288 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 27, 1907. 
winter use, giving a supply from Decem¬ 
ber to February. Leamington is another 
hardy variety that follows Snow’s. The 
seeds of these two varieties should be sown 
about the end of April, and the seedlings 
kept well thinned on the seed bed, where 
they can remain until ground is ready for 
their reception. Freshly manured ground 
is undesirable ; that which has grown early 
Potatos or Peas is more suitable, but it is 
imperative that it should be made firm, as 
quick, sappy growth is detrimental to their 
well-being during the winter months. 
Allow plenty of space between the plants. 
Occasional hoeings is all the crop requires 
until mid-November, when means should 
be taken to protect it. Laying the plants 
is the best protection, and this is per¬ 
formed by easing the roots with a fork 
and laying them so that their heads will 
face north, afterwards making the soil firm 
about the roots. In very severe weather a 
handful of litter or bracken may be placed 
over each plant, and by this practice the 
crop will be doubly secure and fine heads 
can be cut from their cosy bed beneath the 
snow. 
Spadesman. 
-- 
Horticultural Societies’ 
Diary 
of Forthcoming Meetings. 
Abbreviations used. 
A.—Association H.—Horticultural 
Am.—Amateurs M.I.—Mutual Improve- 
Ohy.—Chrysanthemum ment 
c.m.—Committee meeting m.m.—Monthly meeting 
Cott.—Cottage or Cottagers S.—Society 
D.—District w.m.—Weekly meeting 
G.—Gardening or gardener 
Thus The Templeton G. Am. and Cott. M.I.H.S. 
Gardeners, Amateurs’ and Cottagers’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Horticultural Society. 
NOTICE TO SECRETARIES. 
Will secretaries of horticultural societies 
kindly send us at their earliest convenience 
dates of shows and meetings to be held 
during iqoy ? 
April. 
29th.—Horsford G. M. I. S. (w.m.). 
30th — R. H. S. (Fortnightly Exhibition of 
Flowers and Fruit, Vincent Square, 
Westminster ; also the Annual Show 
of the National Auricula and 
Primula Society, 1 to 6 p.m. ; Lec¬ 
ture at 3 p.m. by Mr. H. M. Veitch, 
on “ The Amateur and Horticul¬ 
tural Law.” 
. May. 
1st. — Croydon and D. H. M. I. S. (Spring 
Flower Show); Wargrave and D. 
G. A. (bi.m.m.); Forest Gate and 
Stratford Chy. S. (m.m.); Wood 
Green and D. Am. H. S. (m.m.); 
Rideford and D. H. S. (m.m.); 
Tibshelf FI. H. and Rose S. (m.m.); 
Terrington and Marshland H. S. 
(m.m.); Sheffield FI. and H. S. 
(m.m.); Newport (Mon.) and D. 
G. M. I. A. (m.m.); Ipswich and D. 
G. and Am. A. (m.m.); Woburn 
and D. Cott. G. S. (m.m.). 
2nd.—Greenstreet and D. G. and Cott. 
S (m.m.); Woolton G. M. I. S. 
(m.m.); Batlev and D. Chy. and 
Paxton S. (m.m.). 
3rd. — Caterham H. S. (m.m.). 
at.h. — Leeds Patxton S. (w.m.); Isle of 
Wight H. A. (m.m.); Preston and 
D. G. M. I. A. (m.m.); Blackburn 
and D. H. S. (m.m.). 
Sweet Peas, 
. Work for April. 
In most districts the first half of April 
is about the best time for planting out 
seedlings which have been raised under 
glass. Where they are in pots they may 
either be planted straight out into the 
ground, without disturbing the roots, or 
the plants may be separated and each 
planted by itself. With care the latter 
method seems to give results equal to the 
former, but the former method seems to be 
gaining in popularity, and many growers 
now raise the plants three or four in a 
small pot, so as to be especially suitable 
for planting out without being disturbed. 
One grower who has met with great suc¬ 
cess sows only one seed in each pot, but 
his method is too laborious, and requires 
too much room to be generally adopted. 
Directly the seedlings are planted out, 
means must be taken to protect therii from 
birds, slugs, and snails; for during April 
these pests are liable to prove very trouble¬ 
some. 
