Peas. 257 



extent produce early crops with a measure of certainty and 

 thus escape undue risks, though since his operations are on a 

 comparatively small scale he misses the " scoops " which the 

 extensive grower is sometimes fortunate enough to secure. 



In any case, Peas should always be given a prominent place 

 in the garden of any grower engaged in a general trade, both 

 for their profit-making possibilities and for the important part 

 they play in any well-arranged system of rotation and cultiva- 

 tion. They not only lend themselves admirably to inter- 

 cropping, but the preparation of the soil necessary to the 

 production of a good crop of Peas ensures its being left in 

 capital condition for any crop which may follow, whilst since 

 Peas collect and leave behind them nitrogenous matter in 

 the soil, their occupation of it increases rather than decreases 

 its fertility. 



Soil. Any ordinary soil which has 

 received proper preparation will grow 

 Peas fairly well. For the earliest crops 

 a warm, dry, and rather sandy soil is to 

 be preferred, though on heavier staples 

 good early crops can be obtained by 

 growing on ridges or on raised beds. 

 For the main-crops light sandy soil is 

 unsuitable, unless specially prepared, 

 the ideal one being a rich and rather 

 retentive loam, deeply worked and well 

 drained. It is not desirable to apply 

 heavy dressings of manure directly to 

 the crop, as it would have a tendency 

 to cause the Peas to run too much to 

 leaf, the best conditions being secured copyright, s. * s 



~ ,, , , ,, Gladstone Pea. 



when Peas follow a crop for which the 



soil was liberally manured, in which case all further plant- 

 foods necessary would be best supplied by suitable concentrated 

 fertilizers ; but when the soil is in poor condition, free manur- 

 ing is absolutely necessary to a good crop, though only old and 

 well-decomposed manure should be used. 



Preparation of the Land. This should be taken in hand in 

 autumn, when it should be ploughed or dug (bastard trenched 



17 



