BOOK I. PEA. 6i9 



in, it is not advisable to sow it after the third week in June ; rather BOW it in March, April, and May, 

 and then it will be later than the Charltons raised five weeks afterwards. The Charltons and Hotspur, 

 may be sown in May, for late full crops ; in June for a smaller supply : and in July, along with the frames 

 for the last returns." 



3601. Times of sowing. " Much that relates to this has been incidentally mentioned in the Estimate 

 of sorts. To try for a crop as early as possible, sow, of the sort preferred as hardy and forward, a small 

 portion on a sheltered south border, or other favorable situation, at the close of October, or rather in the 

 course of November. Follow with another sowing in December, that, if the former should be casually 

 cut off in winter, this coming up later, may have a better chance to stand ; and if both survive the frost, 

 they will succeed each other in fruit in May and June. For more considerable, and less uncertain 

 returns, either in succession to the above, or as first early and intermediate crops, sow larger portions in 

 December or January, if open temperate weather. To provide for main crops, make successive sowing* 

 of the suitable sorts from February till the end of May. It frequently proves, that the fruit from a sowing 

 at the beginning of February, is not a week later than that from a crop raised in November ; nay, the 

 February-sown plants sometimes surpass all that have stood the winter, in forward returns as well as 

 quantity. From the middle of February make successive sowings every three weeks in the course of 

 March, April, and May ; or twice a-month in summer, when a continued succession is to be provided till 

 the latest period. At the close of the sowing season, July and the first week of August, sow a reduced 

 quantity each time ; because the returns will depend on a fine mild autumn following, and whatever 

 fruit is obtained will be small and scanty." 



3602. Quantity of seed. Of the small early kinds, one pint will sow a row of twenty yards ; for the 

 larger sorts for main crops, the same measure will sow a row of thirty-three yards. 



3605. Process in sowing. " For early sorts, make the drills one inch and a half deep; and let parallel 

 drills be two feet and a half, three, or four feet asunder. Peas that are to grow without sticks require the 

 least room. For summer crops and large sorts, make the drills two inches deep, and four, five, or six feet 

 asunder. As to the distances along the drill, distribute the peas according to their size and the sea- 

 son : the frame, three in the space of an inch ; the Charltons, Hotspur, and dwarf marrowfat, two in an 

 inch ; the Prussian blue and middle-sized sorts, three in two inches; the large marrow-fat and Knight's, 

 a full inch apart ; the moratto, rouncivals, and most larger sorts, an inch and a half apart ; and the Pate- 

 gonian, two inches." 



3604. Soil and situation. " The soil should be moderately rich, and the deeper and stronger for the 

 lofty growers. Peas are not assisted, but hurt, by unreduced dung recently turned in. A fresh sandy 

 loam, or road-stuff, and a little decomposed vegetable matter, is the best manure. The soil for the early 

 crops should be very dry, and rendered so where the ground is moist, by mixing sand with the earth of 

 the drills. For early crops, put in from October till the end of January, let the situation be sheltered, 

 and the aspect sunny. Before the end of December, every one or two rows should stand close under a 

 south or south-eastern fence. In January, several parallel rows may be extended under a good aspect 

 farther from the fence. After January, till the end of May, sow in an open situation. For the late 

 crops, return again to a sheltered sunny border." 



3605. Subsequent culture. " As the plants rise from half an inch high to two or three inches, begin to 

 draw earth to the stems, doing this when the ground is in a dry state ; and earthing gradually higher as 



the stems ascend. At the same time, with the hoe loosen the ground between the young plants, and cut 

 down rising weeds. Early crops should be protected during hard frosts by dry straw or otner light litter, 

 laid upon sticks or brushwood ; but remove the covering as soon as the weather turns mild. If in April, 

 May, and the course of summer, continued dry weather occurs, watering will be necessary, especially to 

 plants in blossom and swelling the fruit ; and this trouble will be repaid in the produce. Rows partly cut 

 off may be made up by transplanting. This is best done in March. In dry weather, water, and in hot 

 days, shade, until the plants strike. All peas fruit better for sticking, and continue longer productive, 

 especially the larger sorts. Stick the plants when from six to twelve inches high, as soon as they begin 

 to vine. Provide branchy sticks of such a height as the sort will require : for the frame and Leadman's 

 dwarf, three feet high ; for the Charlton and middle-sized, four or five feet ; for the marrowfat and 

 larger kinds, six or eight feet ; for the rouncival, and for Knight's marrow-pea, nine or ten feet. Place 

 a row of sticks to each line of peas, on the most sunny side, east or south, that the attraction of the sun 

 may incline the plants towards the sticks. Place about half the number on the opposite side, and let both 

 rows stand rather wider at top than at the ground. Some gardeners stop the leading shoot of the most 

 early crop when in blossom ; a device which accelerates the setting and maturity of the fruit." 



3606. To forward an early crop. Sow or plant in lines from east to west, and stick a row of spruce-fir 

 branches along the north side of every row, and sloping so as to bend over the plants^ at one foot or eigh- 

 teen inches from the ground. As the plants advance in height, vary the position of the branches, so as 

 they may always protect them from perpendicular cold or rain, and yet leave them open to the full in- 

 fluence of the winter and spring sun. Some cover during nights and in severe weather, with two boards 

 nailed together lengthwise, at right angles, which forms a very secure and easily managed covering, 

 but excludes light. A better plan would be to glaze one of the skies, to lie kept to the south, and to 

 manage such row-glasses (fig. 467.), as they might be called, when over peas, beans, spinage, &c., as hand- 

 glasses are managed when over cauliflower ; that is, to take them off in fine weather, or raise them con- 

 stantly or occasionally by brick-bats, or other props, as the weather and the state of the crop might require. 



467 



3607. Knight sowed peas in the open air, and peas in pots on the first day of March. In the last week 

 of the month those in pots were transplanted in rows in the open ground ; on the 29th of April the trans- 

 planted plants were fifteen, and the others four inches high, and in June, the former ripened twelve days 

 before the latter, (llort. Trans, v. 341.) Had a single, or even two peas only been planted in each pot, 

 and the plants turned out with their balls entire, the crop, no doubt, would have ripened still earlier. 



3608. Management of a late crop. The best variety for this purpose is Knight's marrow-pea, which 

 may be sown at intervals of ten days from the beginning to the end of June. " The ground is dug over 

 in the usual way, and the spaces to be occupied by the future rows of peas are well soaked with water. 

 The mould upon each side is then collected, so as to form ridges seven or eight inches above the previous 

 level of the ground, and these ridges are well watered. The seeds are now sown in single rows along the 

 tops of the ridges. The plants grow vigorously, owing to the depth of soil and abundant moisture. If 

 dry weather at any time set in, water is supplied profusely once a-week. In this way the plants continue 

 green and vigorous, resisting mildew, and yielding fruit till subdued by frost." (Hort. Trans, ii.) 



3609. Taking the crop. " The early crops are generally gathered in very young growth, often too 

 young, when the pods are thin and the pease small, for the sake of presenting some at table as soon as 

 possible. In the main crops there is no cause for precipitation : take them as they become pretty plump.. 



