THE PEA. 191 



CHAPTER XXII. 



THE PEA (Pimm sativum.) 



Jbis, French ; Erbse, German ; Erwat, Dutch ; Plsello, Italian ; Pesolcs, 

 Spanish ; and tirvttha, Portuguese. 



The pea is a hardy annual, a native of the south of 

 Europe, and has been cultivated from time immemorial. 

 We are told that, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, peas 

 not being very common in England, they were brought 

 from Holland, and that they were " fit dainties for ladies, 

 they come so far, and cost so dear." Where labor for 

 picking the crop is plentiful, it is one of the indispensable 

 crops of the truck-farmer, bringing in the first proceeds 

 of the season. 



VARIETIES. 



A good market variety should be productive, of good 

 flavor, form full, pods plump, and be of uniform growth. 

 Frequently a gardener plants poor seed, which runs to 

 vine, and produces but few good pods. The varieties 

 themselves are subject to change, and will deteriorate, 

 unless constant care is exercised in growing them for 

 seed. The varieties at present preferred, enumerated in 

 the order of their earliness and value are : 



First. -The "Early Alpha." This is, exclusive of the 

 "American Wonder," the only wrinkled Dwarf Pea. It 

 grows three feet high, is very productive, and produces 

 large pods of dark green color. The objection to all the 

 wrinkled peas is, that they must be sown thicker than 

 the round varieties. 



Second. The "Philadelphia Extra Early." This is 

 very uniform, when the seed is pure, and is productive. 



