1869.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 549 



By the end of February, or early in March, a row of early Spinach 

 sown between the rows of Peas comes in early and useful. A few rows 

 of Kadishes may also be sown after the Peas are staked. After the 

 crop of Peas is gathered, there is time for getting the ground manured 

 and dug, and planted with a crop of Cauliflower, to come in by the end 

 of October and November. In England I have frequently followed the 

 early Peas with a crop of French Beans ; but in Scotland most places 

 are too cold and late to afford time for French Beans after Peas. But 

 Lettuces and Endive for lifting and putting into frames for winter 

 supply can be had after early Peas, on a w^arm exposure. 



Sowing in pots and boxes, and transplanting from them to the open 

 ground when the Peas are 3 and 4 inches high, I consider preferable 

 to the plan of sowing in the open ground in autumn, and have always 

 found that, putting one thing against another, early sowing and trans- 

 planting is attended with least labour and anxiety, and yields a more 

 regular and better crop. 



The method sometimes adopted of waiting . till far on in February, 

 and then sowing in stove-heat to make up for lost time, is not to be re- 

 commended. The way that is attended with the most substantial 

 results, w^here a large border of early Peas is required, is to get ready a 

 quantity of open rather dry soil early in January. Equal parts of loam 

 and leaf-mould are the best. The necessary quantity of boxes, 4 inches 

 deep, is filled with the soil (after passing it through a |-inch sieve) 

 to within ]|- inch of the top of the boxes, leaving an even 

 rather firm surface. Sow the Peas, after being soaked twelve hours in 

 water, j ust thick enough to allow each Pea to lie on the surface without 

 touching each other. Then cover with the same soil made a little finer, 

 and place the boxes in a house or pit with just a little more than 

 greenhouse temperature. No water is given till after the Peas are 

 through the soil. The young Peas come through far more regularly 

 when first soaked and covered with rather dry soil. If sowm in the 

 ordinary way and watered, the surface is caked and clotted, and the 

 young seedlings raise it before them instead of coming nicely and 

 regularly through it. 



Air is freely given as soon as ever they are through the ground. I 

 have found that managed thus, they often do not require any water till 

 they were transplanted about the end of February, when they are found 

 hardy and strong, and being dry, they come out of the boxes without 

 losing a root. Of course, they should be w^ell hardened-off before 

 planting out. 



When short of boxes, they may be sown in drain-tiles or stripes of 

 turf, or even in small pots. In the latter case, which is a very good 

 way, they are planted, without breaking the balls, about G inches, pot 



