By Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. 87 



must be retarded, and that it may become the food of the 

 parasitical plants, which then only may grow luxuriant and 

 injurious. 



This view of the subject, whether true or false, led me to 

 the following method of cultivating the pea late in the 

 autumn, by which my table has always been as abundantly 

 supplied during the months of September and October as in 

 June and July ; and my plants have been very nearly as free 

 from Mildew. The ground is dug in the usual way, and the 

 spaces which will be occupied by the future rows are well 

 soaked with water. The mould upon each side is then 

 collected, so as to form ridges seven or eight inches above 

 the previous level of the ground, and these are well watered ; 

 after which the seeds are sowed, in single rows, along the 

 tops of the ridges. The plants very soon appear above the 

 soil, and grow with much vigour, owing to the great depth 

 of the soil, and abundant moisture. Water is given rather 

 profusely once in every week or nine days, even if the 

 weather proves showery ; but if the ground be thoroughly 

 drenched with water by the autumnal rains, no further trouble 

 is necessary. Under this mode of management the plants 

 will remain perfectly green and luxuriant till their blossoms 

 and young seed vessels are destroyed by frost; and their 

 produce will retain its proper flavour, which is always taken 

 away by Mildew.* 



The pea, which I have always planted for autumnal crops, 

 is a very large kind, of which the seeds are much shrivelled, 



* One of the most experienced and close observers of our Society (Mr. 

 Dickson) will probably recollect having seen my crops of peas in the state I 

 have described, late in the autumn, in my garden at Elton. 



