THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 319 



planted for autumn use, the earliest varieties should be employed. 

 The first plantings should be of such varieties as Alaska or Gradus, 

 which make a small but quick growth, and may or may not be pro- 

 vided with supports. The dwarf sorts like American Wonder come 

 on later, require very little care, and produce peas of fine quality. 

 The tall-growing sorts of the Telephone type are desirable for still 

 later use on account of their large production and excellent quality. 

 Sugar peas have tender pods and if gathered very young the pods 

 may be eaten in the same manner as snap beans. In order to main- 

 tain a continuous supply of fresh peas, plantings should be made 

 every ten days or two weeks during the spring months, beginning 

 as soon as the ground can be worked. In the extreme South peas 

 may be grown during the entire winter. (F. B. 255; N. C. E. S. 

 132; Mich. E. S. 20, 190; S. Dak. E. S. 85, 91; Del. E. S. 41; Colo. 

 E. S. 172.) 



PEPPERS. 



Plant the seed of peppers in a hotbed, and transplant to the 

 open ground as soon as it is warm, or sow the seeds in the garden 

 after all danger of frost is past. When grown in the garden the 

 plants should be in rows 3 feet apart and 15 to 18 inches apart in the 

 row. The plants require about the same treatment as the tomato. 

 Peppers are divided into two classes the sweet varieties, which are 

 eaten as vegetables, and the pickling varieties, which are used for 

 pickles or dried and powdered, in which form they are much used in 

 Mexico. Of the sweet peppers the varieties Sweet Mountain, Ruby 

 King, and Large Bell are good standard varieties ; and of the pickling 

 peppers, the Cayennes and Chilies are largely used. The pickling 

 varieties are all more or less pungent and should never be prepared 

 with bare hands, because the burning sensation is very difficult to 

 eliminate. (F. B. 255; B. P. I. 6; P. Rico 7; Iowa E. S. 47; N. C. 

 E. S. 132.) 



PHYSALI9. 



The physalis is also known as the ground-cherry or husk-tomato. 

 Sow the seed in a hotbed or cold frame and transplant to the garden 

 after danger of frost is past, or the seeds may be sown in the row 

 where the plants are to remain and thinned to 12 or 18 inches. No 

 particular care is required except to keep them free from weeds. 

 Ther^e are a large number of varieties of the physalis, and the fruits 

 vary in size and color. The variety commonly used in gardens pro- 

 duces a bright-yellow fruit, which is about the size of an ordinary 

 cherry. Toward fall the fruits will drop to the ground and will be 

 protected for some time by their husks. If gathered and placed in 

 a cool place the fruits will keep for a long time. The physalis will 

 self-sow and may become a weed, but it is easily controlled. A few of 

 the volunteer plants may be lifted in the spring and placed in rows 

 instead of making a special sowing of seed. Ten plants will produce 

 all the husk-tomatoes desired by the average family. The fruits are 

 excellent for making preserves and marmalade. (F. B. 255; S. 

 Dak. E. S. 68.) 



