482 THE GARDENER’S ASSISTANT. 
other hand, some direct them to be placed as | strong kinds, such as the tall Marrows, may be 
much as 3 inches apart. This, however, can | allowed for 70 or 80 feet per pint. 
only be recommended when the object is to When the seeds have been sown, the soil 
have as much increase as possible from some | raised in forming the drill should be made fine 
particular sort. The seeds should be tried pre- | and drawn over the seeds, and trodden lightly, 
vious to sowing, and allowance made for the | or rolled if not wet. 
proportion of it that either fails, or germinates| As soon as the plants are a few inches above- 
so weakly as not to be reckoned upon. LEarly , ground a little earth should be drawn towards 
sorts, if the seeds are good, may be sown at the the lower part of the stem, but so as to press 
rate of a pint for a row 50 feet long. Late | very little against the foliage. As the plants 
a —-—— + — -- SS -—- ee a OSE 
3 
Fig. 1249.—Pea—Chelsea Gem. 
advance, some more soil should be drawn to-| Peas for market are generally grown in open 
wards them. Sorts that require support should | fields entirely without stakes, medium-height 
then be immediately staked, for it is unwise to | sorts being preferred. The seeds are sown 
allow the plants to grow till the haulm bends. | thinly in lines 2 to 24 feet apart. When the 
By the time the tendrils appear, the sticks | plants are high enough they are simply moulded 
should be in readiness for them to lay hold of, | up as for Potatoes. In this way good profitable 
and then they will keep the haulm straight, | crops are obtained. 
which is more than can be effected by any | Lavrliest Crops.—It was formerly an aim in 
propping up after it has been bent. For sorts | Pea culture to have the first gathering as early 
that do not require stakes, the soil should be | as the 4th of June, the birthday of George III. 
drawn more against one side of the row than | But by various modes of forwarding and pro- 
the other. This will incline all the haulm to | tecting, new Peas are obtained much earlier in 
the opposite side. Were this not done, some | ordinary seasons. To have them, however, in 
plants would incline one way and some the | the first week in June is early enough when 
other, and get into confusion with those in the means are limited. There may be a south’ 
adjoining rows. It is better to incline the | sheltered border at disposal, in which the first 
plants when young, than allow them to grow | sowing for an early crop may be made about 
to some considerable height, to be blown over | the middle of November, choosing, of course, 
by the wind. the earliest sorts, and enough of each to afford 
