184 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



To protect the seeds from the cutworms, tobacco 

 dust in the furrow is reliable. Firming is always, 

 necessary to rapid germination; but, with these 

 deep-sown seeds that must take time to reach the 

 surface, it may also be necessary to scratch the 

 surface of the rows with rake or hook to prevent 

 cracking. With such care as to seed and sowing, 

 on the gardener's part, the spring weather will 

 do the remainder; and, in a surprisingly short 

 time, long even rows of fresh green sprouts in the 

 bare garden will be the first satisfying hope of a 

 garden. 



Later attention for garden peas is nearly the 

 same as for all vegetables. Strange as it may 

 seem after what has just been said concerning 

 too-fertile soils, garden peas should have a food 

 stimulant to start growth. Although peas, like 

 all leguminous plants, are nitrogen-gatherers, 

 capable of using atmospheric nitrogen, they do 

 not seem able to make ready use of soil nitrogen 

 in starting growth rapidly. Unless our peas fol- 

 low some other legume and that is against the 

 frugal and health-providing rotation rule they 

 should have one application of nitrate of soda, 

 just as growth begins. Afterwards, the peas will 

 grow rapidly and, as they grow, breathe in this 

 growth stimulant from the air, storing it away 

 in their nitrogen nodules, enough and to spare. 



After growth has fairly begun, the healthy vines 

 will need support of some sort. The First of 



