Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-04
F THE VEGETABLE GARDEN AND BEAUTIFYING

orous and deep root system. and peas
so grown produce the very largest crops.
the quality also being extra FIRE.
Provide some sort Of support for tie
vines. Is even the peas that are most
dwarf in habit will sprawl on the ground
il not afforded something upon which L.
grow. Bits OF brush trimmed down
that numerous short-pointed projections
remain and stuck down beside the rows
are the mos: satisfactory: il not obtain
able wire netting answers very well.
Some seedmen claim TO sell seed peas that
make stocky bushes and require no sup
ports. but their claims are not well
grounded. as there has not. so far been
produced pea thai does not require at
least low support.
For succession. peas may be planted
from now up TO June first the paintings
being from "A week TO ten DAYS apart.
Those who plan for hedge of sweet
peas should lose no time III getting the
beds prepared and the seed sown. Many
persons plant their sweet peas in Febru-
airy: some even make practice of SOW
ing late in the fall. but neither OF these
plans Is 10 be recommended il a continu-
Gus production of blossoms lasting
throughout the summer is desired. BY
planting Immediately, however. The vines
will come into bloom early iH June, and
the blossomine season will continue until
frost. or even later. where the location 8
somewhat sheltered
Sweet peas among the most easily
grown flowers of the garden. and with
almost every one they are prime favor
ties. The flowers OF today are little like
those that grew in our grandmother
gardens; they have been neglected and
hybridized and improved until many SORTS
produce blossoms that resemble nothing so
much orchids.
Only two things are absolutely required
for the growing of sweet peas-cultiya, ton
ana a;rl-f Of ha hi
They may be planted in almost any way.
in almost any sort of soil. and if they
are tended weeded and watered. and if
the blossoms are picked every day. not a
single one being allowed to form a seed
pod. the vines will continue TO bloom
during the entire summer. There is one
best way To grow them however, AS one
would naturally Suppose. and IL this
method is adopted the sweet pea hedge
will be thing OF beauty and joy 10
every one who beholds If. Here is the
one hest method:
Dig a trench from foot TO eighteen
inches deep-two feet deep will not hurt.
In the bottom of this trench throw bits Of
broken brick thing. stones. cinders. clink-
ers from the furnace. broken crockery-
anything TO form broken surface at the
bottom this is for purposes OF drainage
Fill the trench with mixture Of soil
made up about follows: Wood ashes.
unlea ched. one part; we'll rotted manure.
TWO parts. ledt mpld. three parts. Oiu.-
nary soil from the garden. six parts.
This should be well mixed and reduced I'D
a fine condition.: then nil the trench with
il to within four inches Of the top. Sow
the sweet pea seed on top OF the soil.
spacing them about four inches apart and
keeping the row absolutely straight. Cow
er the seed with four inches of the mixed
SOIL firm il down and If the soil is rather
dry AS il is apt 10 be. sprinkle il mod
erately If il is possible pour over tile
trench the wash water from the laundry.
particularly soapsuds. and do this
throughout the season
The rows should run north and south
and should he kept free from weeds.
During dry seasons the vines should ne
given thorough drenching at least every
other day with the garden hose. This
should he done late in the evening. pref
erably Immediately after sunset and The
ground should be thoroughly soaked. Con-
tinue cultivation until the vines are three
feet or so in height: after that a mulch
OF grass from the lawn may be used. the
grass being Uttered rather heavily about
the roots of the vines and kept there. Pick
every blossom every day: this is one point
to be particularly observed ii continue
ance of blossoming is desired. If even
one seed pod forms on "A vine. that vine
will cease producing blossoms for couple
of weeks. while the more blossoms are
picked the more will be produced and the
finer they will be.
Planted and cultivated in this manner.
sweet peas will bloom until heavy frosts
kill the vines.