==Early Crops (sown outdoors==).—­Early Peas are produced in many ways.  The simplest consists in sowing one or more of the quick-growing round-seeded varieties in November, December, and January, on sloping sheltered borders expressly prepared for the purpose, and provided with reed hurdles to screen the plants from cutting winds.  Where the assaults of mice are to be apprehended, it is an excellent plan to soak the seed in paraffin oil for twenty minutes, and then, having sown in drills only one inch deep, heap over the drill three inches of fine sand.  If this cannot be done, sow in drills fully two inches deep, for shallow sowing will not promote earliness, but it is likely to promote weakness of the plant.  It is not usual to grow any other crop with first-early Peas, but the rows must be far enough apart to prevent them from shading one another, and, if possible, let them run north and south, that they may have an equable enjoyment of sunshine.  As soon as the plant is fairly out of the ground, dust carefully with soot, not enough to choke the tender leaves, but just sufficient to render them unpalatable to vermin.  When they have made a growth of about three inches, put short brushwood to support and shelter them, deferring the taller sticks until they are required.  Then fork the ground between, taking care not to go too near to the plant.  Sticks must be provided in good time, lest the plant should be distressed, for not only do the sticks give needful support, but they afford much shelter, as is the case with the small brushwood supplied in the first instance.

On fairly warm soils the first opportunity should be taken to sow one of the early dwarf marrowfat varieties in the open ground.  This may be in February or early March, but it will be useless to make the attempt until the ground is in a suitable condition.  Sow in flat drills as already described, the distance from row to row depending upon future plans.  If no intercropping is to be done, eighteen inches between the rows will generally suffice for dwarf-growing Peas, but many gardeners prefer to allow three feet and to take a crop of Spinach on the intervening space.

==Early Crops (sown under glass.==)—­We now come to the modes of growing early Peas by the aid of glass.  The surest and simplest method is to provide a sufficiency of grass turf cut from a short clean pasture or common.  There is in this case a risk of wireworm and black bot; but if the turf is provided in good time and is laid up in the yard ready for use, it will be searched by the small birds and pretty well cleansed of the insect larvas that may have lurked in it when first removed.  Lay the turves out in a frame, grass side downwards, and give them a soaking with water in which a very small quantity of salt has been dissolved.  This will cause the remaining bots and slugs to wriggle out, and by means of a little patient labour they can be gathered and destroyed.  In January or February sow the seed rather thickly in lines along