736 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



SSPTEMB£R 28, 1912. 



that the sweet pea, as an indoor flower, is 

 as yet merely an infant. Indeed, I go so 

 far as to say that the time wil[ come when 

 high-elass blooms will be produced from 

 December onwards. American growers 

 have for years been producing sweet peas 

 under glass from November till June^ but 

 the type of flower produced is not to Eng- 

 lish lastes. 



Sweet Peas for Glass Culture. 



For some reason, the Zoolanck and 

 Telemly varieties are not &i\tisfactory here, 

 yet in America the first-named type c 

 be made to grow 10ft. or more, and 

 produce 12 to 18in. stems, the flowers often- 

 times selling wholesale at one dollar per 

 100 or more. American growers, however, 

 admit that their flowers are not nearly 

 equal to those produco<l under glass by 

 British growers, hut there is just the dif- 

 ference that America has sweet peas in 

 November, whilst none worthy of the name 

 are to be seen ?t home until mid-April or 

 later. The reason is as stated ; Americans 

 grow the early Zoolanck type, while home 

 growers depend upon the Spencer types. 

 The difference ibetween the two is that 

 tlie early-flowering kinds arc* active all the 

 time, and they run up without a check, 

 while the Spencer, or late-flowering type, 

 stand still after germinating, while they are 

 breaking at tlir base, and any attempt to 

 force them alonii *^n<ls in failure. The 

 British public has been echu^ited up to 

 big blooms, and the small flowers of the 

 Zoolanck type are not acceptable. 



It is generally admitted that the early 

 sorts already in existence are not satisfa< - 

 tory. Apart from their small size ami 

 hoode<l form, they are sometimes much 

 mixed, but nevertheless I am convinced 

 tliat the treatment geiu^rally accorded them 

 is not conducive to their well-being. Owing 

 to onr dull winters the seed ought to be 

 sown early in August instead of late Sep- 

 tember or Octoiber as is usually tlie <*asr. 



Treated properly, the early tyjH s wili flower 

 weeks ahead of the ordinary forms, but no 

 treatment will make them take on the size 

 so much desired. We tlierefore must con- 

 fine eiirseh^es to the giant Spencers already 

 in favour. 



The Most Suitable Structure. 



To grow sweet peas un<ler glass one iiuist 

 have a good and suitable lumse. It is use- 

 less to expect high-class bkioms from plants 

 grown in a house where sundry other things 

 calling for a high temperature have resi- 

 dence. Neither can one expe<'t big blooms 

 and long stems from plants growing iti 

 32 or even 24-sized pots. Excellent <UH ()ra- 

 ti\'e plants may \ye grown in the latti^r, bur 

 m>thing approaching the high-<'lass exhibi- 

 tion flower, as grown out<loors, must be 

 expeete<l. Given a house to itf^elf, the sweet 

 pea is happy, but the id<^al hor.^e must he 

 liglit and airy. The American cultivators 

 usuaily grow their crops in ^]>au-hous<>s 30ft. 

 to 50ft. wide, and I question whetluM- any 

 grower in this countiy prmlures choice ex- 

 hibition flowers in a house less than 20ft. 



Raising: Seedlings and 



Repotting;. 



The time is at hand when the seed must 

 be sown, and they should be put in withoixt 

 delay . Th ree-inch pots fi 1 led w i th good 

 loam, with a little sand and rotttnl manure 

 ad<le(l, should be the home for one seed 



and to ensure good and even germina- 

 seleet the plumpest see<ls available, 

 and chip each with a knife if it happens 

 to be dark. Cover witli about a quarter 

 of an inch of soil, and stan<l in a cold 

 frame with the lights closed. White s^hmIs 

 may be merely pr<*ssed into the soil an<l 

 lightly covered witli sand. No watering is 

 necessary if the soil is sufficiently moist. 



tion 



Tilt the lights well up as soon as the seed- 

 lings are through^ and nev^er let them want 

 for air. If the leading growth keeps fat 

 and succulent, let it alone, but, if any of 

 the plants commence to plump up the lower 



eyes, 



and cause the leading growth t-o 



stand still, pinch out the top, and carry up 

 the strongest shoot that follows. If the 

 hou^ is ready by December, prepare the 

 ground by double digging and manuring, 

 choosing, of course, the centre of the 

 house. 



A house 20ft. wide will allow for three 

 rows of pots, with a pathway of about 24in. 

 between each X house with high eave- 

 plates will allow for more^ but it must be 

 understood that if the roof is not 8ft. 

 above the ground level there wdl be trouble. 

 Prepare sufficient soil to fill the I2in. pots 

 required, and it may be mentioned that the 

 pots are to stand close to each other in 

 the rows. Good holding loam, and well- 

 rotted manure are the main things to have. 

 Leaf-soil is unnecessary, hut sufficient sand 

 to keep the soil open should ibe added. Make 

 the soil firm, and then stand the pots in 

 the house. Bring in the plants and allow 

 them to remain for a day or two until they 

 are used to the change, but on no ac- 

 count shut off air. Heat is quite unneces- 

 sary. After a brief spell, turn otit the 

 plants^ and set four in each of the big 

 pots, allowing two on either side opposite 

 ch other. 



