CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 137 



vary according to the size, from a half to two inches the lat- 

 ter space being considered best for the largest, and the first 

 mentioned, the smallest kind. The land is then harrowed 

 across, and thus the seeds are sufficiently covered. 



The after culture ) though simple, should he effective. When 

 the plants are a few feet above ground, the expanding cultiva- 

 tor is to pass along the intervals, the teeth being set as near 

 the rows of plants as possible without injuring them. Then, 

 before the plants come into flower, a hand passes along the 

 rows, and hoes up and removes all the weeds. This completes 

 the culture of the pea, which will now grow with great 

 rapidity, and soon cover the intervals. 



Early hoeing, in the case of this plant, should never be ne- 

 glected. The effect is not only to repress the growth of 

 weeds, until the plant shall have required sufficient strength, 

 but, as in nearly all cases of tilling the ground about the stems, 

 to give increased vigour to the growth of the plants. 



From the manner of the growth of the pea, and from its 

 stems quickly stretching over the intervals, the process of hoe- 

 ing should be commenced early, and perseveringly persisted 

 in. After the first crop of weeds is destroyed, the plants 

 themselves will generally stifle all that may spring up during 

 the subsequent period of their growth. This is the system 

 under which the pea is beneficially cultivated. The land will 

 thus be cleaned in an efficient manner, and prepared for any 

 crop of grain that is to follow. 



In harvesting, the ordinary management of the pea differs 

 but little from that of the other kinds of grain mentioned. 

 Some employ a tool called a peas-mate, which is merely the 

 half of an old scythe fixed to a handle. With this they are 

 cut, and rolled up into what are called wads or wisps, and left 

 to dry. In other cases, old blunt hooks are employed, by 

 pulling which towards the reaper, the plant is torn and broken 

 at the surface, rather than cut. 



Diseases and Insects. The pea, like the bean, is subject to 

 various diseases. Like it, it suffers from rust, and is rather 

 more subject to injury from insects at the roots. The pea-bug 

 is the most formidable enemy that the crop has to contend 

 with in this country; but it is believed that, with proper pre- 

 cautions, the crop can be entirely rescued from the depreda- 

 tions of these mischievous insects. 



It has been recommended to place the seed in a basket, and 

 immerse the basket in a kettle of boiling water; spread the 

 seed immediately on a floor, and plant as soon as possible. 

 This process, while it is said to destroy the insect, does not 

 affect the vitality of the seed. But the greatest precaution is 



