186 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



Plant-lice attacking the garden pea may be con- 

 trolled by a thorough hosing and then stirring the 

 top soil. If this is not effective, use a soap solu- 

 tion in a spray. Thorough surface tillage is a 

 good preventive of disease, but a bordeaux spray 

 may be necessary. 



Early July comes soon ; and then new peas and 

 new potatoes and spring lamb. However great 

 the skill and care in their production, garden peas 

 are tough and flavorless unless they are gathered 

 when just right. Pick the peas while the pods are 

 not quite full, while they are still a fresh green. 

 Gather all that are ready at each inspection. 

 Gather the peas early in the morning, before 

 the heated air has wilted the pods; wilted peas 

 are flavorless. Put the pods where it is cool until 

 time for shelling. If they are wilted, a plunge into 

 cold water restores the crispness and the flavor 

 partially. Whether to be eaten immediately or 

 canned, if the delicacy of the fresh flavor is to be 

 retained, they must be cooked straightway after 

 shelling. With garden peas more than any other 

 vegetable, the word is straight from the garden, 

 in the early morning, to the cooker or the can. 

 With care to pick them before they are over-ripe, 

 while the pods are fresh and crisp, and then care 

 in not allowing them to wilt before cooking, we 

 may always depend on peas that are meltingly 

 tender and deliciously sweet, from the first pick- 

 ing until frost has gathered the last mess. 



