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ON THE CULTURE OF EARLY PEAS. 
were it not that there is one, though an old method of management, 
which, not being generally known, at least not very generally practised, 
deserves to be reiterated, more especially as it demands neither much 
labour, nor does it involve any risk or chance of failure. 
About the first of November, provide as many open twenty-four¬ 
sized pots as, when plunged, will fill a three-light melon frame; fill 
them with old cucumber compost, or other similar kind of soil; divide 
each pot across the middle, by thrusting down pieces of broken glass, 
plain tiles, or pieces of flat board (old split oak pales cut to the proper 
length answer well); on each side of these dividers draw, with the two 
fore-fingers of each hand united, little drills about one inch deep: in 
these sow the peas moderately thick, but so as they do not lie on each 
other ; cover equally, and plunge in the frame. Beginning at the back 
of the frame, (which should be set fronting the south,) keep up the 
surface of the pots to within eight inches of the glass ; fill in the earth 
pretty firmly between and among the pots, to prevent the inroads of 
mice, slugs, &c. Place and keep on the lights till the plants break 
ground, and then give a little air daily, shutting close on nights. 
This is all the attention the plants require throughout the winter, 
and until the time arrives when they must be turned out. No time 
can be fixed for this work, as it entirely depends on whether the winter 
has been mild or severe, or whether the spring is more or less advanced. 
Between the first and fifteenth of March is, however, about the usual 
time for putting them into their final station. 
Close to the base of a south wall is the best place. Let about fifteen 
inches in width be forked up, (omitting opposite the stems or low 
branches of the fruit-trees,) laying the surface highest against the wall, 
to admit of a trench four or five inches deep being cut with the spade, 
to receive the plants. 
The trench being ready, the pots of plants (the latter now about five 
inches high) are set along the border; the fingers of the left hand are 
introduced through both rows of plants; the pot is turned up, and its 
contents discharged into the left hand. The ball is next laid on the 
ground, and the blade of an old table-knife is passed through from side 
to side, close to the divider. The ball falls apart, and when the divider 
is removed, the divisions are placed in the trench nearly touching each 
other, their flat sides being put next the wall, so as to make a uniform 
row. Soon as the plants are placed, the roots may have a moderate 
sprinkling of water before they arc covered up with the broken mould 
raised out of the trench. Soon as the surface is all neatly levelled, they 
must be sticked; this not only prevents the plants falling forward, but 
gives additional, shelter, and security. 
