608 LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 



quicker, as they get greater bulk for their money. This may 

 be so far excusable on the part of such ; but it is inexcusable 

 that a gentleman, having a garden of his own, should be 

 served with peas otherwise than in the very highest state of 

 perfection, which they are not, if allowed to become too old, 

 or even too large. 



" Peas, in a green state, are with difficulty sent to a dis- 

 tance, as, when packed closely together, heat and fermenta- 

 tion speedily take place. This is one of the causes why peas 

 from the South, or those brought by long distances to market, 

 are discolored, devoid of flavor, and, worst of all, very un- 

 wholesome to eat. Peas intended for long transportation 

 should be packed in open baskets (not in boxes or tight bar- 

 rels) , and laid in layers not more than two inches thick ; 

 and between such layers a thick stratum of clean straw or 

 other dry material should be placed." 



Varieties. These are very numerous, and, like those of 

 the Broccoli and Lettuce, not only greatly confused, but often 

 based on trifling and unimportant distinctions. 



From experiments made a few years since in the gardens 

 of the London Horticultural Society, under the direction of 

 Mr. Thompson, who planted no less than two hundred and 

 thirty-five reputed sorts (all of which were then enumerated 

 in seedmen's catalogues), only twenty-seven of the number 

 were selected as being really useful. About the same time, 

 upwards of a hundred sorts were grown by Mr. Mclntosh, 

 from which twelve were selected as being truly distinct and 

 valuable. 



" New sorts are yearly introduced ; and it would be in- 

 judicious not to give them a fair trial ; for as we progress 

 in pea-culture, as in every other branch of horticulture, 

 we may reasonably expect that really improved and meri- 

 torious sorts will arise, and be substituted for others that 

 may be inferior." 





