 

 Mr. Hutchins. He places the seed pack- 

 ets in moist earth for seven or eight days. 



