I3 8 MISCELLANEOUS COOL PLANTS. 



of the crop would allow. Very dwarf varieties, such as 

 Tom Thumb and American Wonder, may be planted in 

 rows 3 to 5 inches apart, depending on the richness of 

 the soil and the general care given the plants. Tall-grow- 

 ing varieties, as Champion of England, may be sown in 

 rows running in pairs, the distance between the rows of 

 each pair being from 6 to 10 inches, while the pairs are 

 separated by spaces 15 to 18 inches wide. This will 

 allow working-room among the plants and still admit of 

 heavy planting. 



One of the essential points in the successful growing 

 of peas, whether in a greenhonse or out of doors, is the 

 use of fresh seed. Garden peas retain their vitality from 

 three to eight years, but the shorter period may be con- 

 sidered as more nearly correct when applied to varieties 

 which are to be forced, since the loss of a week or two 

 under glass is expensive, and two sowings cannot well be 

 afforded. The seedlings began to appear eight days after 

 seed sowing and they grew vigorously from the start. 

 February 23, Rural New-Yorker showed the first opened 

 blossoms, Extra Early Market at the same time having 

 buds which were about to open. 



On the 2oth of March, or about 73 days from sowing 

 the seed, both varieties had matured sufficiently to supply 

 pods that were fit for market, but no picking was made 

 until ii days later, when the plants yielded pods at the 

 rate of 6^ quarts for each 30 feet of double row. There 

 was practically no difference between the two varieties as 

 regards earliness or the amount of yield obtained. Two 

 weeks later, a second and last picking was made, the 

 plants yielding only one-half as much as before. This 

 brings the total yield to a little over a peck. This is 

 scarcely a profitable crop, especially since the varieties 

 grown are quite tall, and required a trellis. 



Formerly, the trellises used consisted of branches 

 forced into the ground so that they would afford support 

 to the vines ; but with the crop here considered, a more 



