1226 



PEA 



recognized by printert descriptions. This accounts for 

 the confusion in varieties of Peas, particularly in the 

 dwarf or extra-early types. The varietal names are 

 many. In 1889 (Annals Hort. ) American dealers cata- 

 logued 154 names. L. H. B. 



1. Peas for the Home Garden. — Green Peas are at 

 their best when perfectly fresh, and should come to the 

 table within 5 or U hours from the vine. Those bought 

 in the market can rarelv be served until 24-48 hours 



1658. Pea, Champion of Eneland 



after picking, when they necessarily have lost mucli of 

 their good quality. It is, therefore, a great advantage 

 to have a home-grown supply. Though they are of 

 easy culture, it is not always feasible to give them a 

 place in one's own garden, because they require consid- 

 erable space, 1-2 yards of row being necessary to produce 

 a single "portion," and it is rare that more than 2 or 3 

 pickings can be made from the same vines. Peas need 

 a rich, friable soil, but an over-supply of nitrogen or 

 the use of coarse and fresh manure will result in a rank 

 growth of vines, with frw t"«I'^ ""'1 Pfas of inferior 

 quality. The best manuri^il rMi„l,ti..H f..r Peas is found 

 where' a heavy dressini; .if f.niH/ri lias been applied 

 the previous year. It su. I. a -.il i- not available, the 

 application of 3-6 bushels ..£ will r.itt.a stable manure, 

 or. in place of this, about one-half bushel of wood ashes, 

 3 or 4 pounds of salt and 5-10 pounds of ground bone 

 or other commercial fertilizer to the square rod, and 

 well worked into the surface soil just before planting, 

 will give good r.-iili-. Mi'-^t of the cultivation for 

 Peas should 1.. .Iim I" t..i. iliey are planted, and it 

 is more important tor tin- ii"ii than for most that the 

 ground should I"- ",ii wnrkiil and made as friable as 

 possible before the seed is sown. While Pea vines will 

 be killed by a hard freeze, they will endure a slight 

 frost with but little injury, and thrive best in a cool, 

 damp soil and atmosphere. It is, therefore, desirable 

 to plant as .-nrlv in the spring as the soil can be worked. 

 The writi I liki- l"^t to plant in double rows about G 

 inches aiiaii. "iili ilir distance between the pairs about 

 iL-lit to which the variety grows. If the 

 III Mill drained, form a trench 4-C inches 

 deep and drop 10-20 seeds to the foot according as the 

 variety is a tall- or dwarf -growing one, and cover about 

 an inch deep, gradually filling the trench as the plants 

 grow. In proportion as the soil is heavier and less 

 porous and well-drained the trench should be shallower 

 until, on tenacious clay soils, the seed should be within 

 an inch of the surface. 



All the garden varieties, if planted in the way sug- 

 gested, will sive n fair return without trellising, but 

 those -riwiii- .o. 1- 2 feet high will do better if sup- 

 ported. I'll. II- i^ nothing better for this purpose than 

 brush, lilt till- i- nut always available, and the vines 

 can be w. II Miin.orted by driving stakes 2^ inches 





wide 12-20 feet apart in the double rows, and as the 

 vines grow inclosing their tops between wires or wool 

 twine stretched opposite each other on either side of 

 the stakes. 



Anything more than mere surface tillage is apt to do 

 the Pea crop more harm than good, but any crust 

 formed after rain should be broken up, and the vines 

 will be greatly benefited by frequent stirring of the sur- 

 face soil. 



2. Peas for Market. — The above notes will suggest 

 the best methods of culture for market, and profit will 

 depend largely upon the selection of varieties suited to 

 the needs of the trade, and the use of pure and well- 

 grown seed. 



3. Peas for Cnnniiigi. — The quantity of Peas canned, 

 and the popularity of such goods, has been largely in- 

 creased by the use of the machines known as viners, 

 in the use of which the vines are cut when the green 



t'..r . 



■ the plants 



hours after cutting, it 1>. ni. - . -- 



through the viner and the I', a- inn 

 day they are gathered, and tin . .mn. 

 table fresher and better in .|iialii\ 

 the pods obtainable in mark. . w I 

 ning or for seed. Peas art- I 



with grain drills and no fan r 

 the crop is improved by a i in i. o 

 after sowing and a weeding lianow j 



4. Varieties and the Growing of Seed. -There are 

 few vegetables in regard to which there is greater dif- 

 ference in tastes as to desirable qualities. To some 

 people tenderness is the most essential quality ; to 

 others sweetness, while still others care most for a rich 

 flavor and marrow-like texture. Varieties have been de- 

 veloped to meet all these wants, as well as those vary- 

 ing in growth from 6 inches to G feet in height and of 

 great diversity in the size, form and color of the pods. 

 In this vegetable .the quality and purity of the seed 

 used is of great ini|iorla -, for evi-rv "iii.-ss " of Peas 



roii-I-l- ..r !!,.■ |.r...li,-l ..r liii.lr, -r. .!-". ai,.l :. - !l|.- |-i..dS 



squash or other vegetables,' which give a larger seed 

 return. The most that can be done is to use the greatest 

 pains to keep the varieties pure and of high quality by 



