56 the amateur’s kitchen garden 
merits of the palate, and the circumstances of the garden. 
Those who object to peas of a sweet flavour will prefer the 
smooth white and blue seeded varieties ; while those who love 
a rich buttery pea will lean to the wrinkled marrows. Having 
grown and made note of all the varieties of peas we could 
obtain during the past twenty-five years, we thought it would 
be an easy matter to prepare a list of one hundred good sorts, 
but were astonished on referring to our garden records to find 
that there are not more than about sixty firstrate and 
thoroughly distinct kinds in cultivation. The first earlies tell 
their own tale ; they are comparatively unproductive, and 
many degrees inferior in quality to the later sorts. The 
earliest pea in cultivation is Ringleader or First Crop, 
2§- feet. The best of the early white class is Sangsters 
No. 1, 3 feet ; a really fine pea, but ten days later than 
Ringleader. The earliest marrow peas are Advancer, 2 feet. 
Alpha, 3 feet ; and William 1st, 4 feet. Of second early 
and main crop varieties, v r o have many that are so good, 
that improvement seems impossible. Generally speaking, those 
that rise three to four feet are most useful, and of these, 
Wonder fid, 2-| feet ; James’s Prolific, 4 feet ; Princess Royal, 
3 feet ; Premier, 4 feet ; and Dr. Maclean , 4 feet ; are 
conspicuously good. The last named is perhaps the most 
useful variety in cultivation, as the seeds may be sown three 
or four inches apart, and the plant will fill up by branching, 
and bear well- filled and handsome pods from top to bottom. 
Where stakes are plentiful, the tall sorts should be grown for 
their fine quality and long lasting. There is no finer sort in 
cultivation than the British Queen, 6 feet, for those who love 
a tender, buttery, sugary pea, but Waterloo Marrow, 6 feet ; 
Ne Plus Ultra, 5 feet ; and King of the Marrows, 6 feet ; 
are equally worthy of a place in a garden where peas are much 
in demand. Laxton’s Omega, 2|- feet, will take the place of 
Ne Plus Ultra where stakes are scarce ; it is the most 
generally useful of all the late peas. 
The Bean, Faba Vidgaris, is one of the most nourishing 
vegetables known, and although it does not enjoy universal 
favour, for many people regard it as both vulgar and uneatable, 
this is compensated by the enthusiasm of those who proudly 
rank themselves amongst eaters of “ bean feasts.” It is unfortu- 
nate for this noble esculent — for such, with your permission, we 
regard it — that it is often served in a vulgar manner, and 
