280 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 
Soil. Soil that has been enriched with stable manure 
the previous season will be in good condition. The early 
plantings should be in light, dry soil; the late, in deep 
loam. An oversupply of fresh manure makes the plants 
run to vines. 
After the vines are well started, little nodules that 
contain bacteria will grow on the roots. The bacteria 
gather nitrogen from the air in the soil and convert it 
into nitrates for the use of the plants. 
Planting. Plant peas in double rows six inches apart. 
Make the space from one double row to another 
eighteen inches for the dwarf varieties and three feet 
for the tall. Early peas should be planted one inch deep 
and should be about one half of an inch apart in the 
row. Plant the later dwarf kinds about one inch apart, 
and the tall kinds, one inch. Scatter them in broad rows, 
as indicated in Fig. 151. Pack the soil firmly with the 
back of the hoe after planting, so that they may obtain 
moisture by coming in close contact with the soil. Ger- 
mination may be hastened if the seeds are soaked 
overnight and kept in a warm place. 
Culture. Thin the late varieties to three or four inches 
apart in the row. By means of frequent shallow cultiva- 
tion, keep a mulch on the surface, to retain moisture. 
If a crust is formed by rain soon after planting, go over 
the row with a garden rake to keep the topsoil fine. 
Peas may be cultivated with a wheel hoe, but the space 
between the double rows must be cultivated with a hand 
hoe. Pinch off the ends of vines that grow too rank. 
