38 CULTURE OF THE SWEET PEA 



will aid in keeping the ball of earth entire 

 when the plants are knocked out of the 

 pots. If the soil is dry when the planting 

 is done, it will often be advisable to water 

 the plants when they are set. Under nor- 

 mal conditions, however, this practice is 

 not advised. 



The Cordon System.^ After trans- 

 planting, pinch off the tip or growing 

 point of the plant and allow only two lat- 

 erals to develop. Pinch off all others and 

 thereafter allow only two shoots on each 

 plant. If the ground has previously been 

 well firmed down, the plants will be sturdy 

 and short jointed, producing an abundance 

 of blossoms. For the cordon system the 

 plants should be trained up on tall sticks 

 about ten feet high, which have been se- 

 curely fastened at their upper end to a 

 stretched wire. A good practice is to have 



* By Frank G. Cuthbertson, Sweet Pea Specialist. 