The question of the space to be allowed 
from plant to plant is of great importance, 
for one of the commonest mistakes in 
Sweet Pea culture is to grow them too 
closely together. Where they are over¬ 
crowded thev produce neither quantity nor 
quality of blossoms, and are never satis¬ 
factory. Some exhibitors give 18 inches 
for each plant, but this is only advisable 
where everything is specially suitable for 
their requirements, or where there is 
plenty of room. A foot apart is a fair 
distance, and six inches may be looked 
upon as the absolute minimum. The dis¬ 
tances named refer to rows, but where 
clumps are grown the dangers of over¬ 
crowding are just as great. 
Where plants have been raised three or 
four in a pot, if it is desired not to disturb 
the roots, good clumps can be made by 
planting three po-tfulls about a yard from 
each other in the form of an equilateral 
triangle. 
Before the plants become top-heavy they 
must be supplied with small twigs, so that 
they may have something ta cling to. The 
final staking may, or may not, be made 
at this time, but if the big stakes are 
given, smaller branches must also be sup¬ 
plied, for the plants are frequently unable 
to take hold of the thick stems of the big 
stakes, and it is most important that they 
should not have to lie on the ground The 
more branched and the more twiggy the 
stakes used finally the better will they 
serve their purpose. Hazel branches seem 
to be as satisfactory as any, but there are 
several efficient substitutes. It should fie 
remembered that Sweet Peas, when well 
grown, frequently reach a height of ten 
feet, and tall stakes should be supplied 
accordingly. 
Branches of trees are certainly the 
cheapest and most serviceable support for 
Sweet Peas, but where they are unobtain¬ 
able, or where, for any other reason, a 
substitute is required, netting—wire or 
tanned—can he used. The netting should 
be stretched tightly and firmly between 
stakes driven well into the ground. 
Some few gardeners who grow very, good 
Sweet Peas give their plants when they 
have been up a week or two a little nitrate 
of soda, but it is very doubtful whethei 
this benefits the plants. Indeed, the 
reader will be very well advised to leave 
manures alone until the plants bloom. 
The application of nitrogenous manure: 
certainly has the effect of making the 
plants produce more luxuriant foliage 
but, at the same time, the growth is sappy 
and not so well suited to the ultimate pro¬ 
duction of flowers. 
Throughout April and in May seeds may 
be sown in the open ground, although the 
results can hardly be expected to equa 
those from earlier sowings. Where the 
requirements of Sweet Peas are not wel 
catered for, it is advisable to make sue 
cessional sowings at intervals of abcu 
three weeks; but, where they are wel 
grown, this plan is seldom of much value 
Should the reader at this season fine 
that he has a deficiency of any variety 
it is well to remember that several of th< 
trade growers raise plants for sale. Pos 
sibly those who have been unable to ob 
tain seeds of Mrs. Hardcastle Sykes wil 
be able to obtain plants. In any case 
whatever varieties are required, intending 
purchasers are advised to order early 7 . 
No doubt some readers keep a note-bool 
or a diary, in which they record dates 0 
sowing, planting out, etc. This plan 1. 
worthy of general adoption, for beside: 
adding interest to the various operation 
it also gives valuable data for future re 
ference. The Gardening World Pocke 
Diary is suitable for this purpose. 
The general public has recently show) 
some interest in the subject of the nitro 
gen-fixing bacteria, and as the Sweet Pe; 
is a plant concerned, a few remarks it 
this connection may be acceptable. I 
is well known that nitrogen is one of th 
principal elements of plant food, but al 
though the air contains four-fifths, b; 
bulk, of this gas, plants are unable t< 
take their supplies from this source. 
In the case, however, of plants belong 
ing to the family of which the Sweet Pe: 
is a member, certain bacteria which ma; 
be found on the roots, in return for ser 
vices rendered by the plants, obtain nitro 
gen from the air and pass it on for th' 
use of the plants. These microbes ar 
present in many soils, and, inoculating th' 
roots of the young plants, they cause th 
formation of the little nodules which th 
reader may have noticed on the roots o 
Sweet Peas. Some soils do not contai) 
these microbes, but scientists have re 
cently been able to cultivate the bacteri 
and inoculate the soils. This, accordin; 
to several reports, has resulted in the pre 
duction of . greatly increased crop: 
Doubtless the reader is anxious to kno 1 
whether, by means of bacteria, he wil 
be able to grow finer flowers. As yet i 
seems that the exhibitor will get little hel 
from this source, for the application c 
bacteria is not likely to benefit rich soils 
there is no limit, however, to the poss 
bilities of science. 
G. F. Drayson. 
