THE PEAS. 179 



The first three are suitable for early crops, and the 

 others for successional supplies. The Auvergne, St. 

 Heliers, and Groom's Dwarf Pea, have of late risen 

 into repute, as being very prolific. In the Sugar Pea, 

 of which there are two sorts, the tall and dwarf, the 

 inner tough, filmy lining of the pod is absent : the 

 young legumes of these may therefore be used like 

 kidney-beans, and form an agreeable dish. Richard- 

 son's Eclipse is early, very prolific, and remarkable for 

 the great length of the pods. 



The first crop of peas is sown in England about the 

 beginning of November, in front of a south wall; and 

 these,- after they havei appeared above ground, are de- 

 fended by spruce-fir branches, or other spray, through- 

 out the winter. In January and February other sowings 

 are made, and sometimes the seed is put up into flower- 

 pots and boxes, and the young plants afterwards plung- 

 ed out in spring, either singly or two or three to- 

 gether, taking care to keep a portion of earth adhering. 

 From the end of February moderate sowing should be 

 made twice a month till the middle of August, thus en- 

 suring a supply of successive crops, of delicate green 

 peas. For the latest crops, the Knight's Marrowfat 

 and the Blue Prussian are among the best. Peas are 

 sown in rows from three to five feet asunder, according 

 to the height which the difterent sorts are known usu- 

 ally to attain. As they grow up, the earth is drawn to 

 the roots, and the stems are supported with stakes, a 

 practice which, in a well-kept garden, is always advis- 

 able, although it is said that the early varieties, when 

 recumbent, arrive sooner at maturity. Groom's Dwarf, 

 through prolific, is so humble as not to require stakes. 

 When germinating, or when just rising through the 



