PEAS. 95 



not more than two inches apart; the next three tubes 

 are drawn up and shut off so that they will not sow; 

 the next two tubes are wired together as before, and 

 allowed to sow, and the next three tubes are shut off, and 

 the next two outside tubes are wired together and 

 allowed to sow. We thus sow three double rows at a 

 time, and we have a space of fully two feet between the 

 rows, in which we can use the cultivator or horse-hoe. 

 The plan works admirably. I like to sow the peas 

 thickly, and we set the drill so that, if all the tubes were 

 running, we should sow four bushels per acre, but as 

 there are twelve tubes in the drill, and we only sow with 

 six, we use but two bushels per acre. This is thick 

 enough, but it is not a bit too thick; I should prefer to sow 

 thicker than this, rather than thinner. To succeed in rais- 

 ing green peas for market in this way, we must not expect 

 a large crop on average farm land, with average farm treat- 

 ment. We want the dryest and best of land. It should be 

 free from stones and sticks, and in the very best mechan- 

 ical condition, with a liberal supply of manure. The soil 

 should be made ready the autumn previous, using only a 

 gang-plow or cultivator in the spring. The roller and 

 harrow should be used again and again, if necessary, 

 until every clod is broken, and the surface soil is as loose 

 and mellow as a garden. In fact, it is a garden, and we 

 are proposing to grow a very important and profitable 

 crop. 



The best varieties for market are: the Extra Early 

 Kent, for the earliest crop; Kentish Invicta, for the 

 second early, and the Champion of England, or the White 

 Marrowfat, for the last crop. In quality, Champion of 

 England is by far the best variety. In the garden, for 

 home use, we have many varieties of great merit. For 

 the earliest crop, I know of nothing better than a good 

 strain of Extra Early Kent. It has a dozen or more 

 different names; the value of the alleged varieties de- 



