88 THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Pea—continued. 
time the produce is fit for gathering. Still, a few days 
are then generally considered of great importance. 
Where space and plenty of Ain. pots are available, 
it is a tolerably common practice to sow under glass 
early in February, with the intention of transplanting 
outside in March. Half-fill the pots with any fairly 
rich soil, scatter from eight to twelve seeds over the 
surface, then fill up with soil, and stand the pots in a 
cold frame, where air may be admitted on all favourable 
occasions. Treated in this way, the plants become 
much sturdier than when artificial heat is applied, and 
may be eventually planted out with a far greater chance 
of success. Favourable weather should be selected for 
transferring them outside, and, in planting, the balls 
may be inserted intact, or gently pulled in halves, and 
the latter planted separately. A warm position is 
necessary for Peas thus started at the commencement; 
earthing-up and protection are also essential so soon as 
they are planted out. Young seedling Peas transplant 
readily; consequently, it is advisable to fill up blanks, 
and make rows good, so far as the stock at command 
imits. ö 
Successional and Main Crops. Once the supply of 
green Peas is commenced, it is most important that it 
should be kept up so far as possible. To this end, 
varieties, differing in height and description, and suc- 
cessional sowings, must, collectively, be made to con- 
tribute. Successional sowings of one sort during the two 
first months of the year and part of March will, as a 
rule, vary but little in the time of bearing, whereas if 
three or four sorts, varying in height and other par- 
ticulars, are sown at the same time, a succession in bear- 
ing is more likely to be assured. From the end of 
March until June, sowings for main crops should be 
made at intervals of about three weeks, according to 
locality, and other circumstances not under control. Some 
make a sort of rule to sow again when the previous 
sowing is just appearing above ground; but this is not 
always a certain guide, as the weather would have a 
variable effect in different seasons and localities. For 
successional and main crop Peas, a position in one of 
the best parts of the garden quarters should be reserved, 
and the ground previously prepared, if unfit for their 
requirements. The drills for these should proceed in a 
direction from north to south. When earthing-up, the 
Soil should be drawn just up to the plants, and left in 
a ridge on either side, with a view to retaining all rain 
or other water, instead of allowing any to run off. 
Late Crops. To continue the succession into autumn, 
and maintain a supply, is not always an easy matter; 
still, it is very important that every attempt at doing 
so should be made. Strong-growing, tall and dwarf 
Marrow Peas are best suited for the purpose; and the 
trench system, with manure placed beneath, in the way 
already described, is the best method of cultivation. 
The great cause of failure is mildew on the plants, and 
this may be considerably prevented by providing a good 
depth of soil, and plenty of moisture beneath, where the 
roots penetrate. A mulching of rotten manure is of 
material help in preventing evaporation; it should be 
about 3in. deep, and laid on the surface for lft. or 
more on each side of the rows. In favoured localities, 
sowings for late crops may be made from the middle 
till the end of June; but, in northern parts, the beginning 
of June is sufficiently late for allowing the plants to 
blossom and bear anything like a crop. Some cultivators 
sow second early sorts late in the season, because of the 
likelihood of their turning in more quickly; but the 
plants lack the strength of late kinds, and the produce 
is also much inferior in quality. Tall sorts, grown late, 
should be stopped when about 4ft. high, in order to 
promote fruitfulness at an earlier stage than would be 
likely under ordinary circumstances. A sowing of lato 
Pea—continued. 
sorts should also be made, first in April, and secondly 
in May. 
All Peas are benefited by an occasional dressing of 
soot and a little lime on the surface, previous to and at 
the time when they are pushing through the ground. It 
tends greatly to ward off slugs, and is by no means 
agreeable to birds and mice. Should watering become 
necessary in summer, a thorough soaking should be 
given, and this applied at too late a stage is but of 
little use. When gathering Peas for use, only such as 
are fit should be selected, the whole stock of one sort 
being looked over each time, in preference to picking a 
portion severely, and leaving others alone possibly to 
become too old. Pea-sticks should be as strong and thin 
in proportion as may be procurable, and used at about 
the heights different sorts are calculated to reach. They 
should be firmly inserted in a slanting direction, the set 
FIG. 41. GARDEN VARIETY OF Pra (Pisum sativum), with Flowers 
and Pods in different stages of development. æ 
on one side pointing in an opposite direction to the 
other, yet at about the same angle. The leaf-tendrils 
clasp and retain a firmer hold on sticks thus arranged 
than they do on others inserted vertically. A few small 
branches near the base are instrumental in assisting the 
plants to commence climbing. 
Sorts. Varieties of Peas are become exceedingly 
numerous, and several new ones are still annually put 
into commerce. Few vegetables have been so greatly 
improved during the last few years as Peas, particularly 
in the direction of introducing the superior-flavoured 
Marrows amongst the earlier sorts that were originally 
all small and round-seeded. There are different me 
adopted for arranging Peas in classes for reference and 
distinction. . Formerly, the smooth or round- d 
kinds were far more numerous than those with wrink! 
seeds; now they are nearly equally represented. White, 
