76 CULTURE OF THE SWEET PEA 



the surface; very coarse gravelly soil if- 

 well fertilized answers the purpose. Soil 

 taken from swampy places, provided it is 

 not heavy clay, is good, but cannot be used 

 the same year. It should be spread out 

 about sixteen inches thick on high ground 

 and left there to winter over. The rain 

 will wash out any alkali which it may con- 

 tain. In the following spring, about June, 

 compost may be made of this soil. Some 

 air slaked lime and coarse bone is added, 

 together with the necessary manure. 



Solid beds of good soil two, or two and a 

 half, feet in depth are the best. If sweet 

 peas follow a tomato crop, which is on the 

 wane by the middle of August, the beds 

 should be deeply trenched, bringing the 

 bottom soil to the surface. In the bottom 

 of the trench three inches of decomposed 

 cow manure are worked in ; one foot from 

 the surface three inches more of the same 



