— ,y^jMm 
NOTES ON THE CULTIVATION OF SUMMER AND AUTUMN PEAS. ISi* 
deep and fifteen inclies wide is taken, out, the soil, as the garden slopes considerably, being placed on ti 
the lower side of the trench, then a coating of cow-dung six inches thick is forked in and covered a 
few inches ^^•ith soil, and upon this the Peas are sown. If it is late in the season, and the weather 
dry, it is a good plan to soak the seed in water for a day or two before sowing, as it accelerates their 
vegetating ; but for early crops, and when the weather is moist, such a precaution is not necessaiy. 
AU the secondaiy crops are sown in this way, and indeed, where a croji of Peas is desired, instead of a few 
dishes very early, we are quite sure this plan should be followed. In the garden of a neighbour we 
saw last season some rows of Warner's Emperor and the Warmck Pea, which had been sown in 
highly manured trenches, and instead of being the puny things we generallj' see them, they were fi-om 
four to five feet in height, and quite as much thi'ough the branches at the top, and yielded bushels of 
splendid Peas. It is true the produce was a few days later before it was fit to gather than it would have 
been in poorer soil ; but this was amply compensated for by the very superior quality of the produce. On 
poorer soils, those who sow Ln enriched trenches for early crops will not regret the experiment ; but they 
must not forget to give more room betn^een the rows than is customary under ordinary circumstances. It 
was one of the prejudices of by-gone times, that Peas did not require manui'e, that if they had it they 
would run all to halm, and the produce be unusually limited ; but in these fi'ee trade times, when 
people begin to understand that the soil cannot yield that which it does not contain, the anti-manui'e 
doctrine, even for Peas, is fast falHng to the ground, and will soon be numbered among the things that 
were. In the liighly manured market gardens of the metropolis, special manui-ing, except for late 
crops, may not be necessary ; but upon all Ught soils, and more especially dry soils, a thorough manur- 
ing is indispensable to success. ^^Tiere the ground is rich, and especially where the crops are sown in 
manured trenches, more room will be required between the rows, especially of the tall growing kinds, 
but if some of the new Peas tui-n out as they are represented, it is more than probable that the best of 
the tall kinds must " go out;" even the Victoria, Knights, and British Queen, must make way for 
Hau-s' Mammoth Marrow, a dwarf pea of prodigious size, fine flavom-, and a most abundant bearer. 
One great advantage of sowing Peas in trenches is, the facility it ofiers for thorouglily soaking them 
with water in dry weather, and nothing tends so much to keep the mildew away, as to promote a vi- 
gorous growth at all seasons, and to this end we frequently give our Peas, when in full bearing, a 
thorough soaking of manure-water, or scatter a little guano along the trenches, and then water wth 
plain water. Mulching between the rows with short grass, the refuse of the pleasm'e ground, is also a 
good practice, as it pi-events the evaporation of the moistore, and keeps the ground cool between the 
plants. For early crops, Warner's Emperor, and Flanagan's Early, if not the earliest, are the best in 
quality, and the most profitable. Then follow, Fau-beard's Sui-prise, and the Champion of England, 
two early marrow peas of remarkable excellence, alike suitable for early, and very late crops. Of 
dwarf Peas, Bishop's new Long-podded is iirstrate, but not suitable to poor, Ught soils, and Bedman's 
Imperial is very profitable. The Scimetar is fast wearing out, a true sample being a difficult thing 
to be met with ; but if, as we have remarked before, Hair's Mammoth Pea proves what it has been re- 
presented, it wUl doubtless become an universal favourite. For the very dwarf kinds, as Bishop's 
Queen of Dwarfs, Burbidge's Eclipse, and the like, we have no special hking ; as, in damp seasons, unless 
staked, they are liable to rot at the bottom ; besides, they are rather too handy for rats, mice, and other 
vermin, who, imder the ample foliage, can devour them in secui-ity. Those who grow the preceding 
Peas may rest assured that they have the best kinds, and though they purchase every kind found in 
the seedsmen's catalogues, they will not improve upon them. 
For a very early crop, a south border should be chosen, and these should be sown in November, 
and be protected through the winter when necessary. A second crop of the early kuids, should be 
sown in February, and then a row each of foui' different kinds, say Knight's Dwarf Mari'ow, Faii'- 
beard's Champion of England, Hairs' Mammoth Marrow, and Bishop's Long-podded sown every month 
until August, will give a good succession thi'oughout the season. The four Peas specified above, wUl 
come in a few daj's apart, and hence a succession of young Peas is secm-ed. For the last crop, a 
warmer border should be provided. One of the best crops of late peas we ever saw, was raised in 
pots filled with rich manure, planted out upon a south border previously trenched and well manm-ed, 
and after planting, the whole ground was thoroughly soaked with weak manirre-water, and mulched 
several inches thick with the dung of an old mushi-oom bed. These Peas were sown in August, 
and through October they yielded an excellent crop. 
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