280 SCHOOL AND HOME GABDENS 



Soil. Soil that has been enriched with stable manure 

 the previous season will be in good condition. The early 

 plantings should be in light, dry soil ; the late, in deep 

 loam. An oversupply of fresh manure makes the plants 

 run to vines. 



After the vines are well started, little nodules that 

 contain bacteria will grow on the roots. The bacteria 

 gather nitrogen from the air in the soil and convert it 

 into nitrates for the use of the plants. 



Planting. Plant peas in double rows six inches apart. 

 Make the space from one double row to another 

 eighteen inches for the dwarf varieties and three feet 

 for the tall. Early peas should be planted one inch deep 

 and should be about one half of an inch apart in the 

 row. Plant the later dwarf kinds about one inch apart, 

 and the tall kinds, one inch. Scatter them in broad rows, 

 as indicated in Fig. 151. Pack the soil firmly with the 

 back of the hoe after planting, so that they may obtain 

 moisture by coming in close contact with the soil. Ger- 

 mination may be hastened if the seeds are soaked 

 overnight and kept in a warm place. 



Culture. Thin the late varieties to three or four inches 

 apart in the row. By means of frequent shallow cultiva- 

 tion, keep a mulch on the surface, to retain moisture. 

 If a crust is formed by rain soon after planting, go over 

 the row with a garden rake to keep the topsoil fine. 

 Peas may be cultivated with a wheel' hoe, but the space 

 between the double rows must be cultivated with a hand 

 hoe. Pinch off the ends of vines that grow too rank. 



