and the Peas will give double the crop of a crowded plantation.  The general sowings of Peas are made from March to June, but as regards the precise time, seasons and climates must be considered.  Nothing is gained by sowing maincrop Peas so early as to subject the plant to a conflict with frost.  It should be understood that the finest sorts of Peas are somewhat tender in constitution, and the wrinkled sorts are more tender than the round.  Hence, in any case, the wrinkled seeds should be sown rather more thickly than the round to allow for losses; but robust-habited Peas should never be sown so thickly as the early sorts, for every plant needs room to branch and spread, and gather sunshine by means of its leaves for the ultimate production of superb Green Peas.

==Late Crops.==—­To obtain Peas late in the season sowings may be made in June and July, and preference should be given to quick-growing early varieties.  Ground from which early crops of Cauliflower, Carrot, Cabbage, Potatoes, &c., have been removed is excellent for the purpose.  In dry weather thoroughly saturate the trench with water before sowing, and keep the seedlings as cool as possible by screening them from the sun.

==Staking.==—­This important operation must not be unduly deferred, as the plants are never wholly satisfactory when once the stems have become bent.  Commence by carefully earthing up the rows as soon as the plants are about three inches high.  In the case of early varieties, light bushy sticks of the required height, thinly placed on both sides of the row, will suffice.  Maincrop and late Peas, however, should first be staked with bushy twigs about eighteen inches high, these to be supplemented with sticks at least one foot taller than the variety apparently needs, as most Peas exceed their recognised height in the event of a wet season.  No attempt should be made to construct an impenetrable fence, for Peas need abundance of light and air.  Neither should the stakes be arched at the top, but placed leaning outwards.

==General Cultivation.==—­On the first appearance of the plant, a slight dusting of lime or soot will render the rising buds distasteful to slugs and sparrows, but this is more needful for the early than the later crops.  When maincrop Peas have grown two or three inches, they are pretty safe against the small marauders.  As the plant develops, frequently stir the ground between the rows to keep down weeds and check evaporation.  The earthing up of the rows affords valuable protection to the roots of the plants, and a light mulch of thoroughly decayed manure will prove very helpful in a dry season.  In the event of prolonged dry weather, however, measures must be taken to supply water in good time and in liberal quantity.  The advantage of deep digging and manuring between the two spits will now be discovered, for Peas thus circumstanced will pass through the trial, even if not aided by water, although much better with it; whereas similar sorts, in poor shallow ground, will soon become hopelessly mildewed, and not even water will save them.  In giving water, it will be well to open a shallow trench, distant about a foot from the rows on the shady side, and in this pour the water so as to fill the trench; by this method water and labour will be economised, and the plant will have the full benefit of the operation.