190 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



ENGLISH PEA. 



This vegetable is very generally cultivated in the 

 South for winter and early spring market. It is a 

 staple crop, and as it requires very little attention it is a 

 favorite with many vegetable-growers. The land should 

 be well prepared, though not deeply, about the last of 

 October or in November ; the fertilizer scattered along 

 the row and mixed with the soil. This crop will stand 

 a light frost and grow even in quite cold weather. A 

 temperature of 24F. will injure open flowers and 

 pods, but will not hurt the vines unless in an active 

 growing state. 



For shipping purposes the dwarf varieties should be 

 chosen. The American Wonder and Blue Beauty do 

 exceedingly well. The large number of varieties of- 

 fered for sale often leads to confusion, but the two 

 named above may be regarded as trustworthy. 



For home use it is often desirable to sow the tall- 

 growing varieties ; these are later but usually more 

 prolific. The land is prepared in the same way as for 

 the dwarf varieties. It is much better to make two 

 long rows of these than four half rows. If it becomes 

 necessary to plant these in a body that is, plant 

 more than two rows alongside of one another the 

 alternate rows should be planted farther apart, so 

 as to have them by twos. When they have reached a 

 height of ten to fourteen inches it will be time to stake 

 them. Let the two near rows be staked so they will 

 mat together leaving an abundance of space to pass 

 between the alternate rows. As nearly all the peas 

 will form on the outside or to the light, the picking 

 will be quite easy. 



A light warm soil is very desirable for winter crops. 

 If one uses a seed drill a row should be made up of 

 three or four drills about one inch apart. This will 



