102 POPULAR VEGETABLES 



'The First Crop. Doubtless the most important 

 outdoor crop where glass is not used is that known 

 as the " first early," as Peas are required as early as 

 possible. There has been a great advance of recent 

 years on the old varieties, such as the Small White 

 and Blue Round, these being superseded by those 

 double the size, both in pod and individual seed, and 

 they have also a little of the delicious Marrow flavour. 

 The newer varieties are quite as hardy as the older, 

 and enormously prolific. We mean Peas like Acme 

 and Bountiful, two of the very best Peas in existence 

 for first crop on sheltered borders. No Peas equal 

 Bountiful for sowing in heavy soil, this medium being 

 unsafe for the true Marrowfats. Although Bountiful 

 is a round-seeded variety, it is a distinct advance in this 

 section, and the most productive of all the early Peas. 

 To this variety may be added Chelsea Gem, Exonian, 

 Wm. Hurst, Daisy, Mayflower, Little Marvel, Har- 

 binger and May Queen. When the seed is sown in 

 February or early March, according to the season 

 and locality, the plants prove quite reliable. The 

 distance to sow will depend greatly on the height of 

 the plant. A twelve-inch variety will only require 

 half the space needful for one that grows two and a 

 half feet or three feet. Such varieties as Bountiful 

 are most satisfactory when the rows are three feet 

 apart although two feet may suffice, but the space 

 between may be used for a single row of Lettuce or 

 early Forcing Cauliflower, and there is no waste. 

 All may not have a warm border, and be compelled 



