i4i 4 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



apply fertilizers that are rich in nitrogen; if the ground is given a good coat- 

 ing of manure — such as is described on page 1398 — that will be enough 

 fertilization for the growth of a good crop of peas. Peas are generally 

 planted close together, in drills, the drills being 18 inches to 4 feet or 

 more apart according to the method of culture. The seed in the drills 

 may be 1 to 2 inches deep. If the seeds are planted in drills at a greater 

 depth than 2 inches, they should be covered only an inch deep at first; 

 as they come above the ground the dirt can be drawn to them. It has 

 been found advisable not to depend too much on the taller peas, as the 

 expense and trouble of bushing is a considerable item; the dwarf, or bush, 

 peas give, in a great many cases, as good results as do taller-growing peas. 

 Good cultivation should be practiced throughout the season. 



Peas should be harvested when their pods are full, or rounding. They 

 should be taken from the vines with the least injury to the vines themselves. 

 After the pea crop is harvested the vines may be turned under or removed, 

 and a crop of cither beets or turnips may take the place of the peas. 



The best early variety of peas is Alaska; for mid-season varieties, 

 Excelsior, Gradus, Thomas Laxton, McLean's, Admiral Dewey, and 

 others; for a later variety, Dwarf Champion, or Carter's Daisy. For 

 the tall peas, Champion of England, Telephone, and Telegraph, if the 

 grower has sufficient time to spend in bushing or trellising them. 



Peppers 



A good loamy soil, well manured, will produce good peppers. Plant 

 the seed in a hotbed or cold-frame; later transplant the seedlings to the 

 field in rows 12 to 36 inches apart, 15 inches being left between plants 

 in the row. Give the best clean culture and dirt mulch. Peppers are 

 easy to grow, but are relatively slow growers. They need warm weather 

 and a long growing season. 



Desirable varieties of peppers are Long Red Cayenne, Large Bell, 

 or Bull Nose, Ruby King, Chinese Giant, Red Cherry. 



Potatoes 



The best soil for the round, or Irish, potato is a rich sandy loam in 

 which a fertilizer containing a high percentage of potash has been used. 

 Early potatoes, such as Early Rose and Early Northern, can be planted 

 very early in the spring and protected through the growing season. Later 

 potatoes, such as Carmen 3, Green Mountain, Gold Coin, and Irish 

 Cobbler, may be planted later, after the danger of frost is past. Irish 

 potatoes are generally planted in drills, or rows, 24 to 42 inches apart, 

 the potatoes being dropped 12 to 18 inches apart in the rows. The depth 

 for the planting of potatoes is 3 to 5 inches, the deeper planting being 



