Gardening for Amateurs 



1081 



sheltered border early in November, 2 to 

 3 inches deep ; steep the seeds in white- 

 lead before sowing, to prevent mice from 

 eating them. Add some fine soil to the drill 

 before sowing, and subsequently cover the 

 surface with fine ashes. Sow again early in 

 January in the same way. The next sowing 

 should be in rows 3 feet apart, early in Feb- 

 ruary, of Marrowfat Peas, of which Gradus 

 is an excellent variety. Even at this time 

 the soil is cold and generally wet, and it is 

 an advantage to put some fine dry soil at 

 the bottom of the drill. 



When a garden frame is available, a good 

 way of growing the first early crop is by 

 sowing in loamy soil in 3-inch pots early in 

 January. Let the young plants be kept close 

 to the glass, and give air freely in favourable 

 weather. They are planted out in rows 

 2 feet apart, in well-prepared soil, early in 

 March. 



The best protection from birds is to cover 

 the plants with netting. Black thread 

 stretched in lines along the rows is also 

 helpful. For shelter from cold winds there 

 is nothing better than light straw hurdles, or 

 branches of Spruce Fir or Common Laurel 

 are effective. 



Spring Sowing. One of the best June 

 Peas is Daisy, a dwarf, highly productive 

 sort. Sow seeds at the end of February, in 

 rows 2 1 feet apart. Early in March sow Duke 

 of Albany and Gradus ; Gradus will be 

 ready some days before the other. Towards 

 the end of March sow the following for 

 succession crops : Thomas Laxton, King 

 Edward, Alderman, Stratagem, Yorkshire 

 Hero and Ne Plus Ultra. Quite Content 

 is fine for exhibition, while for late crops 

 Autocrat, Masterpiece, and Gladstone are 

 the best. 



To maintain an unbroken supply sow 

 fortnightly from the first week in March tc 

 the middle of June, and for late crops sow 

 from June to the middle of July ; it is use- 

 less to sow later. 



Early Peas are sown comparatively 

 thickly, as the haulm is not vigorous and 

 the plants are soon over. But for mid- 

 season and later Peas sow thinly, in double 

 lines, the seeds 3 inches apart, in drills 4 

 inches deep. The distance to allow between 

 the rows depends on the ultimate height of 



the Peas ; those 3 feet high should be 4 

 feet apart, those 4 feet high 5 feet apart, and 

 so on. Rather than run any risk of plant- 

 ing the rows too closely, it is better to plant 

 at wide distances apart and grow other dwarf 



Peas trained on Simplicitas netting. 



crops between, such as Turnip, Spinach, 

 Cabbage, Cauliflower, etc. This will give the 

 Peas the full benefit of light and air all round, 

 and result in heavier crops. As soon as the 

 young plants show, draw the soil up on either 

 side of the rows, so that a shallow trench 

 is formed. Staking must be done early. 



