CHAP. XIII VILLA GARDENING 451 



sional so\vangs during these mouths. As a matter of fact I have 

 often sown at intervals of a fortnight or so in order to test the 

 matter, and I have always found that to obtain a succession from 

 the first sowing the best plan is to sow at least three or four sorts 

 at the same time, including an early kind, a mid-season one, and 

 a late variety. After Aj^ril comes in sow the succeeding crop as 

 the preceding one is just through the ground. The following dates 

 may be taken as approximately correct. They are founded upon 

 a good deal of experience and carefid note-taking, and — making due 

 allowance for the effect of latitude upon climate, and the variations 

 of soil and seasons — may be safely acted upon. Early white round 

 Peas, of which Ringleader may be taken as the type, sown before 

 Christmas, or not later than the first week in January, should be 

 fit to gather the last w^eek in May. William I. and those of a 

 second early type, sown from the end of January to the end of 

 February, should be fit to gather from 10th to 20th of June; 

 Hmitingdonian and Telephone, sown from 20th of February to 

 10th of March, should be fit for use from 20th of June to middle 

 of July, or later. Marrow Peas, such as Veitch's Perfection and 

 Ne Plus Ultra, .sown from middle to end of March, should be 

 ready about the middle of July and onwards. The tall Marrows, 

 sown first and third week in April and first and third week in May, 

 should produce a supply from the middle of July till the close of 

 the Pea season. Most people sow second earlies once or twice in 

 June, and I have seen the late Marrows do well sown as] late as 

 the middle of June. 



The Late Makkow Peas. — The crop is so important that 

 every expedient should lie adopted which can in any way enable it 

 to pass through its difficulties without much sufiiering. I have 

 seen men labouring heavily with watering-pots in a dry hot time, 

 when less than half the time and labour in preparatory work in 

 January would have produced more satisfactory residts. I do 

 not care so much about planting the late Peas in trenches, 

 especially if it decreases the depth of soil ; but I do believe in 

 marking out the sites, say, in January or February, opening a 

 trench, and filling in with a manurial compost — Peas dislike rank 

 manure — of the usual decaying matters which accumulate about a 

 garden, mixed with a proportion of manure from the stables or 

 pig-sty, with a little soot, etc., and the whole blend'^d together and 

 worked into the trench, where the Peas will by and by be planted. 

 When this is done early in the season the added compost has 

 become mellow, and is in a fit condition for the roots of the plants to 

 work among at once. As much of the soil taken out of the trench 

 as will fill it to the original level may be thrown back and worked 



