836 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



some places in Middlesex. But it is obviously a method of cultivation that can only be attempted on the 

 warm and fertile kinds of turnip soil, and where the pea crops are early; on the cold heavy and wet 

 descriptions of land it is obviously impracticable, and wholly improper. 



5198. The soil best suited for peas is a dry calcareous sand ; it should be in good tilth, 

 not too rich nor dunged along with the crop. In Norfolk and Suffolk peas are often 

 sown on clover leys after one furrow, or after corn crops on two furrows, one given in 

 autumn, and the other early in spring. 



5199. The climate required by the pea is dry and not over warm, for which reason, as 

 the seasons in this country are very often moist and sometimes exceedingly dry and hot 

 in June and July, the pea is one of the most uncertain of field crops. 



5200. TJie season of sowing must differ considerably according to the intentions of the 

 cultivator. 



5201. For podding early to be sold green, they should be sown at different times, from January to the 

 end of March, beginning with the driest and most reduced sorts of land ; and with this intention in some 

 southern counties they are sown in the autumn. For the general crops from February to April, as soon 

 as the lands can be brought into proper order, is the proper season ; the grey sorts being employed in the 

 early sowings, and the white sorts in the later. Young says, that where these crops cannot be sown in 

 February, they should alwaysbecompletedin the following month. It is observed by the same writer, that, 

 in sowing after a single furrow, the white boiling pea, of many sorts and under various names, is more 

 tender than the greys and various kinds of hog peas ; but he has many times put them into the ground in 

 February, and, though very smart frosts followed, they received no injury. He has uniformly found, that 

 the earlier they were sown the better. There is also a particular motive for being as early as possible ; that 

 is, to get them off in time for turnips. This is most profitable husbandry, and should never be neglected 

 in dry and warm soils and situations. If they are sown in this month, and a right sort chosen, they will 

 be off the land in June, so that turnips may follow at the common time of sowing that crop. 



5202. Steeping the seed in water is sometimes practised in late sowings. 



5203. The quantity of seed must be different in different cases and circumstances, and 

 according to the time and manner in which the crop is put into the ground ; but, in 

 general, it may be from two and a half to three bushels, the early sowings having the 

 largest proportion of seed. In planting every furrow slice. Young says, two bushels and 

 a half constitute the usual proportion ; but, when drilled at greater distances, six or seven 

 pecks will answer. 



5204. The most common mode of sowing peas is broad-cast ; but the advantages of the 

 row culture in the case of a crop so early committed to the soil must be obvious. 



5205. The best farmers always sow peas in drills either after the plough, the seed being deposited com- 

 monly in every second or third furrow ; or, if the land is in a pulverised state, by drawing drills with a 

 machine or by ribbing. In Norfolk and Suffolk peas are generally dibbled on the back of the furrow, 

 sometimes one and sometimes two rows on each ; but dibbling in no manner appears to us so well suited 

 for a farmer's purpose as the drill. In Kent, where immense quantities of peas are grown, both for 

 gathering green and for selling ripe to the seedsmen, they are generally sown in rows from eighteen inches 

 to three feet asunder, according to the kind, and well cultivated between. Peas laid a foot below the sur- 

 face will vegetate ; but the most approved depth is six inches in light soil, and four inches in clay soil, for 

 which reason they ought to be sown under furrow when the ploughing is delayed till spring. Of all grain, 

 beans excepted, they are the least in danger of being buried, 



5206. The after culture given to peas is that of hoeing, either by hand or horse. 

 Where the method of hand-culture prevails, it is the general custom to have recourse to 

 two hoeings ; the first when the plants are about two or three inches in height, and again 

 just before the period in which they coine into blossom. In this way the vigorous 

 vegetation of the young crop is secured, and a fresh supply of nourishment afforded for 

 the setting of the pods and the filling of the peas. At the latter of these operations the 

 rows should be laid down, and the earth well placed up to them, the weeds being pre- 

 viously extirpated by hand labour. It has been stated, that in some parts of Kent, where 

 this sort of crop is much grown, it is the practice, when the distance of the roi^s will 

 permit, to prevent the vegetation of weeds, and forward the growth of pea crops, by 

 occasionally horse-hoeing, and the use of the brake-harrow, the mould being laid up to 

 the roots of the plants at the last operation by fixing a piece of wood to the harrow. 

 This should, however, only be laid up on one side, the peas being always placed up to 

 that which is the most fully exposed to the effects of the sun. 



5207. In harvesting the ripened pea considerable care is requisite, both on account of 

 the seed and haulm. 



5208. When pea crops become ripe they wither and turn brown in the haulm or straw, and the 

 pods begin to open. In this state they should be cut immediately, in order that the loss sustained 

 by their shedding may be as little as possible. It is observed that in the late or general crops, after 

 they are reaped or rather cut up by means of a hook, it is the usual practice to put them up into small 

 heaps, termed wads, which are formed by setting small parcels against each other, in order that they may 

 be more perfectly dried both in the seed and stem, and be kept from being injured by the moisture of the 

 ground. But, in the early crops, the haulm is hooked up into loose open heaps, which, as soon as they 

 are perfectly dry, are removed from the ground and put into stacks for the feeding of animals, which are 

 said to thrive nearly as well on it as on hay. When intended for horses, the best method would seem to 

 be that of having them cut into chaff and mixed with their other food. Young says, that forward white 

 peas will be fit to cut early in July ; if the crop is very great they must be hooked ; but if small, or only 

 middling, mowing will be sufficient. The stalks and leaves of peas being very succulent, they should be 

 taken good care of in wet weather : the tufts, called wads or heaps, should be turned, or they will receive 

 damage. White peas should always be perfectly dry before they are housed, or they will sell but in- 

 differently ; as the brightness and plumpness of the grain are considered more in them than in hog peas at 

 market. The straw also, if well harvested, is very good fodder for all sorts of cattle and for sheep j but if 

 it receives much wet, or if the heaps are not turned, it can be used only to litter the farmyard with. It 

 is the practice in some districts to remove the haulm, as soon as it has been cut up by hooks constructed 



