84 HENDERSON'S GARDEN GUIDE AND RECORD. 



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ow to vJroNA/ oweet 1 eas. 



Sweet Peas as. ordinarily grown in northern climates are simply sown early in the 

 spring in rows 5 feet apart, the seeds 2 to 3 inches apart and covered 1 to 2 inches with soil, 

 the plants being supported by brush or trellis. Even under this indifferent cultural treat- 

 ment, Sweet Peas will give satisfaction when soil and season are not uncongenial. But 

 to grow the best and largest flowers and lengthen the season of bloom, special treatment 

 must be given. In the first place, we must understand that the Sweet Pea plant, if given 

 the opportunity, will send its roots down 2 feet or more in their search for food and equable, 

 cool, moist (not wet) soil. Established plants under such conditions are not so susceptible 

 to drouth and heat as plants permitted to only root near the surface. Another important 

 essential is earliness in sowing. Get the seed in the ground as soon as the frost is out, 

 the object being to have as long a spell of cool weather as possible after sowing to deter 

 top growth and throw the strength into root action, which goes on just the same. For this 

 reason Sweet Pea seeds are sown in Southern States, California, etc., in the fall or early 

 winter, according to climate. Remember that well and deeply rooted insures luxuriant 

 plants, large flowers, and a prolonged blooming season. To attain this desideratum, 

 soil preparation is very important. The soil should be made rich and mellow by digging 

 it 2 feet deep and incorporating with it old, rotted and pulverized manure so there will be 

 no lumps of manure left to bum the roots. In case a stiff subsoil lies nearer to the surface 

 than 2 feet, then "trenching" should be resorted to, as described on page 5. Fall pre- 

 paration gives the best results, especially if the ground is left rough to weather during the 

 winter. In the spring before sov/ing the seeds, lime and bonedust at the rate of M lb. 

 of each to the square yard may be worked into the upper 6 inches of soil with good results 

 Sow the seeds — for reasons before explained — as early as possible in the spring, in rows 

 5 feet apart, seeds to be about 3 inches apart; and, if ground has beer, prepared as advised, 

 then the plants are to stand not nearer than 6 inches apart. As a rule we grow Sweet 

 Peas too crowded in America. Keep well cultivated and hoe a shallow furrow 6 inches from 

 the row on both sides, to receive liberal applications of water during drouth. These same 

 furrows may also be utilized in applying stimulants if needed, such as weak manure water 

 (prepared as directed on page 23) or nitrate of soda, 1 oz. dissolved to bucket of water 

 and applied to 15 feet of row once a fortnight. Cut the flowers freely, for, if many are 

 allowed to form seedpods, the plants soon go out of bloom. 



SUPPORTING SWEET PEA VINES. Sweet Peas are most natural, graceful and 

 picturesque when twining to brush supports. Thrust the butts firmly in the ground and 

 incline the brush so they cross one another "xx" style; then tie occasionally where they 

 cross to add strength in case of wind. 



Single "Wire-Netting Support. Strong stakes driven 2 feet in the ground and about 

 10 feet apart with the netting tacked on, is all there is to putting up single-row netting. 

 The height depends on how tall Sweet Peas grow with you. The average is probably 

 5 to 6 feet, for which netting 4 feet wide will be required — the bottom being 1 foot above 

 the groimd to permit of cultivation between plants. 



Netting Both. Sides of the Row. In situations exposed to strong winds — liable to 

 blow the vines off single-row netting, it is advisable to net both sides of the row — but as 

 it is difficult to pick the flowers when netted to the full height it is therefore best to run 

 netting 18 inches wide — the bottom one foot from the groimd; then as the vines attam 

 sufficient height, run a strand of wire 6 inches above the top of the netting, adding other 

 strands same distance apart as needed. The opposite stakes should be 1 foot apart or 

 each 6 inches from the plants. 



HOW THE ENGLISH GROW THEIR BIG EXHIBITION 

 SWEET PEAS. 



The seeds are sown late in January or early in February in pots, one seed to a 3-inch 

 pot. These are then plunged in a coldframe or in a cold greenhouse, the temperature being 

 just warm enough to keep out frost, air being given on all favorable occasions. As the 

 pots fill with roots the plants are shifted into larger pots and so on until ready to net out 

 in the open ground in April, in soil prepared three feet deep the fall before. The plants 

 are knocked out of the pots, disturbing the ball of earth and roots as little as possible, and 

 set out one foot apart in the row. The details of soil preparation (excepting depth). 

 general culture and treatment are practically the same as we have advised for American 

 culture. A week or ten days before the exhibition most of the flowers are removed, leaving 

 a few of the longest-stemmed developing buds carrying 3 and 4 buds to a stem. 



