34S THE FLORIST. 



of soil, consisting of two parts well decomposed leaf-mould, one part 

 loam, and one part sand. Fill the pots to within 3 inches of the top, 

 shake the pot to level the soil, sow thinly over the surface, and fill up. 

 From 2 to 3 quarts will be sufficient to sow in pots for a first crop. 

 Place the pots in a cold vinery or pit where there is admitted at all 

 tin:ies an abundance of air ; 2'-^ or 3*-^ of frost will do no harm to the 

 Peas. When the plants have just got through the soil, let them be 

 placed in a three-light frame, the lights to be constantly kept off in 

 mild weather, and tilted at night, so that a slow and hardy growth may 

 be obtamed. If severe frosty weather sets in, cover up night and day, 

 and be particular not to expose them to the sun if frosted. The careful 

 gardener will take care that neither sparrows nor mice have access to 

 the Peas. 



In the mean time the ground in wdiich they are to be planted should 

 be well limed and ridged up until such time as they are ready to plant 

 out, which in favourable weather will be towards the latter end of 

 February. Let the ridges be levelled down, and rows 4 feet apart 

 marked off. Stretch the line and cut out trenches from 7 to 9 inches 

 deep, turn the Peas out of the pot, and separate them, leaving two or 

 three together ; have a barrowful of the same soil in which they were 

 sown ready, place the Peas in the ridge as if planting box, fill up with the 

 fresh soil, press it gently against the roots, let one inch of the top ofthe 

 Pea be above the soil, make a ridge of the spare soil on either side of the 

 row^, and point over the soil between the rows to give a W'Orkmanlike 

 finish ; when the Peas have grown 4 or 5 inches high, let earth be drawn 

 to their stesms, and stake them — they will require little more attention 

 than an occasional survey to see if the slugs or sparrows molest them. 

 These ti ansplanted Peas are the forlorn hope of the season, but if well 

 managed, they rarely fail or disappoint the cultivator. 



The next or succession crop is managed thus ; an open, airy quarter 

 being selected, it is limed and ridged up in the autumn ; the first fine, 

 dry weather the following February the ridges are levelled down. If 

 the ground is light it is trod over and raked evenly ; drills are draw^n 

 from 4 to 6 feet apart, according to the height of the variety sown. I 

 then sow 1 or 2 quarts (the quantity sown at one time will depend 

 entirely on the demands of the family) of the same sort as was sown 

 in pots, a quart of the best second early, a quart of Dw^arf Imperials, a 

 quart of Champion of England, 2 quarts of tall Marrows, the best 

 variety according to taste of consumer ; these, if all sown on the same 

 day, will come up in succession, care being taken to keep up the supply 

 by sowing Imperials, Champion of England, and the i\Iarrows as each 

 previous sowing respectively comes up ; the early sorts will now^ be dis- 

 continued, as it will in general be found that the tall Marrows give the 

 latest supply. If dry weather sets in, a trench about 1 foot from either 

 side, and along the row, should be made and saturated with water to 

 keep the tall Peas in a healthy state ; every one know^s the utility of 

 having the Peas well staked, so that a free circulation of air may be 

 maint jned amongr them. 



James Falconer. 



