680 THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



On land that does not answer to the description " low-lying/'* the culti- 

 vation can be confined to intertillage between the rows with a cultivator of an 

 ordinary type. 



French beans may be planted at any time after the frosts, say in August 

 on the North Coast, and later in districts further south, until in such locali- 

 ties as the Hawkesbury River, September is the most reliable month for 

 early sowings. On the tablelands it would be risky to plant before, say, the 

 end of October or beginning of November. 



Successive sowings can be made in all the localities mentioned until just 

 sufficient time is allowed to enable the crop to mature early enough to miss 

 the first frosts of autumn. 



Harvesting must commence as soon as the pods are of sufficient size, and 

 should continue at frequent intervals. If the pods are allowed to become 

 too ripe, not only is that particular picking spoiled, but the cropping power 

 of the plant is considerably reduced. They are usually forwarded to market 

 in full chaff bags, and delivery must be effected as quickly as possible, in 

 order that the produce may reach the market quite fresh. 



Of varieties, that most esteemed for commercial purposes is Canadian 

 Wonder. 



Peas. 



The popular garden pea, valuable as any summer vegetable next to the 

 potato, can be grown in almost any part of New South Wales, though allow- 

 ances must necessarily be made for climatic and other conditions in con- 

 sidering the proper time to plant. 



The pea plant itself is not subject to frost, though an inopportune 

 " freeze " at flowering time will destroy the pollen, and therefore the 

 capacity of the plant to set its pods, and will even damage the pods while 

 in their tenderest stages. Young pods that have been frosted, and that are 

 unlikely to develop, may be distinguished by a characteristic white mottled 

 appearance on the outside skin. The pea is naturally a cool-climate plant, 

 and little success can be expeeted from it in the height of summer except 

 in cool, elevated districts. 



Soils and Districts. 



A saudy loam is most suitable for the crop, but almost any soil of fair average 

 quality will yield good results. As with all legumes, the supply of nitrogen 

 in the soil is matter of less moment than that of phosphoric acid, potash, 

 and lime, and hence it is that in some localities dressings of fertilisers that 

 contain the last three have a material effect upon the yield. The crop has 

 the strong recommendation that in addition to yielding profitably, it con- 

 tributes to the fertility of the soil for the purpose of subsequent crops by 

 increasing the store of nitrogen, and by enabling the gardener or farmer to 

 add to it a considerable quantity of top-growth of a kind that humifies 

 readily when turned under. It does well on newly-broken land, and can be 

 used as a preparation crop ; indeed, there are some farmers who own a decided 

 preference for it as a first crop in their own districts. 



The crop is largely grown in central coastal districts, considerable areas 

 being devoted to it on the Kurrajong, round Gosford, Penrith, and Camden, 

 and on the Hunter River. These localities supply the early market require- 

 ments, and there are favoured parts, such as on the Kurrajong. that main- 

 tain the supply well into the winter months. 



In early districts the first plantings are made from June onward. These 

 make their growth during the winter, and come into flower late enough in 

 the spring to miss the late frosts. In these districts there are practically 



