January 20, 1897.] 



Garden and Forest. 



25 



Pseudotsuga taxifolia does not extend south on the Sierras 

 below the head of King's River, or to within a hundred 

 miles from the territory occupied by Pseudotsuga macro- 

 carpa, and it does not cross the Colorado Desert from the 

 east. If the two trees do grow together it is on the moun- 

 tains of Ventura or Santa Barbara counties, the southern 

 limits of the range of Pseudotsuga taxifolia in the California 

 coast ranges being undetermined. 



Pseudotsuga macrocarpa is, I believe, still unknown in 

 cultivation. It will probably never be valuable for its 

 timber, but in hot, dry countries like southern California 

 or those bordering the Mediterranean it may prove an 

 interesting and attractive inhabitant of ornamental planta- 

 tions. C. S. S. 



Alphas just as soon as the ground could be worked in the 

 spring, and ten days later I have planted on the same day 

 Alpha, Premium Gem, McLean's Advancer and Champion of 

 England. These would follow each other in ripening, so that 

 by planting three or four more successions of Champion of 

 England a week apart I would have peas from early in June 

 until the mildew ruined them. Unfortunately, Alpha has be- 

 come so mixed and degenerated that it can be no longer 

 trusted, but experience with Nott's Excelsior shows that it will 

 be fit for the table about as soon. It is a very dwarf grower, 

 being hardly more than a foot high, and it bears abundantly 

 pods which are tightly filled with peas of the best flavor. 

 McLean's Advancer, an old variety, still holds good for second 

 early. Stratagem, Telephone, Heroine and Admiral have be- 

 come popular varieties, but a well-selected strain of Champions 

 I still find the most trustworthy. The climbing varietiesshould 



Fig. 5. — Pseudotsuga macrocarpa on the San Gabriel Forest Reservation. — See page 24. 



Cultural Department. 



Vegetable Notes. 



Peas. — These are among the most delightful products of the 

 garden, but since they lose their flavor very quickly after 

 having been picked, none of the earlv offerings from southern 

 fields can compare with those grown at home. The first dish 

 of peas is, therefore, one of the events of the season, and it 

 was only a few years ago when anv gardener in this latitude 

 was considered enterprising if he had green peas with his 

 roast lamb on the 4th of July. Varieties have been produced, 

 however, in recent years which will ripen here early in June, 

 and these, too, of the wrinkled kinds, which are alone fit to 

 plant for home use, since the hard, round, bullet peas are alto- 

 gether inferior in quality, from lack of sugar and other 

 elements. The difference between Sweet corn and ordinary 

 Field corn is not greater than that between the wrinkled peas 

 and the round peas. For many years I have planted a row of 



have brush or netted wire before they fall down. Deep plant- 

 ing, rich, moist soil and clean culture are the essentials of 

 success. After the Peas have well started, a good mulching 

 helps them materially. 



Beans.— Of Bush Beans, those with round pods, whether they 

 are light-colored or green, are usually the most tender and 

 best-flavored. Different varieties of the Black Wax, Kidney 

 Wax, Refugee and Valentine make compact plants without 

 any runners, having full pods that are slow to become stringy. 

 A year ago this journal contained some notes on the cultivation 

 of garden Beans by Professor Tracy, which have proved ol 

 great value to me, as they laid down principles which furnish 

 the reasons for cultural practice. Although these plants g 

 rapidly when well fed and in the proper kind of soil, yet 

 are quickly discouraged by any untoward happening or any 

 injury, especially to "their roots — that is, the plant, owii 

 its lack of recuperative power, will be killed or, at least. 

 stunted by any such injury to the root as would make a 

 tuce plant or Corn plant grow all the faster. Stand in 



