P I s 



P I s 



spurs or larger kinds, may be continued sowing 

 all May and until the middle or latter end of 

 June ; likewise some of the dwarf sorts at a later 

 period for late production. It may be proper 

 to sow larger portions of Rouncivals for the 

 latest crops, on account of their being rather the 

 hardiest to struggle with the summer's heat and 

 drought, and thereby most to be depended on 

 for a late production. 



For these crops some of the moistest ground 

 should be chosen ; and if the weather should 

 prove very dry and hot, it will be of importance 

 to soak the seed in soft water six or eight hours 

 previous to sowing ; or the drills may be well 

 watered after it has been done; either of which 

 Will promote their rising expeditiously and more 

 regularly. 



Jt may be observed, in respect to the times of 

 sowing, that it is a good rule, in the different 

 sorts, as soon as one crop appears fairly 

 above around, to sow another to succeed it of 

 the same kind, so as to have a regular succession 

 of crops following one another in bearing ; and 

 if a crop of Marrowfats, &x., and another of 

 Hotspurs, be sown on the same day, the Hot- 

 spurs will come into bearing a fortnight the 

 soonest, and the Marrowfats will arrive to a 

 bearing state about the time the others are going 

 out, just in due time to succeed them ; which 

 should be attended to in order to have these sorts 

 form a regular succession to each other. 



In gathering the crops, both hands ought al- 

 ways to be employed ; one to hold the peduncle 

 or footstalk of the fruit, while the other pulls the 

 pods ; otherwise the stem or main stalk of the 

 plant, being slender, fragile, and weak, is liable 

 to be broken and destroyed ; and the gatherings 

 should always be regularly performed according 

 as the pods fill, never letting them stand to grow 

 old, as they are in the greatest perfection 

 for eating while green, and the plants continue 

 longer in bearing. Crops of peas continue only 

 about a fortnight in full bearing, during which 

 time they furnish a plentiful gathering of pods 

 in their perfection ; though in moist showery 

 weather they sometimes continue shooting and 

 flowering three or four weeks ; but the produce 

 after the first fortnight is generally inferior both 

 in quantity and quality. 



As soon as the crops are past bearing, all the 

 sticks should be taken up and tied in bundles, 

 being set upright in any dry corner for future 

 use. 



Culture in Hot -beds. — In order to have 

 green I'eas as early in the year as possible, re- 

 course must be had to the assistance of hot- 

 taeds ; and the proper sorts for this purpose are 

 I 



the early dwarf kinds, which by this means 

 may be brought into bearing in March, or the 

 following month. 



In this intention it is rather the best mode to 

 raise the plants first in the natural ground, by 

 sowing in October or the following month, 

 giving occasional protection from frost ; and 

 when one or two inches high, to transplant them 

 into the hot-bed, in January or the beginning of 

 the following month, as by this practice the 

 luxuriant growth of the plants is so checked by 

 the removal, that they shoot more moderatclv, 

 and thereby blossom and bear sooner and more 

 abundantly. 



The sowings should be performed in a warm, 

 drv, south border, or in some similar dry 

 sheltered part of light good earth, in a bed of 

 proper dimensions to have the protection of a 

 frame, &c, in severe weather ; sowing them in 

 drills about a foot asunder, in the manner as for 

 the common crops: when they are come up and 

 advanced a little in growth, in a dry day some 

 fine earth should be drawn up to their stems, 

 giving suitable protection in bad weather. 



But they may be sown on a moderate hot-bed 

 in December or January, under frames, &c, 

 and when the plants are up, plenty of free air 

 should be admitted every temperate day, and be 

 defended in the nights from frost, snow, and 

 cutting cold ; or some may be sown in large 

 pots, and be placed in a hot-house, &c, to 

 bring up the plants quickly for transplanting in- 

 to the intended hot-bed in January. And they 

 may be sown at once in a hot-bed at the above 

 periods, to remain for bearing : but it is gene- 

 rally more eligible to have the plants previously 

 raised an inch or two in height, either by early 

 sowing in the full ground, or forwarded under 

 frames, or in a hot-bed, &c, as above, for trans- 

 planting into a fresh -made hot-bed for bearing. 

 In either of the above methods of raising the 

 plants for transplanting, when advanced from 

 one to two inches in growth, or little more, they 

 are proper for planting out into the hot-bed to 

 remain for fruiting. 



In mild weather, towards the middle or latter 

 end of January, or the beginning of the fol- 

 lowing month, at furthest, a hot-bed for one or 

 more of the largest three-light frames and glasses 

 should be prepared, which niay be either of 

 dung or tan ; the latter, where it can be obtained 

 easily at a moderate expense, is considerably the 

 best for this purpose. It should be made two 

 feet and a half or a yard thick, and covered 

 with frames and lights, and when in a moderate 

 temperature the earth be put on for the recep- 

 tion of the plants. Any light good dry earth 



