GARDEN PEA 



95 



sparrows, but this is more needful for the early than the later crops. 

 When main-crop Peas have grown two or three inches, they are 

 pretty safe against the small marauders. It is of importance to stake 

 them early and to stake them well, the size and strength of the sticks 

 being, as a matter of course, proportioned to the habit of the variety. 

 Before putting sticks, earth the rows up carefully, both to give 

 support, and to comfort the base of the plant in the event of hot 

 dry weather setting in. And here we must remark on the immense 

 advantage we derive from the labours of the hybridisers who, in 

 recent years, have secured for us varieties of Peas characterised by a 

 dwarf, strong growth, great productiveness, and high quality. We 

 advise the use of sticks, for at a reasonable cost they will more than 

 pay their way. But the newer dwarf kinds do very well, and yield 

 abundantly, if allowed to grow without any support whatever, as the 

 seed grower and market gardener usually leave them. A little extra 

 care is required in gathering the crop from Peas that are not staked, 

 and we think it proper to say that some young gardeners are apt to 

 handle the haulm roughly, the result being the destruction of many 

 plants in their prime. The tall sorts may with advantage be tipped 

 when they first show flowers, and if after this they make free growth 

 they may be again tipped, to concentrate the energies of the plant on 

 the formation of fine pods. But a free leaf growth is of the first 

 importance, therefore frequent tipping is not to be thought of, and the 

 plant must have abundant light and air to maintain the leaf growth 

 in its fullest vigour. 



In the event of prolonged dry weather, measures must be taken 

 to supply water in good time and in liberal quantity. The advantage 

 of deep digging and manuring between the two spits will now be 

 discovered, for Peas thus circumstanced will pass through the trial, 

 even if not aided with water, although much better with it ; whereas 

 similar sorts, in poor shallow ground, will soon become hopelessly 

 mildewed, and not even water will save them. In giving water, it 

 will be well to open a shallow trench about a foot distant from the 

 rows on the shady side, and in this pour the water so as to fill the 

 trench ; by this method water and labour will be best economised, 

 and the plant will have the full benefit of the operation. 



The enemies of Peas are fewer in number than might be ex- 

 pected in the case of so nutritive a plant. Against the weevil 

 (Bruchus\ the moth (Plusia), and the fly (Phytomyzd), we are com- 

 paratively powerless, and perhaps the safest course is to occasionally 

 dust the plants with lime or soot, in which case care must be taken 



