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THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



DECEMBER. 



PLANTING BEANS. 



If the weather will permit, plant beans as directed last 

 month, but if the ground be not dry, defer this planting, till 

 next month or until February. 



SOWING PEAS. 



Peas may be sown as directed last month, if the weather be 

 mild and dry ; if not, defer till next month. Look carefully 

 over the crops of beans and peas already sown, and when 

 mice or other vermin attack them, let them be destroyed by 

 poison or traps. If this be neglected, they will soon destroy 

 all the crops. Furze, or Ulcx ettropeus, chopped small, and 

 strewed over the peas in the drills, is often used to prevent 

 the attacks of mice. The crops of beans and peas that may 

 be above gi'ound should be carefully examined in dry days, 

 and the earth stirred about their stems, and a little drawn up 

 to them, if necessai*y. 



Unless in very severe frosts, avoid covering peas or beans 

 this month with the pea hand-glass, or other means, as that 

 would draw them up too tender, and render them less able to 

 stand the frosts, which generally are more severe, particularly 

 of late years, in January and February. Glass-cases are in- 

 tended more to accelerate, than protect the crops. Hurdles 

 may be placed upright parallel to the rows ; or pea-stikes may 

 be put along the rows, which will partially protect them, without 

 drawing them up too tender. In wet soils, a slight covering 

 of coal-ashes will resist the damp, and not injure the crop, if 

 not applied in too large a quantity. Where chalk can be had, a 

 slight covering of it will greatly prevent the effects of damp, 

 it corrects the acidity of the ground, and imbibes a great por- 

 tion of moisture. 



Mice are the greatest enemies that the gardener has to con- 

 tend with in the rearing of early crops of beans or peas. Rats, 



