February 



best ground as regards texture ; but it need not be on the richest, for 

 if the roots can push down they will get what they want from the 

 subsoil, and therefore it is of great importance to put this crop on 

 ground that was dug twice in the autumn. 



Pea. Sow early sorts in quantity now, in accordance with pro- 

 bable requirements ; but there will be a loss rather than a gain of 

 time if they are sown on pasty ground or during bad weather. We 

 have now many grand sorts of moderate height, and these give the 

 least trouble in their management ; but a few of the taller varieties 

 still remain in favour, because of their high quality. However, there 

 is time yet for sowing mid-season and late Peas ; but the sooner some 

 of the first earlies are in, the better. It is customary to sow many 

 rows in a plot rather close together, but it is better practice to put 

 them so far apart as to admit of two or three rows of early Potatoes 

 between every two rows of Peas. This insures abundance of light 

 and air to the Peas, and the latter are of great value to protect the 

 Potatoes from May frosts that often kill down the rising shaws. A 

 warm, dry, fertile soil is needed for first early Peas. Those already 

 up and in a bad plight should be dug in and the rows sown again. 

 It is worthy of note that if Peas are thoroughly pinched and starved 

 by hard weather, they rarely prove a success ; therefore if they go 

 wrong, sacrifice them without hesitation and begin again. Where 

 early rows are doing well put sticks to them at once, as the sticks 

 afford considerable protection, and the effect may be augmented by 

 strewing on the windward side small hedge clippings and other light 

 dry stuff. 



Potato. A small quantity for early use should be planted when 

 the ground is dry and the weather soft. If planted when frost or 

 cold winds prevail, sets may become somewhat shrivelled before they 

 are covered, and every care should be taken to prevent such a check 

 to the initial vigour of the plant. The first early sorts will necessarily 

 have the chief attention now, and warm sheltered spots should be 

 selected for them. Any fairly good soil will produce a passable crop 

 of Potatoes ; but to secure a first-class sample of any early sort, the 

 ground should be made up with the aid of turfy soil and charrings of 

 hedge clippings and other light, warm, nourishing material. Strong 

 manures are not to be desired, but a mellow, kindly, fertile soil is 

 really necessary, and it will always pay well to take extra pains in its 

 preparation, because all the light rubbish that accumulates in yards 

 and outhouses can be turned to account with only a moderate 

 amount of labour, and the result of careful appropriation of such 



