THE PEAS. 175 



Leguminous Plants. 



Of the Pea (Pisum sativum) there are two ptmcipal 

 varieties cultivated in England, the Field or Gray Hog 

 Pea, and the Garden Pea. The latter alone requires our 

 attention here. Its chief subvarieties are — 



Early Frame, Richardson's Eclipse 



Early Charlton, Tall Marrowfat, 



Early White Warwick, Knight's Tall Marrowfat, 



Early Emperor Knight's Dwarf Marrowfat, 



Champion of England, Green or Blue Prussian, 

 Hair's Mammoth Dwarf Marrow, White Prussian, 



Bishop's Early Dwarf, Sugar, Dwarf and Tall. 



The first three are suitable for early crops, and the others 

 for successional supplies. The Early Emperor, Champion 

 of England, and Hair's Mammoth Dwarf Marrow, have of 

 late risen into repute, as being very prolific. In the Sugar 

 Pea, of which there are two sorts, the tall and dwarf, the 

 inner tough, filmy lining of the pod is absent : the young 

 legumes of these may therefore be used like kidney-beans, 

 and form an agreeable dish. Richardson's Eclipse is 

 early, very prolific, and remarkable for the great length of 

 the pods. 



The first crop of peas is sown in England about the be- 

 ginning of November, in front of a south wall ; and these, 

 after they have appeared above ground, are defended by 

 'spruce-fir branches, or other spray, throughout the winter. 

 In January and February other sowings are made, and 

 sometimes the seed is put up into flower-pots and boxes, 

 and the young plants afterwards plunged out in spring, 

 either singly or two or three together, Uking care to keep 

 a portion of earth adhering. From the end of February 

 moderate sowing should be made twice a month till the 



