550 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



from pot, in the row, and they soon spread into the stakes and lose 

 the patchy appearance. They probably receive less of a check in this 

 way than by any other, but it is more troublesome than the box 

 method. 



In transplanting, the working of the soil goes on as directed for 

 sowing the seed in open borders. The little trench for receiving the 

 row of Peas should be 8 or 9 inches deep, so that the roots of the Peas 

 can be let naturally down into the soil, instead of being huddled to- 

 gether near the surface. In heavy soils, it is worth while to mix up as 

 much loam and leaf -mould, in equal proportions, as will well cover the 

 roots when planted. They start away more freely than when adhesive 

 cold soil is placed next the roots. The staking should be done im- 

 mediately after planting, for the reasons already assigned. Managed 

 thus, I have always found the early Pea crop much more satisfactory 

 than when sown in autumn, and they stand a deal of frost when raised 

 hardy. This comparatively cool system of sowing early in January, 

 and forwarding them to be ready for planting by the end of February, 

 is available in the case of all those who have a corner in a greenhouse 

 or pit to spare, where a very little space is sufficient to forward enough 

 to plant a few rows for an early crop. It will not be too thick to 

 plant three plants to the inch in the rows, as very thin crops of early 

 Peas are not satisfactory. 



That there should not be any chance of a gap in the gathering of 

 Peas daily, a few boxes of the earliest, over and above what are re- 

 quired for a south-border planting, should be planted in an open quarter 

 to form a succession to those sown on the border, and, at the same 

 time, a planting of a second early variety, raised at the same time and 

 in the same way, to be ready for gathering between the early crop and 

 second early sown in the open quarters, which latter should always be 

 sown as soon as weather will allow after the 1st of February, after 

 which a sowing should be put in every ten days till the end of 

 June. 



Although not an advocate for thick sowing, at the same time, in the 

 case of tall strong growing sorts, a medium between the thick-sowing 

 system and that of dropping the seed about 2 inches asunder is the 

 surest way of getting a really good row of Peas. With regard to the 

 distance between the rows, a safe rule is to sow those that grow 4 feet 

 high at 4 feet apart ; those that grow 6 feet and 7 feet, at 6 feet and 

 7 feet apart. Pvich strong soils, where Peas generally grow strong and 

 tall, may be allowed 1 foot more with advantage. These distances are 

 applicable where no other crop beside a row of Spinach or Lettuce is 

 grown between the rows. A good plan in dry situations is to sow 

 wider, from 9 to 12 feet, and crop in between with Cauliflower, 



