72 REGULATING THE SHOOTS 



Aphine costs $2.50 a gallon. One fumigation every three or 

 four weeks is enough, and should be done even if no green fly 

 is about, and in order not to burn or harm thetender growths, 

 fumigate when the temperature is not higher than 60 deg. 

 Fahr. Hydrocyanic acid gas is used by some growers but 

 in the case of Sweet Peas it is not to be recommended. It 

 too frequently causes burning and dropping of the buds. 

 Mildew may be kept in check by dusting with finely 

 powdered sulphur, blown upon them by a Malbec bellows. 

 After a couple of days, syringe it off and when the plants 

 are again quite dry, dust them again, lightly. The hot 

 water pipes must neither be painted with sulphur nor have 

 any sulphur dusted upon them, as the heat causes sulphur 

 fumes to arise which do much damage to the crop and 

 discolor the woodwork. However, the use of sulphur is 

 an evil in itself, inasmuch as it clogs the pores of the 

 leaves. But the mildew has already done that if the at- 

 tack is a bad one, or will do it if not prevented, and the 

 finely pulverized sulphur prevents it. Careful watering, 

 firing, and ventilation will do more than all else to pre- 

 vent mildew. 



REGULATING THE SHOOTS 



An important part of the routine work in Sweet Pea 

 cultivation consists in regulating the shoots, not that this 

 requires an enormous amount of time and attention, but 

 it is a very necessary factor in the production of first-class 

 market blooms. If wire netting is the means of support 

 there will be less need of tying, although it pays to keep the 

 leading shoots fairly straight and well fastened up. Never 

 tie so firmly that the stem is squeezed or bruised, as injuries 

 of this kind, like the injuries that arise from faulty pulling 

 of the flower stems, offer a fine field for fungus spores to 



