CULTIVATION IN THE OPEN AIR I 1 3 



trench being made. Dusting for mildew is sometimes neces- 

 sary out of doors, and forceful syringing may have to be 

 practiced to clear the plants of green fly. However, by care- 

 ful and assiduous attention all the time, no green fly ought 

 ever to gain a foothold. Stirring the soil along the rows 

 with a hoe is necessary, and a tight mulch of decomposed 

 manure helps to retain the moisture and affords nutriment 

 when rains come. Where the sun scorches the blooms a 

 line of shading material can be rigged up as already sug- 

 gested for the Peas under glass. 



Where the seeds are planted or sown directly in the 

 soil, a good method is to place three seeds triangularly an 

 inch and a half apart in little hillocks in a trench that is a 

 couple of inches deep. These hillocks are made at inter- 

 vals of 6 in., and the seeds are put 2 in. deep and the soil 

 made moderately firm. At least one of the seedlings, if 

 all of them germinate, must be removed and a couple of 

 shoots or vines be trained up. Excellent Peas will be got 

 from these. 



The great majority of growers, however, still sow their 

 seed in a furrow that is taken out with a spade or a draw 

 hoe, the latter generally. Such furrow may be 8 in. wide. 

 The seeds are strewn along so as to fall at intervals of 2 in. 

 to 3 in. apart all over, and are covered 2 in. deep and 

 moderately firmed, the surface, however, being left loose. 

 This is done by drawing a small rake very lightly along 

 the row. In times past, Sweet Peas were sown too thickly, 

 but the varieties then did not grow so tall as those today; 

 most likely it was because they had not the chance. 



For mulching in Summer lawn mowings are sometimes 

 used, but there is no nourishment in these, though they 

 conserve the moisture. Occasionally they become closely 

 matted, in which case they must be stirred up. 



