SEPTEMBER. 437 



frequently gleaned from the experience of others, but which have been 

 introduced into my own practice, as I have found them conducive to early 

 and profitable results. 



For many years I have discontinued sowing peas in November or De- 

 cember, being fully convinced from my own experience, as well as from a 

 careful comparison with the practice of other gardeners in the same neigh- 

 borhood, that it was merely throwing away seed and time. Another rea- 

 son, Avhich is frequently overlooked, is that the warmest and best places are 

 invariably appropriated to the early sown peas ; thus throwing the sowings 

 which are most to be depended on, to more exposed situations ; and if these 

 sowings consist of what is now called second earlies, the failure of tlie first 

 crop necessarily makes the first dish of peas late indeed. 



In the first week in January, the first sowing of an early approved sort is 

 made in ten-inch pots, or boxes three feet long by ten inches wide, and ten 

 inches deep, but I prefer pots ; have ready a sufficient quantity of soil, con- 

 sisting of two parts well decomposed leaf-mould, one part loam, and one 

 part sand. Fill the pots to within three inches of the top, shake the pot to 

 level the soil, sow thinly over the surface, and fill up. From two to three 

 quarts will be sufficient to sow in pots for a first crop. Place the pots in a 

 cold vinery or pit where there is admitted at all times an abundance of air ; 

 2° or 3° of frost will do no harm to the peas. When the plants have just 

 -got through the soil, let them be placed in a three-light frame, the lights to 

 be constantly kept off in mild weather, and tilted at night, so that a slow 

 and hardy growth may be obtained. If severe frosty weather sets in, cover 

 up night and day, and be particular not to expose them to the sun if frosted. 

 The careful gardener will take care that neither sparrows nor mice have 

 access to the peas. 



In the mean time the ground in which they are to be planted should be 

 well limed and ridged up until such time as they are ready to plant out. 

 which in favorable weather will be towards the latter end of February. 

 Let the ridges be levelled down, and rows four feet apart marked off. Stretch 

 the line and cut out trenches from seven to nine inches deep, turn the peas out 

 of the pot, and separate them, leaving two or three together ; have a bar- 

 rowful of the same soil in which they were sown ready, place the peas in 

 the ridge as if planting box, fill up with the fresh soil, press it gently against 

 the roots, let one inch of the top of the pea be above the soil, make a ridge 

 of the spare soil on either side of the row, and point over the soil between 

 the rows to give a workmanlike finish; when the peas have grown four or 

 five inclies high, let earth be drawn to their stems, and stake them — they 

 will require little more attention than an occasional survey to see if the 

 slugs or sparrows molest them. These transplanted peas are the forlorn 

 hope of the season, but if well managed, they rarely fail or disappoint the 

 cultivator. 



The next or succession crop is managed thus : an open, airy quarter 

 being selected, it is limed and ridged up in the autumn ; the first fine, dry 

 weather, the following February, the ridges are levelled down. If the 

 ground is light it is trod over and raked evenly ; drills are drawn from four 



