The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-04-29
SUGGESTIONS ON The SELECTION,
PLANTING, CULTIYATING OF sweet PEAS

Valuable hints on the selection,
planting and care of sweet peas are
contained in the advance premium
nst issued by Walter L. Mecklen- I
eurg, manager of the Inter-MOuntain I
Ialr, and Don LangOhr, s%uperinten- ;
lent Of the floral department of that '
exposition. These hints will be es- y
pecially appreciated by those VINO t
desire to enter flowers in competition !
az the fair and annual BOzeman !
Flower show, which will be held at !
The fair this year. !
Sweet Peas
The trench in which seed is to be
planted should be spaded deep and
the ground worked up thoroughly. A
well rotted COW manure may be
worked into the bottom Of the trench.
1t is absolutely essential that the
manure be well rotted as it will burn
the vines if it is not. 1t is well to
plant the peas in a trench row for
Two reasons. First, soil can be pulled
up against the vines after they are
tnree inches high, strengthening the
vines, and second, it makes watering
much easier when the vines begin TO
grow.
It is a good idea to spade the
sweet pea trench in the fall; this,
however, is not essential, but if it
Is done, the ground can usually be
seeded a few days earlier in the
spring. The ground should be thor
Oughly pulverized before the seed is
planted.
Time to Plant
There is nothing to be gained by
planting too early. The ground is
too cold and some varieties of seed
Will rot in the ground. This is par
tlcularlv true of white seed varieties
which include most white and cream
eolored varieties. AS a rule the best
time to plant is about the middle of
April.
The seed should be planted in a
bed and not watered until the seed
terminates. If water is applied be-
fore the seed terminates much of it
will rot and a poor stand will be Of
tanned. AS soon as the seed comes
through the ground water may be ap-
piled provided the ground is dry
enough. Sweet Peas require lots of
water and they should be watered
heavily but not too often at first.
How to PlaAt
Plant the seed from one to two
inches deep. If planted early in
April it should be soaked. If planted
around the first of Nav termination
may be FASTENED a little by soaking
over night in luke warm water.
Best Varieties
Plant good seed. The Spencer va
, rieties will produce much better
flowers on much longer stems than
the grandiflora varieties. Seed OF
the grandiflOra varieties is much
cheaper but the flowers will not be
up to the BOzeman standard. There
are several hundred varieties Of
Spencer seed in all colors ranging il
shades and combinations of shades
from white to marOOn and purple
It is advisable to plant salmon col
Ored varieties in a partially shaded
I" place. All salmon varieties burr
when exposed to the direct Afternoon
sun. An ounce of seed is sufficien
to plant from ten to twelve feet o.
trench. If seed is planted too thicI
the vines will not stool and they vii
not be heavy. Heavy vines produc
finer flowers. It is well to SOW fair
IL ly thick to insure a good stand, bu
the rows should be thinned out s
IN that plants viii be from one and
s. half to two inches apart. Seed ma
nc be planted with good results, a.
though blooming will be deferred u
,l- to the twentieth Of May.
Seed sown in April should blOOl
in July. Pour lots Of water on til
IN ground at the roots, but not on til
vines. The nor water they are gfv
en- at the roots the better the flower
re will be. It is well to go along ii
ne row with a hose two or three time
ne IN an evening. Evening watering
better than morning or midday w;
zee tering.
Cultivate Frequently
Weeds should be kept out Of Il
rows and the rows cultivated fir
"a quently. Frequent cultivation keel
the ground in good shape and pr
vents excessive evaporation. WhC
the vines come into bud liquid fe
81, tlllzer can be applied with good r
suits. An old barrel with a buck
OF barnyard manure OF chicken M
On, nure can be used. Place the manu-
in the barrel and fill the barrel wit
l. water. Let this soak from "a to
hours and then pour the liquid {
A the ground along the vines about
week.
Flowers should be cut at least e
cry day. IF the flowers are left {
the vine the stems viii shorten al
the older flowers will seed