December 20, 1864. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



491 



and netting has to be adopted in some places ; the simplest 

 and easiest protection is a length of galvanised wire netting 

 abont 18 inches wide, bent in the middle so as to present a 

 continuous arched covering. In some gardens these and 

 similar contrivances have to be put in requisition to secure 

 a crop in summer, the birds being so troublesome, and they 

 are equally so when the crop is fit to gather. 



It is seldom that the early crop requires any further 

 shelter than what the ashes, sawdust, or chaff alluded to 

 supplies, but as soon as the plants have grown 6 inches high, 

 or even before that time, some short stakes may be of ser- 

 vice in protecting them from the effects of cold winds or 

 late spring frosts. I have seen coverings for early Peas and 

 Potatoes made like the ridge of a house, about 18 inches 

 wide, and the same high, transparent calico, or some such 

 material being stretched over them, and which could be put 

 on and taken off when wanted, and they were of service to 

 the Potatoes ; but the Pea is a much hardier, though net 

 by any means so robust a vegetable. In cold, bleak situa- 

 tions, however, shelter of some kind may be of service, and 

 in such the crop may receive its proper staking earlier than 

 in places more favoured. 



Of the varieties of early Peas much has been said and 

 much disputed. The multiplication of names has been such 

 that it is much to be feared that several so-called early 

 varieties, have a common origin in a bag of Charlton, the 

 only difference being the name and the higher price. Now, 

 I by no means charge respectable seedsmen with intentional 

 fraud — on the contrary, many, I know, are amongst the most 

 honourable traders of the community ,- but there are others 

 less scrupulous, who, though their stock be but limited, yet, 

 somehow, have always everything that is asked for, and a 

 bland excuse for everything that comes different from what 

 was expected; but buyers, as well as sellers, are to blame 

 for this. The insatiable thirst after fresh names must be 

 met, and scope is given to those whose scruples do not pre- 

 vent their benefiting by it, and, though new and popular 

 varieties of Peas, as well as other vegetables, may be de- 

 cidedly better than some that preceded them, it unfortunately 

 happens that every parcel bearing that name is not the true 

 variety. However, a few years generally consign all indif- 

 ferent varieties to oblivion — thus the popular names of ten 

 years ago are but rarely met with now, while the standard 

 old ones, as the Kent, Charlton, and Early May, which, by- 

 the-by, I believe all very nearly resemble each other, are still 

 on the lists. Nevertheless, as improvements are wanted, let 

 us hope that further progress may yet be made. In the 

 meantime I give a short list of such early varieties as I am 

 acquainted with : — 



Daniel O'Rourlce. — A good Pea ; stands the winter well, 

 and a tolerably good bearer. Sangster's No. 1 is the same 

 as this. 



Warner's Emperor. — Of late years this Pea has become 

 more tender with me than it used to be ; it is, however, very 

 good still, and, amongst early Peas, none is more prolific. 



Dickson's Favourite. — Somewhat taller than the above, 

 being more in the way of Prince Albert, and I believe Omar 

 Pacha is somewhat the same in habit ; with me it did very 

 well last year. 



Early Warwick. — This old variety has so strong a resem- 

 blance to the Charlton that I think they must be classed as 

 synonymous. 



Racehorse. — I have never seen this in good condition, and 

 I find the name is rare in seed catalogues. 



Early Frame. — This, the Early Slay, Kent, and some 

 others, have doubtless taken their origin from the Charlton. 

 They are all good bearers, and about the same in earliness 

 as those previously mentioned. 



I must confess that these are the only early kinds I have 

 grown of late years, and many kinds are no doubt omitted 

 which, by other growers, may be regarded as superior to 

 any I have named. Amongst those I hear spoken well of 

 is Sutton's Conqueror, very good as a running Pea; and 

 there are some of the dwarf section, such as Dillistone's Early 

 Prolific and Tom Thumb which have each their admirers. 

 Doubtless there are others of equal merit, but, not having 

 grown them, I cannot speak from my own experience. 

 Early Peas, however, are of such importance that it is not 

 likely that any really good ones can remain long unknown. 

