Peas and Beans 



125. Wrinkled pea (X 2J. 



Garden or picked peas are of the easiest culture. They 

 thrive best in spring rather tlian in summer, but they also 

 thrive in autumn from late-sown seeds. In summer they 



are very liable to mildew and 

 to injury by heat. Peas and 

 onions are the first vegetables 

 to be sown in the open ground. 

 Even before freezing weather is 

 l)ast, peas may be planted. It 

 s customary to plant them 3 to 

 5 inches deep : the roots are 

 then deep enough to be in 

 cool and moist soil. Early 

 peas are frequently planted more shallow. 



A lioht soil is chosen when earliness is desired; but for 

 the main crop the clay loams are excellent. A very rich 

 soil tends to make the plants run to vine and to delay the 

 crop. Succession al sowings should be made at intervals of 

 six to ten days. 



For early use, the dwarf varieties should be chosen. 

 Eor the main or late crop the 

 tall or climbing sorts, which 

 are more productive, are pre- 

 ferred. Pinching-in the exces- 

 sive growths tends to make the 

 tall varieties somewhat earlier. 

 Early in August in the North- 

 ern States dwarf varieties may 

 be so^Ti for fall use. The first sowings in spring are 

 usually of the " smooth " peas, as they are less likely to 

 rot in the ground than the wrinkled kinds. The very 



Smooth pea (X about 2). 



