Garden Crops Grown for Their Fruits 259 



Because of the great difference in the habit of growth 

 of the different plants, requirements for culture differ 

 greatly. 



GARDEN PEAS 



The common garden peas are divided into two main 

 sorts smooth-seeded and wrinkled. The smooth-seeded 

 varieties will begin growth in rather cold soil, and are 

 not injured by light frosts. They are therefore best for 

 planting as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. 

 They mature rather quickly, and are in most sections 

 short or dwarf in habit and hence need no support to hold 

 the plants erect. Alaska is a standard variety of this 

 class. 



The wrinkled-seeded varieties are sweeter but less 

 hardy, and must be planted later in the spring. There 

 are both low-growing and tall-growing varieties of 

 wrinkled peas. Some of the dwarf sorts, as Little Gem 

 and American Wonder, are extra early in developing. 

 Gradus (also called Prosperity) grows to a height of 

 about 3 feet and is one of the best sorts. The tall- 

 growing varieties require a longer period for growth and 

 should have a support of brush or a trellis, made with 

 poultry fencing or otherwise, upon which the plants are 

 held erect. Telephone, Prize Taker, and Champion of 

 England are excellent sorts. 



All varieties of peas require cool weather for proper 

 growth. If the pods do not mature before extremely hot 

 weather, they will invariably be few and will be poorly 

 filled with seeds. 



The best crops of peas are grown on rich, well-drained 



