PEAS 151 



others. Peas take up a good deal of room in the 

 garden and need much fertilizer to make them do 

 well, so it seems unwise to give up much space to a 

 variety that has small value. 



Extra Early. -=- The extra early peas are quick to 

 mature and develop the pod promptly, as the vines 

 are short and so demand little strength from the 

 root for their development. The Nott's Excelsior 

 represents this variety well, which also includes 

 excellent peas in the Little Marvel and the Little 

 Gem. Both the Nott's Excelsior and the Little Gem 

 have many strains, which are given various names 

 in different places. The Little Marvel is a recent 

 addition which is much praised, but not widely used 

 as yet. 



For the first early peas, there are few that do so 

 well in different localities, under varying conditions, 

 as the Nott's Excelsior. It is of sturdy growth, 

 with short, stocky vines which need no support. 

 It produces a generous crop of rather small, well- 

 filled pods. The flavor and quality are excellent, and 

 the pods are so well filled that two quarts will pro- 

 vide peas for a family of five. 



Second Early. — After the extra early peas, there 

 is a group which ripens a few days later. This 

 variety, of which the Gradus, the McLean's Ad- 

 vancer, and Thomas Laxton, are good representatives, 

 has vines growing nearly three feet high, which need 

 supports to ripen the crop to the best advantage. 



