64 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Jan. 



SOWING PEAS. 



Peas may now be sown on an early border, or other warm 

 situation, if the weather be open, and the ground pretty dry. 

 The true early frame, nimble taylor, and charlton, are the best 

 for early sowing. 



The early frame, if the true sort, will fruit a few days sooner 

 than the charlton ; but it gi'ows low, and bears scantily. The 

 charltons are not only very early, but great bearers, and ex- 

 cellent peas for the table ; and are, therefore, equally fitted 

 for the early crop, and forward succession crops, and inferior 

 to few for the principal summer crops. The hotspurs are hardy 

 and prolific, and make returns nearly as quick as the charl- 

 ton, and about a fortnight before the marrowfat. These sorts, 

 therefore, are the best for sowings made from the end of 

 October till the middle of January, and for late crops raised 

 between the middle of June and the beginning of August. 



Early crops sown on a border should be always in a longi- 

 tudinal direction ; for if sown across the border, the one end 

 of the rows will be fit for use, when the other end is hardly 

 in flower ; and when sown longitudinally, one row will be enough 

 in narrow borders, which should be placed so far from the wall 

 as not to shade the fruit-trees, still near enough to derive pro- 

 tection from it ; the remaining part of the border, between the 

 peas and the walk, may be cropped with early cauliflower, 

 lettuce, salads, &c., which, being low-growing crops, will not 

 shade the peas. In borders of the greatest breadth, the lines 

 of peas may be sown diagonally, which will admit of their being 

 sown at from three to four feet apart, and thus give a gi'eater 

 bulk of crop. 



They should be sown in drills, three or three and a half 

 feet apart, according to the sort of peas and quality of the 

 ground, and three inches deep. Allow plenty of seed, as they 

 will be subject to accidents at this season. Cover with the 

 hoe or rake, but do not tread them in, as that would bind the 

 gTound too much at this season. The ground for peas, unless 

 very poor, should not be dunged, being apt to encourage 



