7. Look from the start for Green Aphis. They are the 
greatest enemy. When you discover any, take the spray gun 
at once, load it with one part of 40 percent nicotine and 400 
parts of water, if the Sweet Peas are outdoors; in the green¬ 
house 1 to 600 will do if you spray them in time, or use Nico 
Dust 6 percent. Shoot any black birds that are around your 
Sweet Peas. They do not pick on the Aphis as many people 
think, but they feed most exclusively on the lady bugs, who 
are the greatest exterminator of Aphis. Protect all frogs, they 
feed only on insects. Build them little water ponds where they 
will propogate quickly and they keep your garden free of 
insects. 
8. Give the young plants good substantial support so that 
they can climb from the start and have a chance to produce 
nice straight flowering stems. Crooked stem flowers are worth¬ 
less. 
9. When the plants begin to bloom give them liquid manure 
water often; it will produce 100 percent better flowers. Cow 
manure or a weak sheep manure solution is the best. 
10. Pick daily, even the poorest flowers; it will lengthen the 
flowering season. Always keep the surface earth loose to about 
two inches. Never allow any crust to form on top. 
Dropping the Buds 
In the northern and eastern states, dropping off buds dur¬ 
ing November and December is common, but a great deal of 
this can be prevented. We all know that Sweet Peas like plen¬ 
ty of moisture to get long stems, but during the cloudy wea¬ 
ther in November and December it is better to sacrifice the 
long stems for good flowers. As soon as the moist and cloudy 
weather the latter part of October sets in, keep the green¬ 
houses as dry as possible, even when the soil is dry three or 
four inches on the surface. Keep the ventilator open even 
during the night as much as possible and during frosty nights 
turn the heating pipes on so there is plenty of dry air circu¬ 
lating. 
Should you find a few spots which need some water, water 
only between the rows in ditches and away from the plants, 
so they get the moisture from underneath. This will save you 
at least 50 percent of the flowers. 
OUR FLORADALE SWEET PEA RANCH 