 The great aim seems to be to obtain varieties that will 



come into use a few days sooner than those already known, 

 to us. Constitutional hardiness is another qualification; 

 for it sometimes happens that considerable portions of a 

 row die off in March, from causes which are but imperfectly 

 understood. I have in vain endeavoured to determine the 

 cause of this, though it is likely that the plant dies when it 

 no longer receives any support from the seed ; but I am far 

 from affirming that such is the true cause, as the season is 

 generally so far advanced as to lead to the belief that the 

 seed had long ceased to afford nourishment. Certain, how- 

 ever, it is that everything connected with the Pea is not yet 

 fully understood ; and I confess being as anxious to learn 

 more on this subject as to give advice. Common as the Pea 

 is, and its culture under certain conditions more easy than 

 that of most other crops, there are some points connected 

 with its management in winter, as well as in the latter part 

 of summer, which render it anything but a certain plant. On 

 its summer growth another article will be forthcoming at an 

 early period. — J. Robson. 



anemone apennina culture. 



In reply to " E. E.," who complains of the flowers of her 

 Anemone apennina plants being " poor and puny," I may 

 state that we have plants of it in large patches in a border 

 amongst other herbaceous plants that have no flowers less 

 than a half-crown piece, and many fully the size of a crown 

 piece. The border runs east and west. At the back (the 

 south side) there is a row of variegated Hollies and other 

 shrubs from 10 to 15 feet in height, in front of them are 

 tall herbaceous plants gradually lowering in height from 

 the back to the front, which may be about 8 feet from the 

 Hollies and shrubs. The border is, therefore, fully exposed 

 to the north, and partially so to the south ; for the shrubs 

 shade the border considerably, yet not completely, for they 

 are not planted close together, but so that each may be seen, 

 and worked about on all sides. In this border, about a foot 

 from the Box-edging, the Blue Wood Anemone is planted 

 now in patches a foot or 18 inches in diameter, with room 

 between each for hoeing and otherwise trimming the border 

 when necessary. In this border, shady during the mid- 

 day hours only, in a light loamy soil on gravel, this plant is 

 quite at home. It has no rival when in flower, and even 

 before blooming its handsome foliage renders it particularly 

 attractive. It receives no care beyond keeping clear of 

 weeds, and the intrusion of its neighbours, and lightly 

 pointing the ground around it in autumn or spring. 



A calcareous soil is the most suitable for it ; but it will 

 grow anywhere if the soil is free of stagnant water, and not 

 very strong. The situation should be open yet shady — that 

 is, not so shaded as to be hidden from the sun's rays by a 

 close canopy of leaves overhead, nor dried up through the 

 trees abstracting all the moisture and nutritive principles 

 from the soil, but what may be termed open woods and 

 borders shaded from the mid-day sun, on the borders or 

 margins of which it will grow freely, especially if the soil is 

 naturally light and dry, and not rendered so by the roots of 

 other plants. The ground should have a dressing of leaf 

 mould 3 inches thick worked in to a depth of a foot, and the 

 roots should be planted in this in August or September 

 about 3 inches apart, and covered an inch deep with soil. 

 In November the surface should be mulched with an inch of 

 leaf mould ; and here they should be allowed to remain for 

 the next three years at least without being disturbed, keep- 

 ing them clear of weeds and other plants that may intrude 

 upon them. If the part of the garden is kept as dressed 

 ground, a slight forking around them twice a-year will not 

 injure them, providing care be taken not to disturb them, 

 and if a little leaf mould be forked in each time the fork is 

 plied round them the flowers will be much finer. 



Once planted and established nothing further will be re- 

 quired for years, and the plants will go on increasing, in 

 time forming large masses, which when in a sheet of bloom, 

 as I have seen them amongst some trees surrounding rock- 

 work not many miles from York, cannot fail to cause ad- 

 miration. It is a scarce plant in gardens, and in the trade, 

 but ere long we shall have such plants as these offered by the 

 hundred, and in time our parks, our woods, and woodland 

 walks will present a scene of interest and beauty that will 



