THE AMATEUR’S KITCHEN GARDEN. 
53 
sown in rows, eight or more feet apart, and are earthed up 
early, and made to lean one way — the way of the prevailing 
wind, and they do so well that we should scarcely care to put 
stakes to them, if the stakes were given tor the purpose. 
Nevertheless we repeat that where stakes and time are 
available, they should always be used as producing a better 
plant and a liner sample. When the rows of peas are close, 
they should run north and south, but when a proper distance 
apart it does not matter which way they run. 
Tite Enemies of Peas are few in number, but great in power. 
Mice will eat the seed as soon as sown, and sparrows will eat 
the plant the instant it rises out of the ground. Chopped 
gorse sown with the seed will prevent the ravage of mice, tor 
the spines of the gorse will prick their noses and defeat them. 
A cheap and simple method of checkmating both mice and 
sparrows is to sprinkle the seed and shake it in a pan with a 
little red lead. If ever so thinly coated with this poison, the 
little marauders will refrain from touching them — they will not 
even look at them. To protect when above ground, get a piece 
of deal board, about seven or eight inches wide and three- 
quarters of an inch thick, out of which make a number of 
bats, the shape of which is shown in the cut ; and, after 
putting five small nails or tacks round the outer edge, place 
one at each end of every row of peas, 
and if the rows are long, place one or 
more at certain distances along the 
rows ; then get some white worsted, 
and, beginning at the first bat, tie it 
on to the lowest nail on either side, 
then take it on to the corresponding 
nail in the next bat, give it one twist 
round, and so on to the end of the 
row, then bring it back on the second 
nails, and so on till there are five 
rows of worsted. This forms a com- 
plete arch over the peas, which no 
sparrow will venture under. Besides 
it has a very neat and tidy appear- 
ance ; in fact, its very neatness helps 
to keep the birds away, for it has 
something of the trap or net look 
about it, and so the birds are outwitted and the crop 
