iS8i.] PEAS AND THEIR CULTURE. 23 



Many sow their early Peas in November, others not until January, 

 February, or March. Having sown them at all these times, we 

 are not greatly disappointed if vermin or severe weather prevents 

 the November sown ones from doing so well as could be wished, as 

 we find that those sown in January and February come in about as 

 early ; and as a rule they are more satisfactory both in growth and 

 crop. From this your readers will understand that if they have 

 not sown their early Peas in November they will not be far behind yet, 

 but the first chance should now be taken of sowing the first crop. 

 For mid-season and late crops the rows are better when far apart ; 

 but with early ones it is different, as it is an advantage when one 

 row affords shelter to the other. This is best secured by sowing the 

 rows about the same distance apart as the Peas grow in height. 

 Supposing the variety to grow 6 feet high, sow the rows 6 feet 

 apart. Dwarf ones may be sown in under the same rule. 



A south border or sheltered but sunny strip of ground is best for 

 the early crops. Where manure is plentiful the whole ground may 

 have a coating dug into it ; but when this useful commodity is scarce, 

 as it is in many gardens, a quantity should only be dug in under the 

 rows. Good manure of any description is necessary for Peas, as the 

 produce is always inferior and flavourless without it. In selecting 

 a day to sow let it be dry over head, and the soil not wet and spongy. 

 The drills should be taken out with a spade to the full width of 

 that tool, and the seed should not be sown too thickly ; but this is 

 not so liable to happen in a wide drill as in a very narrow old- 

 fashioned one, when the Peas were generally sown on the top of 

 each other, and the young growths came up in thickets. The drill 

 should never be more than 3 inches deep, and the soil should be made 

 firm and smooth over the seed. 



Where vermin are troublesome, care must be taken to trap them 

 from the time the seed is sown. Snails can generally be kept 

 from doing harm by sprinkling the surface of the row with soot 

 or lime ; and if this is followed up after the young plants are 

 above ground, birds will hardly ever touch them. As soon as the 

 growths can be seen above ground, the Dutch hoe should be run 

 deeply along each side, and the stakes may be put to them afterwards. 

 These, especially if a few small bushy twigs are put in along the 

 bottom, afford much shelter during cold winds in spring. When 

 the first crop is in, others should follow sufficiently close to each 

 other to give a continuous supply of Peas throughout the whole 

 season. To make two sowings every month from January until July, 

 will give fresh green Peas from the end of May until the end of 

 October. As the season advances, the most open parts of the garden 

 may be selected for the rows ; and the same mode of putting in the 

 seed as we advise for the early sowings should be followed out all 

 through. In heavy soil and damp situations the seed should never 



