IRISH GARDENING 



VOLUME XIII 



No. 145 



Editor J- W. Besant 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE 



ADVANCEMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND 



ARBORICULTURE IN IRELAND 



MARCH 



1918 



Food Production Firstt 



By Andrew F. 1'eakso.n. 



'The Pea; 



Of all vegetables the culinary pea, " Pisum 

 sativum," is generally regarded as the choicest, 

 and as a highly nourishing food, being rich in 

 phosphates and alkalies, it holds a very high 

 position whether used as a green dish with 

 meats, or in soups ; when dried it makes a 

 welcome addition to the winter vegetables, and 

 growers with foresight will save every dry seed 

 for next \\inter's requirements. It can also 

 be bottled in the green state, and will keej) an 

 indefinite time in perfect condition. 



The cultivation of the pea is simple, though 

 somewhat more exacting than some of the 

 commoner vegetables ; in mild districts some 

 growers sow the earliest batch in October and 

 November, and often succeed in bringing the 

 ])lants through the winter successfully, while 

 oiliers pin their faith to indoor sowings in Janu- 

 aiy or early February, and subsequently hard- 

 ening off the plants before jjlanting outdoors 

 at the end of March or early April. 



Whichever method be adopted in normal 

 years, the present year demands that which will 

 ensure a (juick and economical return of food, 

 and I will endeavour to present a clear outline 

 of some of the best means of obtaining crops 

 thi-oughout the season. 



At the outset it may be taken for granted 

 that most garden soils will produce peas, the 

 best is, however, a soil of a calcareous nature, 

 that is somewhat limy in composition, and as 

 the crop is an exhausting one the ground needs 

 good preparation and dee]) working, but large 

 quantities of fresh manure must not be used. 



A liberal supply of well-niadu farmvard niainire 

 worked in during winter at two spits under the 

 surface is the better way to apply nourishment 

 to the pea, the growth will then be uniform 

 and likely to be more fnjitful than the more 

 luxuriant haulm \\-hich would result from a 

 close application of fresh manure near the roots. 



Artificial manures may also be applied if 

 obtainable, the most profitable plan to adopt 

 is to use these manures as a stimulant at criti- 

 cal periods, and as an assisting agent to the 

 more complete food contained in farmyard 

 manure. Sulphate of ammonia applied iu 

 summer at the rate of 1^ lbs. to 2 lbs. per 

 square rod will give a decided fillip to a weak 

 growth, while if 4 lbs. to 5 lbs. basic slag per 

 square rod has been applied in autumn or 

 winter the crop will be all the greater. 



The earliest crops will have been sown before 

 this date, but early sorts may still be sown, 

 and in the event of a grower, through circum- 

 stances, being in the unhappy position of a late 

 beginner, early sorts such as William Hurst, 

 or American Wonder dwarfs, or " Pilot," may 

 be sown in pots and placed in a greenhouse or 

 hot frame to hasten their growth. An even 

 better and cheaper way is to cut some thick 

 pieces of turf about 4 inches in width and ') 

 inches thick, turn these turves, grass side 

 downwards, draw a furrow 1^ inches deep in 

 these turves, sow the peas thinly, cover with 

 fine soil, press firmly and water. If the turves 

 have been set close' to each other in a frame, 

 or greenhouse floor, all that is required is to 

 keep the frame or house close, and watch the 

 seedlings in case of attacks from slugs. Should 

 these pests be prevalent a dusting of lime or 



