5.8 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



in the garden. The advent of the American Wonder 

 Pea many years ago was a great point as regards 

 earliness, and it was of better quality than our small 

 white round peas, but since the time of its introduction 

 great strides have been made. We have had Exonian, 

 William the First, and many others, one of the best 

 being Chelsea Gem. All these are vastly superior to 

 American Wonder. One of our best peas is Gradus. 

 This is a three feet variety, and is a splendidly 

 flavoured marrow. The late Mr. Thomas Laxton, who 

 raised this pea, certainly gave us one of the grandest 

 peas the last century produced. Though a few days 

 later than the very dwarf kinds, it may be had as 

 early if the points are pinched out when the plants 

 are about two feet high ; and I do not know of any 

 variety better than Gradus to sow in March to make 

 a succession to the first earlies in the open. The Daisy 

 is also specially good for the same purpose, as it is a 

 very beautiful pea, and bears a large pod in comparison 

 to its dwarf growth. 



Second Early Peas. In describing the earlier kinds I 

 have also included a few that are excellent for growing 

 as second earlies, notably Gradus, Daisy,. and Bountiful ; 

 the latter, where quantities are required, being especially 

 good. The culture is much the same as for early kinds, 

 except that the soil may be richer, as there is less fear of 

 the seed decaying in the soil. Even at the early period 

 of the year, or for seed sown in April, I would advise 

 either shallow trenches, or rather deep drills, with a 

 liberal amount of well-decayed manure in the bottom. 

 In sowing in drills, avoid the old method of drawing 

 drills, so that the drill is triangular that is, pointed 

 at the bottom. In such a drill the seeds roll down 

 one on the other, and cannot get fairplay ; it is far 

 better for the drill to have a flat base, and the seeds 

 to be at even distances. We see the great advance 



