The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-21
UTILIZING THE SWEET PEA.
How to Make Pretty Hedge for
Practical Purposes.

Sweet raas MAKE a VERY pretty and ef-
fect.v. hedge. thus combining beauty and
s,iiity-snd in 8 much shorter time than
any other plants SO employed. says the
Ladies' Home Journal. Ia one case this
fragrant hedge was ninety feet long ard
Il was used TO separate the clorhes-irying
space from the more attractive grounds.
The vines attained the height OF nearly
six fact, and were in perfect bloom and
beauty all the summer through having
been planted early IN the spring in two
rows q bout TWO and a nalf feet apart
Abundant support was furnished in an
arrangement, OF cedar poles and telegraph
wire the former being planted as a tripod
al each end OF the rows and the wire at
tached st the foot OF the outside poles and
whore the poles crossed The wires were
drawn tight and supported at regular dis
tances for the vines % attach themselves.
fine linen Irvine being carried from wire
TO wire and soon coverei-5o that a little
distance the vines seemed 10 stand alone.
The poles OF the tripods rose some dis
lance above the crossings. and these were
soon decorated with the bells of the
morning glory so similar in Its variety of
coiorings 10 that of the sweet pea.
When in full beauty this floral hedge
was highly decorative object. and ii
enectEally screened the unslghtliness of
the family wash from fastidious eyes. II
city yard which often does not reach
quarter of the ninety feet. across which
this one so admirably combined the beau
tiful with the practical.
II could also be made a lovely and fra
grant screen against the ugilness visible
from many back windows Given long.
narrow box for this purpose. with a simple
treilis work of ordinary wire or Irvine.
well puiverized and enriched earth with
of nd 20
amount of sunshine--sweet pea vines be-
ing easily scorched. and IL not actually
dying. losing all their beauty In conse-
quence-and a pretty window a fragrant
room and plenty of blossoms for cutting
may be confidently counted on.
\ popularity of sweet peas is that the
higher they are trained the more profuse-
iy they will bloom, and If all fading hos
SONS are removed before they can go 10
seed constant succession of bloom Is Sc
cured. A pretty garden device is a sweet
pea fountain. which is produced by plant
ing tail upright post firmly in the ground
and attaching the skeleton of an umbrella
10 ii at the top. The vines planted al it's
base will climb and droop from the edge
of the umbrella-the unfolding blossoms
and sprays unfolding themselves In such
fashion that the idea Of a floral fountain
is easily suggested.
Like roses and some other flowers sweet
peas display their greatest beauty of
coloring. ard put forth their utmost pow.
ers or bloom in a soft. briny atmosphere.
They love the sea shore in sheltered spots.
and the winged petals seem TO take on
yelvety texture--the rich compilations of
the Painted Ladies' glow with deeper
hues-and more retiring sisters in violet
and purple catch from the contact with
salt air brighter and newer tints. Even
the White sweet pea shows more dazzling
wilderness.
As winter plant the sweet pea is not
SO satisfactory as one could wish. 1t has
been some times tried in hanging basket.
and coaNed into moderate bloom amid
winter SHOWS; but II does not take kindly
10 such conditions. and Is so charv of its
blossoms that the most inveterate plant
lover becomes discouraged