Forcing-House Miscellanies. 405 



frames or hot-beds supply the necessary protection for maturing the 

 crop. Ringleader, Early Dwarf Frame, and Caractaciis have been 

 very popular in England. The second named variety is especially 

 adapted for growing in hot-beds. It is exceedingly dwarf and 

 matures very quickly, so that considerable quantities of peas may be 

 harvested from a small area. Taller varieties are generally bent 

 over to admit of their proper growth. 



Peas thrive in a cool temperature, and the protection afforded by 

 comparatively little glass or wood is sufficient to carry them through 

 moderately cold weather. In the northern states artihcial heat must 

 be given if the crop is to be grown during the wdnter months. As 

 this can not be done conveniently in frames, larger structures must 

 be employed, and these may easily be supplied with a proper amount 

 of heat for growing this vegetable. A night temperature of 40° to 

 50°, and a day temperature 10° to 20° higher, will be sufficient to 

 cause rapid growth and fairly prolific plants. Peas succeed best, as 

 a rule, if grown in solid beds of rich, sandy soil that is well supplied 

 with water. If peas grown under glass are subject to the above con- 

 ditions, their culture presents no serious difficulties, and it will 

 scarcely be necessary to mention the details of more than one crop 

 which we have gi'own. 



Seeds of two varieties of peas were sown January 6th, 1894 ; they 

 were Extra Early Market, and Rural New Yorker. They were 

 planted at the same depth as in out-door culture, but the seed was 

 sown more thickl}-, and the rows were as close to each other as the 

 after culture of the crop would allow. Very dwarf varieties, such 

 as Tom Thumb and American Wonder, may be planted in rows 3 to 

 5 inches apart, depending on the richness of the soil and the gen- 

 eral care given the plants. Tali growing varieties, as Champion of 

 England, may be sown in rows running in pairs, the distance 

 between the rows of each pair being from 6 to 10 inches, while the 

 pairs are separated by spaces 15 to 18 inches wide. This will allow 

 working room among the plants and still admit of heavy planting. 



One of the essential points in the successful growing of peas, 

 whether in a greenhouse or out of doors, is the use of fresh seed. 

 Garden peas retain their vitality from three to eight years, but the 

 shorter period may be considered as more nearly correct when 

 applied to varieties which are to be forced, since the loss of a week or 

 two under glass is expensive, and two sowings can not well be afforded. 

 The seedlings began to appear eight days after seed sowing and 



