Feb.] the KITCHEN GARDEN. J33 
ground a long time before they vegetate, may be sown as early in 
this month as the ground can be got in a proper condition to receive 
the seed, which ought always to be a principal consideration; for 
nothing can be worse than to work ground whilst too wet. 1 would 
not, however, advise to sow more at this time than what may answer 
for a first early crop. 
Sow a small quantity of beet-seed on a warm border in drills for 
a first crop; but this ought not to be done till about the end of the 
month. 
Observe that seeds which are sown in the open ground at this 
time, cannot have much advantage, as to earliness, over those vvhich 
may be sown two weeks later; therefore would advise never to sow 
seeds till the ground is in a good dry state, and proper condition to 
receive them. 
Solving Peas. 
Towards the latter end of this month, prepare a dry and well 
situated piece of ground for an early crop of peas, the early-frame, 
early charleton and golden hotspurs, are the kinds most suitable 
for this crop, but more particularly the first, though the others are 
excellent, and will immediately succeed the early-frame. 
Sow each sort separate, and pretty thick, in rows or drills three 
feet asunder, covering them not more than about an inch and a half; 
or if the ground be very loose and light, too inches deep; but if it 
is of a stiff nature, one inch will be sufficient. 
But in order to give the first early crops a greater advantage, 
prepare a south border of dry light earth for their reception, and 
raise the earth into narrow sloping ridges, about a foot broad at the 
base, and nine inches high, and at the distance of three feet from 
each other; ranging these in a south-west direction from the north 
side of the border; then on the easterly sides af these ridges, 
about half their height, sow your drills of peas, giving them the 
same depth of covering as above directed. In this situation they 
will have all the advantage of the morning and mid-day sun, lie dry, 
and will consequently advance in vegetation much more rapidly 
than if sown in the ordinary way. 
Raising Peas in Hot-beds, ^c. 
Where a few peas are particularly required in the most early 
season, they may be obtained by sowing some of the early dwarf 
kinds in a hot-bed, to remain, or rather to be transplanted from that 
into another; either of which methods should be performed early 
in this month if neglected in last. These may be sown in a large 
hot-bed in rows from the back to the front of the bed, to remain: 
or it would be rather more eligible to sow them thick on a small 
hot-bed, to be transplanted into a larger when about an inch or 
two high: and if you have any in an advanced state you may now 
transplant them as above, to remain for bearing. But if you have 
the convenience of a hot-house or forcing-house of any kind, you 
