1862. 



THE ILLINOIS FARMEK. 



79 



resembling the Japan Pea; from one to two peaa 

 in a pod, generally two, never more, blossoms 

 ■ffhite, can be grown by sowing broadcast on 

 clean land or in drills, eighteen inches apart. 



The common field pea not being adapted to 

 our alimate, it has been an object to ascertain if 

 some other members of the family would not an- 

 swer the same purpose, but tnus far without 

 success. The Japan Pea had a large run, and 

 those who had the seed for sale were for a time 

 lavish in its piaise, but it has thus far proved of 

 no value. Aside from the thick skin on this pea, 

 it gives greater promise of being valuable than 

 that of the Japan, to which it is so closely allied 

 ia habit and foliage. We would discourage no 

 one in the trial of new plants, but hereafter we 

 hall be careful about setting forth the virtues of 

 any new plant upon the authority of any person, 

 however high in his profession or honest in his 

 motives, unless he is also a pra2tical horticultu- 

 rist, an(f knows whereof of what he speaks. 



-••»- 



Improvement of Vegetables. 



There is no vegetable now cultivated which is 

 not susceptible of almost indefinite improvbment. 

 Yet we see very little difference between the 

 crops produced now, and the crops raised by our 

 forefathers. Indian corn, beans, pumpkins, 

 squashes are the same, identically, as we were 

 accustomed to see in our fathers' fields and gar- 

 dens forty years ago, except that, in some in- 

 stances, there is an obvious deterioration as re- 

 regards both size and quality. This is the plain 

 result of carelessness — a sin to which most cul- 

 tivaiors will, we fear, be compelled to plead guilty, 

 and of which they are annually, although some 

 seem not to be aware of it, experiencing the fatal 

 effects. The power of art over nature has already 

 been most forcibly exemplified in the vegetable 

 kingdom, and with reference to some of the very 

 productions which in this enlightened age we are 

 permitted to " run out." By carefully studying 

 the habits and modes of nuitrition and growth 

 covered by the various products of the soil, and 

 by selecting annually the best, most perfectly 

 developed, and vast products of the field and 

 garden, we may in a very brief period so modify 

 and change them, as almost to remove them from 

 their respective classes. The fine specin^ens of 

 Indian corn which we see at our agricultural ex- 

 hibitions have all been improved in this way. 



The earliest potato we know of is the Ash- 

 leaved Kidney. It is small, white, and of a very 

 perfect kidney ^hape, uniform in size and form. 

 In quality it is very good, the best of the very 

 early potatoes. In ordinary seasons, this potato 

 will be fit to eat the latter part of June or begin- 

 ning of July, and will be entirely ripe by the 

 middle of the latter month, if the soil is not too 

 rich or too moist, when it will keep green a little 

 later. Next to this in earliness, is the Early 

 Jane, a small, white, round potato, skin a little 



russety, but smooth. There are several varieties 

 called by the same name, but when growing, the 

 true Early June can be distinguished by its glos- 

 sy leaves, that looks as though they had been var- 

 nished. In quality this is hardly as good as the 

 Ash-lt-aved Kidney, but is a little more product- 

 ive, and is a fair potato for an early variety. 

 Neither of these yields enough to pay for grow- 

 ing by farmers, except for fam ly use, or where 

 they can be sold for a high price — say a dollar s 

 bushel — in some neighboring city. 



Next to the above, and very good for a suc- 

 cession, is the mountain June, a large, white po- 

 tato, yielding well, but not of the best quality, 

 though far from being a bad potato for the sea- 

 son, especially when grown on dry land. The 

 Buckeye ripens about the same time as the 

 Mountain June, and is a large potato, giving an 

 excellent crop. When grown on dry and rather 

 poor ground it is very good, but on soil that is 

 rather rich or moist, it grows too large, becomes 

 hollow and somewhat watery. — Rural New 

 Yorker. 



— In our next w intend to fully discuss th ^ 

 subject of varieties and culture of the potato. 

 The failure of the potato crop occurs too oftea 

 in this State for profit, and for some years we 

 have suspected that the fault was more in not 

 adapting our mode of culture to the soil and 

 climate of the State than to any other cause. 



The Missouri State Horticultural So- 

 ciety. ' 



This Society closed its labors after a session 

 of four days. In addition to the liat of apples 

 and peaches already published, they agreed to 

 recommend the following fruits : 



PEABS — SUMMER. 



For General Cultivation — Bartlett, for market 

 and family. 



Promising Well — Doyenne d'Ete, dwarf, for mar- 

 ket and family. 



Madaline, dwarf, for market and family. 



Tyson, dwarf, " " " 



FALL PEA- s. 



For General Cultivation Louise Bon de Jersey, 

 dwarf, market and family. 



Belle Lucrative, dwarf, market and family. 



White Doyenne, «' '< " 



Seckle, «' " " 



Dutchess d'Angonleme, dwarf, market and fam- 

 ily. 



Promise Well— Flemish Beauty, dwarf, market 

 and family. 



Beuerre de Brighals or Des Nonnes, dwarf, mar- 

 ket, and family. 



Beurre Rose, standard only, market and family. 



Grey Doyenne, dwarf, market and family. 



WINTKB, PEAKS. 



General Cultivation — Qlout Morceao, dwarf, mar- 

 ket and family. 