Flower buds are usually slower at .show- 

 ing under glass than in the open, and it is 

 not uncommon for the plants to be 4ft. 

 before buds appear^ and these early ones 

 not infrequently fall off, ibut if the tempera- 

 ture and ventilation are attended to, there 

 is little trouble in this direction. At this 

 stage the plants will take plenty of feeding 

 and from April onwards a good supply of 

 liquid manure may be given once or twice 

 a week according to the growth. At this 

 time of the vear, all top, and often the 

 side, ventilators, should be open on bright 

 days and no artificial heat should be neces- 

 sary during the day, except when the 

 weather is damp or very dull. After flower- 

 ing commences the plants grow at an amaz- 

 ing rate, and if becomes a problem how 

 to give them head room. Sometimes one 

 can pull them dow^n a bit if the ties are 

 not tight, but this has to be carefully done. 

 Odd laterals that may appear can be car- 

 ried up to' replace any growth that has to 

 be cut away, and if tliinning has not been 

 too thorough, one can usually obtain some 

 good hasal laterals. 



Why Grow in Pots 



0 



light. 



Set a trifle deeper than for- 

 merly, and make the soil very firm. Give a 

 stake te each plant if necessary, and stand 

 the pfjts in. a po^^ition where they have full 



Avoid watei ing more than neces- 

 sa vy\ l)iit if the weather becomes severe, 

 turn on sufficient heat to keep out frost. 

 Do not attempt to hustle the plants or 

 they will soon become spindly, and have a 

 bad attack of greenfly. Watch for this peet 

 at all times^ for it can do much damage. 



Arrang^ing* and Traming the 



Plants. 



Some may he disposed to ask why pots are 

 necessary. They act as a check on ram- 

 pant growth, and, furthier, they give the 

 plants a better start as the soil keeps 

 warmer, and air^ not ground draughts, cir- 

 culates amongst them before the pots are 

 sunk. If planted out direct into the groimd 

 they are s-lower to get away, and later on, 

 if the soil is highly fed, the plants will be 

 against the roof before many flowers are 

 produced. 



The cultivator must aim at keeping his 

 plants down without checking them, and 

 here is whore the skill comes in. Even 

 when sown or planted rather closely, the 

 plants will persist in going up. This past 

 season I saw several hotiscrs with plants set 

 out in the ground, which had actually 

 reached the limit find come over several 



When the plants are growing well, and .mi come 



e r<^is, bnv,' f:.ken .nr^^l holrl ..f fl.^ f^^, totalling, I should imagine, some 16ft. 



the roots have taken good hold of the soil, 

 it will be nece-ssary to prepare the stations 

 where the plants are to stand permanently. 

 The soil in the house having heen preparecl 

 beforehand will be in good trim, and 

 trenches deep enough to take the pots to 

 the level of the rim should be made. Stir 

 a little well-slaked lime and soot in the 

 bottom, and ^et the pets in position. Sup- 

 ports must be prepared at once, and there 

 is nothing better for the single-stemmed 

 platits than tall bamboos. Wires strained 

 taut to u])rights at each end of the house 

 will give the canes tlie support they need. 



Keep the plants well tied, and pinch out 

 all laterals. About the middle of February 



heat can be given, 'but never force 

 up the temperature aibove 55 degrees ; 50 

 degrees is really ample, and a drop of 5 de- 

 grees at night is more beneficial than other- 

 wise. On sunny days give plenty of V(Mitila- 

 tion, hut avoid draughts, or mildew may 

 come along and spoil one's effoiis. A 

 syringing with clear water overhead at 

 midday in bright weather is appreciated, 

 but do not damp down at night. Never 

 shut the ventilators at any time. 



Watering and Feeding, 



A little liquid cow-manure may be given 

 occasionally when the plants areVbout two 

 feet or so high, but avoid nitrates or strong 

 chemical manures. Sulphate of potash, 

 about Uya. to the gallon, will tend to keep 

 the pi, Hits from getting too soft, and occa- 

 sional waterings with permanganate oif 

 potash will keep the soil sweet. Dust the 

 sod with slaked lime about once a fortnight, 

 and do not aUew the plants to :becomedry' 

 Thoroughly soak the entire ground when 

 watering. 



or more of growtli. 



o-ood blooms may be 



As stated, very ^ 

 grown in Sin. or 9in. pots, not sunk, but 

 two or three plants in each are ample. 

 Giant exhibition blooms are, however, im- 

 possible, but anyone who has a use for neat 

 flowers on 9in. or lOin. stems can get them. 

 High feeding is necessary, but the life or 

 the plants is short compared w^ith those 

 grown as described. 



Diseases other than mildew do not affect 

 plants under glass, at least I have never 



American growers, however, 

 know only too well what havoc can be 

 wrought by various diseases, including tn^ 

 twin brother of oui- own detestable 

 streak." Greenfly must he kept down 

 by fumigation but so long as the plants are 

 grown hard tliis pest causes little trouble. 



seen such. 



Almost 



Varieties. 



any variety will sticceed ^^^'^^^^ 

 glass ; indeed, some varieties, such as Aftei- 

 glow and Stirling .Stent, are 'better indeoi> 

 than out. The average gardener needs but 

 few colours, however, and I would recom 

 mend ^loneymakei', white ; Empress, niauve , 

 R. F. Felton, lavender ; Orange Perfection 

 or Thomas Stevenson, orange-pnik an^ 

 orange-scarlet ; .Scarlet Emperor or Dobbie^^ 

 Scarlet; Doris Usher, deep cream-pin*J^ 

 and Lady Knox, cream, tinted pnik' 

 must he understood that while all varieti 

 do well under glass, the colour is apt 

 be misleading. Avoid all the very p^^i^ 

 weak shades^, for with few exceptions, 

 varieties come considerably pnhM' nn< 

 glass than outdoors. Shading is not n? 

 sary, and the plants must have all the nh 

 possible. T. A. 



