Pea 



381 



are very liable to mildew. Peas and onions are the first 

 vegetables to be sown in the open ground. Even before 

 freezing weather is past, peas may be planted. It is 

 customary to plant them 3-5 inches deep : the roots are 

 then deep enough to be in cool and moist soil. 



A light' soil is preferable, particularly when earliness 

 is desired. A very rich soil tends to make the plants 

 run to vine and to delay the crop. Successional sow- 

 ings should be made at intervals of six to ten days. 



Fig. 115. Pea seedlings. Two-thirds natural size. 



For early use, the dwarf varieties should be selected. 

 For the main or late crop the tall or climbing sorts, 

 which are more productive, are preferred. Pinching-in 

 the excessive growths tends to make the tall varieties 

 somewhat earlier. Early in August in the Northern 

 states dwarf varieties may be sown for fall use. As a 

 field crop, peas are now extensively grown for canning 

 factories (see Bull. 41, Del. Exp. Sta.). For this pur- 

 pose they are sown broadcast or drilled in. If broad- 



