24 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



be put far below the surface ; but in light dry soils the crops which 

 w^ill come into use throughout July and August, when hot dry 

 weather is generally experienced, had better be sown in shallow 

 trenches. The soil is thrown out as if for Celery, the manure dug in 

 the bottom, and the seed sown and covered over, leaving the surface of 

 the row from 4 to 6 inches below the surrounding ground. 



Mildew often proves troublesome on Peas in summer and autumn. 

 Extreme drought as well as excessive wet seems to propagate and 

 nourish this, but good liberal cultivation will overcome all such mala- 

 dies better than any other prescription. In very dry weather, liberal 

 w^aterings with liquid-manure does much good ; and a mulching of half- 

 rotten manure, put along the sides of the rows before they come into 

 bloom, improves quality and lengthens supply in hot weather. 



As a show vegetable. Peas have received a good deal of attention 

 lately, and deservedly so, as their merits and popularity entitle them 

 to this. And it may interest some to know that they may be grown 

 to win in the very best competitions, without any special treatment 

 apart from that which we have just recommended, and that, too, with- 

 out in any way sacrificing the ordinary crop. Of varieties we have 

 said nothing, but these must not be omitted, as they are now so 

 very numerous that few can grow them all, and a trustworthy selec- 

 tion may be the means of preventing many disappointments in scant 

 produce and inferior quantity. William the First is now a well-known 

 early Pea, and is amongst the best of the kind which can be named. 

 It comes sooner to maturity than any other tall-growing Pea, and 

 the pods are plentiful and flavour good. The first and second sowings 

 may be made of this ; then we come to something better for the 

 main crops in Carter's Stratagem, Telephone, and Culverwell's Tele- 

 graph. These three Peas have been selected by us from amongst over 

 three dozen kinds grown here, as the best in every way which have 

 yet been introduced. They all bear enormous crops of long hand- 

 some pods, well filled with sweet high-flavoured Peas. Champion of 

 England, Veitch's Perfection, and Ne Plus Ultra, although not very 

 new, also possess much merit ; the last named is an excellent late 

 variety, but to grow it properly, it should be stopped when the 

 growths are 5 feet high. Laxton's Omega is another grand late 

 sort, and that gentleman's new " John Bull " eclipses everything for 

 size of pod. J. Mum. 



Margam, Taibach, S. Wales. 



CHOICE NE'W OR RARE HARDY FL0W:ERS. 

 Armeria setacea. — This little gem of an alpine plant grows only about 



1 inch or 1^ inch high, in pin-cushion form, densely set with bristle- 

 like bright-green leaves. The flower-stems rise to the height of about 



2 inches, wiry and erect, bearing beautiful rosy-pink flowers. 



