VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 269 



PEA. (Lathyrus Pisum.) 



This is a hardy Leguminous annual, probably from the 

 Levant, where the gray field variety is found wild, but it 

 has been cultivated from time immemorial. It is a climb- 

 ing plant, producing its seeds in pods, which usually grow 

 in pairs. The pea is now one of the most desirable culi- 

 nary plants. Numerous varieties have been originated, 

 differing in the color of the blossoms, height, time of ripen- 

 ing, and also in productiveness. Among the best are : 



Prince Albert, or Early Kent. Grows about 2 or 3 

 feet high. A small, white, very early pea, bearing moder- 

 ately well ; pods containing from eight to ten peas in 

 each. The true sort is the earliest variety grown. 



Extra Early. This celebrated early pea comes into 

 use about five days after the preceding, and with the 

 Cedo-Nulli. The whole crop ripens at once. It is toler- 

 ably productive ; 2J feet high. 



Daniel O'Rourke, as I have received it, is very simi- 

 lar to this. Sangster's No. I is said to be the same as 

 Daniel O'Rourke. 



Cedo-IVulli comes into use with the preceding, and is a 

 much finer pea. It has a longer pod, which is better filled. 

 The vines are taller, and it bears about twice as many 

 pods to the stalks as the Extra Early ; the most prolific 

 of early peas, and continues long in bearing ; 3 feet high. 



EaiTy Emperor ; said to be as early as Prince Albert ; 

 the pods and peas somewhat larger, and a more produc- 

 tive sort. 



Early Frame, known also as Early May, Early War- 

 wick, Michaux de Hollande, etc., grows about 4 feet high, 

 with small, round pods, containing some five or six peas 

 of fine quality, which when dry are small, very round 

 and white. This is the parent of the preceding sorts, not 

 quite so early, but more productive, and one of the two 



