110 AUTUMN SOWING OUTDOORS 



Autumn sowing is worth the trouble in this country, except 

 perhaps, of course, south of Philadelphia: there is fre- 

 quently a large mortality owing to the frost or the rains. 

 However, even if a very little growth appears, growth will, 

 most likely, start strongly, and the plants will certainly be 

 considerably superior to those sown in the Spring because 

 the roots get down deeper and supply sap and nourishment 

 even in the hot spells in the flowering season. Such sow- 

 ings are made in September or early in October. 



Growers who desire plants for the June and July 

 exhibitions start their seeds in heat indoors in March and, 

 when germinated, take the pots to a cool house or frame 

 and grow the plants along slowly and sturdily. The seeds 

 ought to be sown in 3 in. pots, three oT four in a pot in soil 

 similar to that mentioned on page 59, the pots being placed 

 in a house with a temperature of between 50 to 60 deg. 

 Fahr., and when the seeds have germinated, and are 

 through the soil, either lower the temperature to 45 deg., 

 or remove the plants to a house of that temperature. Later, 

 when they have grown to 3 in. in height, they should be 

 potted into 5 in. pots and have a few twigs placed around 

 the edges of the pots for support. Then transfer them 

 to a coldframe, where they may remain on an ash bottom, 

 grown as cool as possible until they are planted out about 

 the middle of April, sooner or later, according to the weather. 

 The coldframe should have the protection of double sashes 

 or an overhead covering to the frames in very severe 

 weather, but only then. Allow them as much air and 

 light as possible without subjecting them to alternating 

 thawings and freezings. This is what does harm, and 

 causes mortality. The Pea is a hardy annual, a fact that 

 growers should never forget. 



There is no gain, however, in planting too early, and 



