CULTURE OF POD-BEARING CROPS. 63 



would be wasteful ; while to leave them in the soil is 

 at once economical, and is directly beneficial to the 

 soil and to the crop that is to follow. 



Sowing for Succession. To secure a succession 

 of crops of peas, several sowings must be made 

 during the period from February to the end of June. 

 If the soil and weather conditions are favourable, a 

 sowing of an early variety may be made from the 

 middle to the end of February, and, in timing sub- 

 sequent sowings, as soon as the previous row is well 

 through the soil another may be sown ; or seed may 

 be sown at intervals of two to three weeks in the 

 case of dwarf varieties, and about four weeks for 

 taller sorts. The first few sowings should be dwarf 

 early varieties, followed by a taller main crop variety, 

 while for the last sowings a good plan is to again use 

 dwarf varieties. 



How to Sow. Dwarf peas should be sown 20 to 

 24 inches between the rows, and the taller varieties 

 3 to 4 feet apart according to their height. In small 

 areas good results are got by using dwarf varieties 

 only, right through the season, so as to economise 

 space. 



When sowing, first rake the ground level, then set 

 the line, and with the broad part of the draw-hoe 

 take out a broad flat-bottomed drill two inches deep. 

 The drills are better to be slightly deeper for large 

 seeded varieties, or in light sandy soils. Too thick 

 sowing and consequent overcrowding of the young 

 plants must be guarded against, as this is certain to 

 be attended with poor results later. Scatter the 

 seeds thinly in the drill, and after covering in with 

 soil tramp lightly along above the seeds, or beat 



