HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



161 



PAY 



flowers are blue when first expanded, gradually, 

 turning to bluish lilac, about two inches in 

 length, and produced in terminal panicles.' 

 They resemble the Gloxinia. The young plants 

 are produced from root cuttings. It is a native 

 of Japan. The branches become very brittle 

 with age, and are easily broken by strong winds; 

 and this has been a great objection to its use as 

 an ornamental tree for the lawn, for which it is 

 otherwise admirably suited. Introduced in 1840. 

 Pavetta. The name of one of the species in Mal- 

 abar. Linn. Tdrandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 CinclioiuicecK . 



A small genus of green-house, white-flowered 

 evergreens, allied to the Ixora, and requiring 

 the same treatment. P. lorhonica, a handsome, 

 species, is the one chiefly grown in our green- 

 houses. 



Pavonia. Named after Josef Pavon, M.D., a 

 Spanish botanist. Linn. Monadelphia-Pdyandria. 

 Nat. Ord.Malvacece. 



A small genus of low-growing shrubs and 

 herbaceous perennials, natives of South Amer- 

 ica. They are allied to the Mallow, and have 

 showy scarlet flowers. But one or two of the 

 species are considered worth cultivating. 

 Pea. Pisum sativum. The varieties of the com- 

 mon Pea are numerous, and differ widely, some 

 not growing more than one foot high, others 

 growing ten to twelve. The difference in the 

 seed contrasts as strangely, some being small, 

 hard, and nearly tasteless, while others ars 

 large, rich, and luscious. The history of the 

 Pea, like many of our most familiar garden veg- 

 etables, and even its native country, are involved 

 in obscurity. It is generally supposed to be a 

 native of the south of Europe, and to have been 

 introduced into English gardens at a very early 

 period. It is recorded in English history, that 

 when the English forces were besieging a cas- 

 tle in Lothian, in the year 1299, their supply of 

 provisions was exhausted, and their only re- 

 source was in the Pease and Beans of the sur- 

 rounding fields. This circumstance would war- 

 rant the belief that the Pea was one of the sta- 

 ple articles of produce for human food. The 

 more delicate kinds, however, do not appear to 

 have been cultivated until a much later period. 

 Mention is made of Pease being brought from 

 Holland in the time of Queen Elizabeth, that 

 were "fit dainties for ladies, they came so far 

 and cost so dear." In the reign of Henry VIH., 

 too, the Pea appears to have been somewhat of a 

 rarity, as in the privy purse expenses of that 

 king is an entry: "Paied to a man in rewarde 

 for bringing pcscodds to the king's grace, iiij.s. 

 viiid" The varieties and sub- varieties of this 

 vegetable are almost innumerable, and are 

 being constantly brought forward. That there 

 has been a steady improvement in the quality 

 of the Pea, every one that has given its cultiva- 

 tion the least attention must admit. That we 

 are indebted to the English gardeners and ama- 

 teurs for these improvements, must also be ad- 

 mitted. Our own seedsmen are beginning to 

 realize the fact, that it is discreditable to them- 

 selves and" their country to be outdone, even in 

 Pease, and have exhibited some new varieties of 

 superior merit. Pease for seeds are now grown 

 largely in New York State and Canada. Pre- 

 viously they were nearly all imported. 

 Peach. 1'trsica vulyaris. Persia is credited with 

 being the native country of the Peach, and to 

 have disseminated it largely. Columella says 

 the Peach, when first brought into the Roman , 



PEA 



empire from Persia, was poisonous, an opinion 

 that has been questioned by other writers. It 

 .vas early introduced into Greece, but at what 

 period is uncertain. The Romans brought it 

 direct from Persia during the reign of the Em- 

 peror Claudius. It was first mentioned by Col- 

 umella, and afterward described by Pliny. 

 From the best information we can obtain, the 

 natural fruit, or wild Peach, was much inferior 

 to the first introduced into the United States in 

 1G80. When, where,. or by whom improvements 

 were made, is not even a matter of conjecture. 

 What is positively known of the Peach at the 

 present day is, that the United States and China 

 produce the finest in the world. English gar- 

 deners, on corning to the United States, are at a 

 loss to understand, that while in latitudes here 

 where the thermometer falls 15 below zero, or- 

 prchards of Peach trees stand unprotected 

 in the open field, in England, where the ther- 

 mometer rarely reaches zero, the Peach must 

 have the protection of a brick wall, or it fails to 

 prove hardy. The reason is, that our hotter, 

 drier summer and fall months better ripen the 

 young shoots than the colder and moister 

 climate of Britain. 



Peacock Iris. See Vieuss&una. In the catalogues 

 it is commonly called Iris pavonia, which is a 

 synonym 



Peanut. See Arachis. 



Pearl Millet. Penicillaria spicata. This fodder 

 plant has been largely grown during the past 

 few years, and promises to be most valuable for 

 that purpose, particularly in the Southern 

 States. It is a tender plant ; that is, being of 

 tropical origin, it will not grow until the soil 

 and atmosphere are in the condition to grow 

 Corn, Tomatoes, Melons, or such plants as re- 

 quire a high temperature for growth. Like all 

 plants grown for fodder, the richer the soil the 

 greater the product. We quote from our pub- 

 lished article on the subject in the "Ameri- 

 can Agriculturist, " November, 1878, the locality 

 of the experiment being on our grounds in Jer- 

 sey City, N. J.: "Pearl Millet has been culti- 

 vated for some years as a forage plant in some 

 of the Southern States, as 'African Cane,' 

 'Egyptian Millet,' Japan Millet,' and in some 

 places as 'Horse Millet,' and 'Cat-tail Millet.' 

 But little was known of it at the North before 

 last year, and then only in such small quanti- 

 ties as to hardly allow of a fair trial. From what 

 we saw of it in 1877, we determined to give it a 

 thorough trial this season. A piece of good, 

 strong, loamy ground was prepared as if for a 

 Beet or Turnip crop, by manuring with stable 

 manure at the rate of ten tons to the acre, plow- 

 ing ten inches deep, and thoroughly harrowing. 

 The Millet was then sown in drills eighteen 

 inches apart, at the rate of eight quarts to the 

 acre. We sowed on the 15th of May, about the 

 date we sow corn, and in twelve days the plants 

 were up so that a cultivator could be run be- 

 tween the rows, after which no further culture 

 was necessary, for the growth became so rapid 

 and luxuriant as to crowd down every weed that 

 attempted to get a foothold. The first cutting 

 was made July 1st, forty-five days after sawing. 

 It was then seven feet high, covering the whole 

 ground, and the crop, cut three inches above 

 the ground, weighed, green, at the rate of thirty 

 tons per acre; this, when dried, gave six and a 

 half tons per acre, as hay. After cutting, a sec- 

 ond growth started, and was cut August 15th, 

 forty-five days from the time of the first cutting. 



