24 CULTURE OF THE sWeET PEA 



is used. The soil is removed and replaced 

 with prepared soil made by composting 

 sod from an old pasture with manure. If 

 this method cannot be followed, the top 

 soil, to the depth of one foot, can be thrown 

 out on one side of the trench and the lower 

 soil broken up as deep -as possible with a 

 pick. If a good application of stable ma- 

 nure can be mixed with the subsoil the re- 

 sults are better. Often a layer of leaves 

 or coarse manure placed in the bottom of 

 the deep trench serves to promote drain- 

 age. In all cases the trenches should be 

 from 18 inches to two feet deep, and it is 

 a good plan to work in all the manure pos- 

 sible. It does not matter in the fall-prepa- 

 ration of the soil if the manure is fresh, 

 but of course strawy manure will not do 

 except in the bottom of the trench. A 

 good application of lime should be made 

 while preparing the soil in the autumn. 



