Reports of Local Societies. 325 



tined manure fork, being careful not to dig so deep as to interfere 

 with the roots of the plants which run in every possible direction, 

 and fill the earth with an almost solid and compact mass. 



If the bed is twelve feet wide and fifty feet long, it will, if prop- 

 erly cared for, give an abundant supply for a large family from 

 early spring until June, when we may have plenty of green peas to 

 take its place, and give it time to recover its vigor and strength, 

 and be ready to give us another supply the following spring. It is 

 a gross feeder, and requires very rich soil to make it do its best. 



Let us turn to other crops. Peas are about the first seeds to be 

 out in the ground, and are a favorite with almost every one, and 

 with a fair chance, almost a sure crop. Any land that will produce 

 a large yield of corn is fit for peas. Put the soil in good condition, 

 and with the shovel-plow make furrows four feet apart. Regulate 

 your hand seed- sower so that it will drop from one to two seeds to 

 the inch. Sow a double row in each furrow. Your furrow will be, 

 if four inches deep, perhaps eight inches wide in the bottom. This 

 will enable you to pass twice through it and sow them about seven 

 or eight inches apart, making what the books call a " double row," 

 and leaving a space of a little over three feet between the rows, 

 through which you can readily pass with your horse and cultivator 

 as often as is necessary. After your peas are sown, fill up the fur- 

 rows and make the ground level. By planting them this depth, 

 they will endure the hot sun and drought better, and will continue 

 longer in bearing than if planted only an inch deep. For families 

 that are very fond of them it is well to make a second sowing, 

 which will give an abundant supply until the early potatoes are 

 ready for use. 



Some of us are very apt to sneer at the; idea of eating onions, 

 and yet a nice bed of them is about an absolute necessity 

 in every farmer's garden. A few sets, that is, the very small 

 onions grown from the black seed of the previous year, put out as 

 early as the land is fit to cultivate, will give you a supply of young 

 onions very early. And to these a few top onion sets which come 

 on a little later, and sow a bed of the black seed for your main 

 erop. Onions of all kinds require a very rich soil to do well, and 

 can hardly be got in the ground too soon after it is in a condition 

 to work. A small bed of spinach should be sown. Or w T hat would 

 be better, sow it early in September of the fall previous, and when. 



