Growing Sweet Peas.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 June 1913, Page 2

Growing Sweet Peas.

SOME HELPFUL HINTS

On the growing of .sweet peas, a writer in the Christchurch Evening News gives some useful hints. Lie remarks that there is a wealth of advice given in twelve words in a paper quoted by Mr (Sydenham's book on sweet peas. It is: "Treuch deeply; manure liberally; plant thinly; stake quickly; water freely ; dfspod promptly.' - ' To be successful the adjuration to plant thinly must be strictly observed, and if tlu

peas uirc grown in rows two seeds to every fifteen inches is quite enough. It is fatal to .success if tlie plants get overcrowded. »Stak- * ing is another very important mutter. Keep your plants spread staked, and tied as ox . peeled a gale the The illslni<• ti(ll^ U,i\f L >j■ f rL » t .|y" must n "t too literally. If tin: ground lias been well worked and enriched to a good depth,,J think that very little water is 'required. In the early stages they may he refreshed with on occasional light watering in hot. dry weather, hut after the plants iare well established I do not believe in watering more than about once a week, and then only when the weather is very dry land hot. 1 think a very good plan is to leave n depression round each | plant when planting. This allows you to water effectively when it is required, ami also permits of a good mulching of decayed manure being put round the plant, thereby keeping the roofs cool in the near of summer. 'Dispnd promptly." This is very necessary. If von want your sweet pens to remain in flower for a lengthy period, never allow a seed pod to form. Tt is the natural function of the sweet pe>a- as it is with most other flowers— lo reproduce its kind, and so long as tin* seed pods are prevented from forming, the vines will endeavour to make more flowers. I his is a point that is worth remembering with roses, too.