100 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



lizer; the safer plan is to broadcast and harrow it in well, also to 

 use it between rows of growing crops to stimulate them. 



A list of vegetables of proved excellence and a few words on 

 their culture is apt to be tedious, but there are so many starting 

 a garden each year that something must be said on this subject. 

 These remarks are intended rather for small growers, and not for 

 those who are operating market gardens. We have some of the 

 most up-to-date market growers in America in the vicinity of 

 Boston, and until fifteen years ago their exhibits at the shows of 

 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society swept the decks; of late 

 years, however, first Worcester and more recently Taunton and 

 North Easton have taken the lion's share of the premiums ; particu- 

 larly was this the case at the big vegetable show last September. 

 We hope the farmers of Revere, Belmont and Arlington will wake 

 up and recover their lost laurels. The best growers of vegetables 

 are not necessarily market growers or practical gardeners at all. 

 In Great Britain much finer leeks, potatoes, celery, and cauliflower 

 are grown by the artisan classes, who take a keen interest in vege- 

 table culture, than by the professionals, and there is no reason why 

 it cannot be accomplished here. 



Peas are one of the important vegetables in New England, and 

 the first sowing should be put into the ground as soon after it is 

 open as possible. We hear it commonly stated that it is too early 

 to sow peas because the ground has not become warmed. The 

 warmer and drier the soil gets the poorer will peas do. We have 

 sown these as early as March 10 and in late seasons not until the 

 first week of April; but just as soon as the frost has left the ground 

 it should be spaded and plowed, manured liberally, and a first 

 sowing made; successional sowings can be made until the end of 

 May, after which time it does not pay to sow them, but for a fall 

 crop a sowing can be made about July 25. Dwarf peas are to be 

 recommended for small gardens; probably the best of these is 

 Sutton's Excelsior; Nott's Excelsior is very good also; both these 

 are heavy croppers. Later varieties, such as Thomas Laxton, 

 and Gradus, are excellent but should have good supports. Birch 

 brush is the best support for peas; wire netting may be used where 

 birch is not procurable. Good succession peas to follow those 

 already named are Alderman, Dwarf Champion, Sutton's Dwarf 



