CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDEXING. 



S78 



green nature — cannot, in reason, "be placed at the 

 bottom and midway in these trenches. The results 

 repay all such outlay. A conspicuous feature in 

 ■connection with the Pea crop is to be observed 

 in the exceptional manner in which the roots 

 absorb all available moisture. Whatever the summer 

 season may be, whenever old Pea-haulm which has 

 carried a crop is removed, the ground wherein the 

 roots have expended their powers of growth is found 

 to be as dry as it is possible for it to be. To neutral- 

 ise this by enrichments, by waterings and surface 

 mulchings of moist manurial matter, is therefore a 

 need which is far too general in the neglect rather 

 than the observance of. The intelligent cultivator 

 will do well to take note of these simple facts, correct 

 the errors, and reap the profitable results. 



In the matter of seed-sowing for this crop, practice 

 Taries greatly as connected with thin and thick seed- 

 sowing. The rule is to sow, at least, cent, per cent, 

 too thickly. In the Principality the practice some- 

 times exceeds this, on the side of error, the quantity 

 of seeds sown in single rows being in some instances 

 eurprisingly great. Upon the principle that imless 

 «ach plant develops its vigoiu' in moderation pro- 

 perly good results cannot follow, good produce is 

 thereby made an impossibility. 



For the earliest spring pickings — which should 

 take place in the month of jNIay, and the earlier the 

 blotter — certain early sorts, being of rapid growth, 

 must be chosen, and happily an improvement is 

 rapidly taking place in regard to such. Inde- 

 pendently of the old early "White" Peas, those 

 -called commonly " Blue " Peas, which are an ap- 

 proach towards the highly-valued [Marrowfats, haxe 

 been added to early varieties, and being both hardy, 

 of moderate height, and rapid development, come 

 in nearly if not quite as early as the former. 



The earliest crop is somewhat of a speculative one. 

 TSTiilst it is not possible to foresee what kind of 

 weather the winter has in store, and how it will fare 

 ^ith late autumn-sown, such a sowing is, however, 

 imperative in connection with growers who aim at 

 gathering as early a crop as possible. For these sowings 

 the most sheltered and best situation is one at the foot 

 of a south-aspect fence. The time for sowing is during 

 the early part of November, and again towards the 

 middle of December. The drill-rows di'a^\Ti for 

 these sowings should be one inch and a half deep, 

 And. three feet distance one drill from the other. 

 These drill-rows should be drawn wide or with the 

 whole flat blade of a four-inch hoe, so that the seed 

 Peas are somewhat divided therein when sown, in 

 ■such manner as they could not be were the drills 

 drawn with only one comer of the hoe-blade. For 

 these speculative crops, and in consideration that 

 the young plants have to withstand the whole 



severity of the winter, with insect-attacks, &:c., the 

 sowings should be made somewhat more thickly than 

 is advised generally. When sown, draw the soil 

 over on to them, chopping down all lumps, and 

 make the soil fine and even immediately over the 

 seeds. 



Such winter or early crops will require especial 

 attention. So soon as the young seedling plants are 

 two to thi-ee inches above the gi'ound, connnence 

 di-awing the loose soil from both sides towards the 

 young plants. Choose a fine day when the surface of 

 the soil is dry, and at the first earthing hoe along 

 close to the two sides of each row, chopping the soil 

 down fine, then draw it close up to the base of the 

 young plants, to a depth of about two inches. Jn a 

 fortnight's time they will require yet another 

 moulding. This time di-aw a larger quantity of soil 

 towards both sides, but do not bring it into im- 

 mediate contact with the young plants. Eather 

 endeavour to form ^vith it a ridge on either side of 

 each row higher than the apices of the ridges last made 

 in moulding up. Eepeat the moulding as the winter 

 advances, making such ridges still higher if possible, 

 the object being to foim ridges for protection against 

 cold generally, keen wind-frosts more especially, for 

 if these be permitted to have full play upon the 

 tender plants, they dash them against the hard frosty 

 ground, twist them about, and cause irremediable 

 injury. 



Dming very severe winters it is needful to 

 scatter a little lime over the surface of the soil, and 

 lay on either side of each row a ridge protection of 

 coarse stable litter or, where obtainable. Bracken 

 Fern. Sticking is an important protective winter 

 aid to these early crops, and must be done so soon as 

 the crop is high enough for the purpose. So soon as 

 the young plants rise to a height of about four 

 inches, place sticks to them in the m.anner referred 

 to below. Well or deeply hoe between the rows in 

 the early spring. Avhen active growth begins : and 

 should it be desirable to hasten the crop, even by a 

 day or two, pinch off the top of each growing plant 

 so soon as flowers and their infant pods, in suflicient 

 nmnbers for the crop, have been secirred. 



For the main crop, gi-ound having been prepared 

 as advised, the first sowing should be made during a 

 mild period towards the end of February. For this 

 and the following sowings, duplicate sorts must be 

 soT\m upon one and the same date, by which means 

 a successional supply will be insui'ed after once a 

 first gathering has been made. For the autumn 

 sowings William I., Kentish Invicta, Day's Early 

 Sunrise, and Dillistone's Early are most suitable. 



A row or two of each of these should also be again 

 sown during this February sowing, and along with 

 them Earliest of All. Again in IMarch, choosing fine 



