250 VEGETABLES OR FOOD CROPS 



Peas. " Bola-kadala " S. (Pisiun sativum. N. O. Legumi- 

 nosae). Peas of very fair quality can be grown in the hill districts, 

 and at lower elevations also appreciable crops may be obtained if 

 seed be sown at the proper season and in well- manured soil. In 

 India, acclimatised seed is often preferred to imported seed for 

 sowing on the plains. A variety of Peas imported from India as a 

 food-stuff, which may be obtained from boutiques in Ceylon, will, 

 if sown, often give a better crop in the low-country than English 

 Peas. It grows to a height of about 3 feet, and bears small but 

 well-rilled pods, with small round grey seeds. For up-country, 

 hoxvever, none but imported seed from temperate countries should 

 be sown. A wet season is unsuited to the crop and, in order to 

 avoid this, the best time for sowing the seed is before the end of 

 the monsoon rains, i.e., approximately (for Ceylon) July to August, 

 and November to December. The ground should be well-manured, 

 and the seed sown evenly (about 2 in. apart) in uniform drills, 

 being covered with about an inch of soil. If the weather be dry, 

 water the ground after sowing the seed. As the plants grow, nil 

 in the earth occasionally along both sides of the row, and when 

 they are about 4 or 5 inches high place twigs and branches along 

 either side for support to the plants. An application of 1 Ib. of 

 nitrate of soda per 40 square yards when the plants are w r ell above 

 ground will give them a good start. The distance between the 

 rows may be about 2 ft. for dwarf varieties, and 4 ft. for larger 

 kinds. Where ground has to be economised the rows may be 

 several feet apart, and the intervening space cultivated with 

 smaller crops. 



VARIETIES. The number of these is legion, many of which differ but 

 little, if any, from each other. The following are distinct and of first- 

 rate quality: "Sutton's Excelsior" (about 18 in. high), " Sutton's 

 Green Gem" (15 in ), " Veitch's Acme ' (3ft). "Sutton's Ideal" (3ft), 

 " Yorkshire Hero " (2 ft.), and " Captain Cuttle " (4 ft.). The dwarf er 

 varieties are the most suitable for dry districts. 



Potato. "Arthapel" S. (Solatium tiibcrosnm. N. O. Solan- 

 aceae). Although very fair crops of certain varieties of potatoes 

 can be grown in the neighbourhood of Nuwara Eliya, especially in 

 the drier districts of Uda-pussellawa and Wilson Bungalow, the 

 quality of the tuber is seldom comparable to the best potato 

 grow r n in temperate countries. Yet many people prefer the new- 

 grown potato to the usually dried-up imported article obtainable 

 at the local stores or markets. The best soil for potatoes is a light 

 friable loam, preferably on a slope, as good drainage is essential. 



