I873-] EARLY AND LATE PEAS. 77 



ent gardens i r localities. Light and rather shallow soils, although not 

 equally capable, with deeper and more holding soils, of maintaining the 

 same duration and quality of produce, are best adapted for early crops; 

 and of course a well-sheltered and sunny aspect will be additionally 

 favourable. 



An instance demonstrating the different effects of soils in maturing 

 Peas came under ray observation last summer which it may not be out 

 of place to record here. In sowing what I expected the latest supplies 

 from, early sorts were used — viz., Sangster No. 1, two sowings of 

 which I put in on 10th and 2.5th of June respectively. Despite the 

 fact that the latter sowing occupied the most shady quarter, the crop 

 was ripe some fortnight before the other was fit for table. I have no 

 other way of explaining it than that the soil in the quarter where the 

 latter grew is very poor and shallow, and the crop depended mainly 

 on an application of rotten manure, thrown into the drills (which were 

 made with a spade) before sowing ; while that on which the former was 

 sown is good ground some 4 or 5 feet deep. 



lieferring briefly to late crops, I would observe that, as in early 

 crops, locality and soil have much to do with the success or failure of 

 the cultivator, the latter perhaps having the most direct influence in 

 this respect. Li dry seasons particularly. Peas for a late supply, sown 

 on light shallow soils, are very liable to severe checks in their growth, 

 in consequence of which they are prematurely thrown into bloom, when 

 the object of the cultivator is at once defeated. Such results, it is true, 

 are sometimes modified by regular attention to mulching, applications 

 of liquid manure, tfcc. ; but even such precautions, with light soils and 

 in dry seasons, are often labour in vain. The Squire's Gardener, in his 

 paper on the rotation of crops some time ago, made a very practical 

 remark in concluding — viz., that the character of the soil in many gar- 

 dens compelled the cultivator to localise many crops; and to this 

 observation we would recommend those of your comparatively inex- 

 perienced readers to take heed, as in the case of Peas it is particularly 

 applicable. It is at least a step in the right direction to reserve in 

 spring (according to demand) a piece of good ground (rather heavy 

 than otherwise), which has previously undergone deep tillage and been 

 well manured, on which to sow late Peas. Those cultivators who may 

 not have such resources at their disposal, in dry seasons at least, are 

 not warranted, if I may so speak, to expect success in growing late 

 Peas. I was at one time led to believe that ground intended for Peas 

 should be manured sparingly, but have since perceived that such a rule 

 could not be adopted indiscriminately. To rich heavy loam or clayey 

 soils this rule may apply to some extent, but in regard to those of 

 lighter and more open consistency, liberal manuring is necessary, and 



