
How to grow 
VIOLAS and PANSIEs 
‘They will thrive in almost any garden 
loam without special treatment, but there 
is hardly a plant that responds better to 
good culture, 
Seeding. Seeds should be sown in a 
warm, sheltered place where the tempera- 
ture is more or less uniform. Until it 
germinates, it should be protected by a 
covering of glass. 
Dibbling off. As soon as the seeds begin 
to sprout, remove the covering, except 
when the sun is shining, and gradually 
tilt the glass to admit air, finally remov- 
ing it when the seedlings are well through 
the soil. 

SWEET PEA, SPENCER 
As soon as the third leaf forms, transplant 
the seedlings an inch apart in boxes filled 
with light soil. Water very carefully, giv- 
ing only enough to keep the soil moist. 
When the seedlings are rooted and grow- 
ing nicely, transfer the boxes to a pro- 
tected outdoor position to harden. 
A position neither too much exposed to 
the mid-day sun nor ‘overshadowed by 
trees should be selected. In hot, dry po- 
sitions the plants are short lived and pro- 
* duce flowers of poor quality. 
Preparation of the soil. Contrary to the gen- 
erally accepted idea, the Pansy and Viola 
are deep-rooting subjects and need soil 
that is very deeply dug and well enriched 
and lightened with peat moss. Deep plant- 
ing places the roots in a much cooler and 
moister medium than if they are near the 
surface. 
Planting. It isn't a bad idea to have a box 
of nicely pvrepared compost made up of 
equal parts loam, coarse sand and peat 
moss. Dig a very large hole and plant so 
the collar of the plant is just level with 
the surface of the soil. Use the compost 
around the roots of each plant as it is 
taken in hand and, if the garden soil be 
pressed firmly all around, and the surface 
finished off neatly, it is fairly safe to an- 
ticipate that the plants will speedily take 
hold. Do all transplanting in cool or 
cloudy weather. 
As the plants come into flower, interest 
in them will increase. To keep them in a 
satisfactory condition, remove all spent 
24 
NAVLET’S PLANTING GUIDE 
blossoms before they develop into seed 
pods. 
During the summer months, when the 
weather is hot and dry, hoe the surface 
of the soil, and then in the evenings, 
water copiously. Once a week follow ‘the 
watering immediately with a weak liquid - 
manure. Apply between and not over the 
blooms. 
How to raise 
TUBEROUS-ROOTED 
-‘BEGONIAS 
This exquisitely beautiful bedding and pot 
plant is of the very simplest culture. 
The hairy tubers usually have flat, de- 
pressed tops and rounded bottoms, 
Sprout the tubers in shallow boxes or flats 
of slightly moistened peat or leaf mold 
kept in a warm place. Increase moisture as 
growth develops, and, when well sprouted, 
shift to permanent position in the garden 
bed. They do best in well prepared, en- 
riched soil with plenty of peat and sand, 
shaded from the burning afternoon sun. 
For pot culture, a mixture of two parts 
peat, two parts loam and one part each of 
sand and well rotted manure will prove 
satisfactory. Perfect drainage is important. 
Transfer from flats to small pots at first 
and move later to larger ones, If the hang- 
ing type is to be grown, in pots or bas- 
kets, pinch the main shoots when the first 
flower buds appear, to induce side shoots. 
Always pinch out the first flower buds 
and, from that period on, water weekly 
with liquid manure to promote vigorous 
growth and strong stemmed flowers, 
When the plant has finished blooming in 
October or November, withhold water 
while foliage browns and wilts: When dor- 
mant, lift the bulbs, clean, and store in a 
cool, dry place until early the following 
year when the culture above is repeated. 
Bulbs are good for many years, 
How to grow 
LONG STEMMED 
SWEET PEAS 
Sweet peas are always more satisfactory 
when set where they will get morning 
and forenoon sun only, 
Experts are agreed that thorough prepara- 
tion of the soil is the prime consideration. 
The trench must be dug about 2l4 ft. 
wide and 2 ft. deep. It must be enriched and 
conditioned -with a liberal dressing of 
manure (we recommend E-Z-Grow because 
of its organic manure and mineral content 
applied at the rate of 1 lb, to each 2 ft. 
of trench) thoroughly mixed with soil in 
bottom of trench, some steamed Bonemeal 
(for its alkaline reaction and high phos- 
phoric acid content) and a 4 in. potfull of 
Sulphate of Potash to every 4 lineal yards 
of trench (to stiffen stems and intensify 
coloring). 
Uneven ‘germination is due to varying de- 
arees of hardness in seed coats. Cream, 
lavender and orange shades, together with 
the reds, usually have hard coats. Some 
chip the coats to hasten germination. 

Inoculate the seed immediately before sow- 
ing with Nitro-bac or Nitragen. Inoculation 
is not a substitute for fertilizer. It is an 
additional benefit. 
The trench should be worked and turned 
over a last time, filled to within about 6 
inches of the surface and firmed by tread- 
ing (see that it is not too moist when this 
is done). The inoculated seed is sown 
thinly on the surface. Cover with about 
l inch of soil and tread again as Sweet 
Peas like a firm soil, 
Excess moisture is the cause of 90% of 
Sweet Pea failures. Seed sown in wet soil 
will rot. Heavy, drenching rains or soak- 
ing with a hose after planting and before 
the seed has sprouted is also fatal. Don't 
water the newly planted Sweet Peas until 
they sprout. 
Thin the plants from 6 to 12 inches apart, 
the farther the better, when they reach 
about three inches in height. Pinch out 
the centers of remaining plants to en- 
courage strong growth, (‘‘Late’’ or Summer 
Flowering sorts only.) Fill trench as they 
grow. 
Provide a permanent support to which the 
tendrils can cling when the plants are 6 
inches high, placed to the lee of the 
plants so they will blow against it instead 
of away. Watch the birds. 
Protect the growing plants by dusting with 
Nicotine Dust when green plant lice 
(Aphis) make an appearance, Guard against 
infestation of Slugs, Snails and Sow bugs 
by scattering Navco Slug and Snail De- 
stroyer. 
Keep surface from crusting by. cultivation 
after rains or watering. Cracks allow 
moisture to escape, 
Watering should .be done _ thoroughly 
about once a week, after the Peas are up 
and well under way. When blooming time 
arrives and there is a great deal of vine, 
water at least twice a week. Do not 
sprinkle lightly each day. Sweet Peas like 
a moist atmosphere which may be cre- 
ated by soaking the soil around them and 
drenching the vines. 

PANSY, SWISS GIANT 
Feed the plants regularly during the 
blooming season with liquid manure after 
each weekly or semi-weekly watering. 
This will strengthen them. 
Pick flowers daily and don’t allow any 
withered blooms to stay on the vines. 
Picking prolongs bloom. 
Bud dropping is sometimes caused by too 
much water, other times by overfeeding 
and frequently by cold nights following 
warm days. It often corrects itself, and is 
no cause for alarm. 
