SOWING LATE PEAS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 21, 20 November 1912, Page 41

SOWING LATE PEAS.

Tl goes withouit saying that the ardent desire of every kitchen gardener, amateur or professional, is to maintain a continual supply of garden peas until the latest possible date in the season. Although a good deal depends upon the weather, this is a task which provides a good test of the gardener’s skill, calling as it does for the exercise of considerable forethought in addition to the manual labour entailed. As in the cultivation of main crop varieties, the preparation of the soil for late sorts is a very important consideration, and the work must be thoroughly done to produce the best results. Trenches should be taken out to a depth of two feet, l*nd plenty of well-decayed manure mixed with the soil, so that a deep, cool, root run during the scorching days may be provided. The wider the trendies are the better, as this means, of course. ®o much more available food for the plants. Ou very light soils cow manure should tw used in preference to the lighter horse manure; peas prefer a rooting medium Somewhat inclined to be heavy. Kinds to Grow, This preparatory worjk la best done time previous to sowing, Kvory veihmiui han special varletie* of poaa to joomnimend, but expsrienoo ahould be the 7 . , guide In this matter. Three well •riod varieties that will l>e hard to surA

pans are Gladstone, Masterpiece and Autocrat. Of course it does not follow from this that new sorts should be entirely ignored; the point is to rely on proved varieties for the crop, other kinds being sown in the nature of trials only. Sowing. •Sow rather thinly on a fine, level surface. When the seeds are covered the top of the trench should be rather lower than the surrounding soil, so that when water is applied it does not run to waste. As s'oon as the seedlings appear dust all round them with soot and lime; or sifted coal ashes will do almost as well. Staking should be carried out early, and it is best to use sticks which stand rather higher than the stated height of the different varieties, for under good cultivation it is quite probable that these heights will .be exceeded. Watering and Feeding. Watering will -be an important business ia a dry season, for moisture must be applied frequently and in sufficient quantities if the plants are to be kept growing in a healthy condition. Where practicable, mulching should certainly be carried out, saving as it does an immense amount of work in the way of water carrying, and at the same time supplying further nourishment to the roots of the plants. When the pods are swelling freely, great benefit will be derived from occasional applications of weak liquid manure. This should never be given when the soil is in a condition approaching dryness, or considerable harm may be done: therefore let a good soaking with clear water precede such applications.