Crops jor Pickling and Preserving. 
731 
There is an old saving that " a good crop of peas has often 
been the ruin of a farmer."' By this is meant that, when a 
good crop of peas is grown, it proves so remunerative that the 
farmer is inclined to grow a larger quantity in future ; but it is 
such an uncertain crop, that years may elapse before he grows 
another profitable one. Among the risks which have to be run, 
the worst is the damage done by the green fly, which attacks 
the shoots at the top of the haulm, and sucks out the nutritive 
juices, so that the pods cease to form, and those already formed 
do not fill. Another is the mildew, which attacks the whole 
plant, and is known as the blight, for the crop is either partially 
or wholly ruined. Hail, again, is sometimes very destructive. 
There is, moreover, the risk during harvesting : for in wet 
seasons it is a very awkward crop to gather in, and the peas 
may either germinate in the pods, or shell out during the frequent 
turnings necessary to dry them ; or they may be carted too soon, 
and rot in the stack. All but the last-named of these risks 
apply when the crop is grown for picking ; but the last is, of 
course, of less importance then, although there are generally a 
certain number of pods not gathered which have to run the risk. 
The haulm, or straw, is well worth careful harvesting, it being 
the most valuable straw we have for feeding purposes, especially 
for milking-cows, as it imparts a more nutty flavour and a 
better colour to butter than any other food used in winter feeding. 
The green-pea crop is grown veiy largely by market-garden 
farmers ; but the earlier varieties for picking are, perhaps, chiefly 
grown by market-gardeners. So far as peas for gathering for 
preserving are concerned, it is not important that the earliest 
varieties should be grown, as the aim is to obtain a heavy yield, 
rather than to get them into market early ; the heavy-yielding 
varieties are therefore chosen. 
In selecting varieties, it is necessary to favour those which are 
best suited to the soil naturally, and also to the same soil under 
different conditions of cleanliness. I have found that, among 
the shorter-strawed varieties, none of those commonly grown 
are superior in all points to the Dr. Maclean, a pea of the 
Champion of England type, of which the Fillbasket is also a 
good representative. All of these generally find favour with the 
London market-gardeners. Among other medium-length varie- 
ties, Yeitck's Perfection is a hardy sort, with very strong laterals, 
and is a good yielder. Lye's Favourite is also found very pro- 
lific. Daniels's Matchless Marrow, the Telegraph, and the 
Telephone, are among the most useful of the longer-strawed 
kinds. Of the longest-strawed sorts, the Ne Plus Ultra is 
very reliable ; as is also the British Queen, which is much of the 
