The Illustrated Guide for Amateur Gardeners. 
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PEAS. 
Cultivation. — Peas form ono of the most valuable of garden crops, and when once started into growth, require, under favourable conditions, little 
attention beyond the staking of such varieties as need support, and mulching and watering in dry weather. Peas require a good rich soil, which should 
be well trenched, and should receive a liberal supply of well-decomposed manure early in the season. They are essentially a moisture loving plant, and 
only when the ground is well prepared can really satisfactory results be assured. Given these conditions, it is possible by a succession of sowings to have 
a continuous supply of Peas for the table from June till October, or even later. 
First early varieties should be sown from the middle of January onwards, and the best sorts in this class are Daniels’ Gem of the Season, William ’ he 
First, and The Pilot ; if the seed is sown in boxes under glass in January, hardened off in a frame and planted out at the latter end of March or early in 
April, an advantage of ten days or a fortnight may be gained. Second early and main crop kinds should be sown in March and April, and for late use 
a succession of sowings at intervals from the beginning of May until the end of June should be made. For these sowings the tall varieties will be found 
more productive, and not so liable to mildew during hot weather. It should be borne in mind that although most of the Wrinkled seeded varieties 
may be sown in March, wo do not recommend this unless the season is exceptionally favourable. We find from a careful record extending over ten 
years, that little if any advantage is gained by too early sowings, and that Peas sown at the beginning of April take less time to come to maturity 
than the earlier sown ones. If this rule was more generally followed, we should hear less about bad germination amongst this class of Peas es- 
pecially in cold wet seasons. The seed should be sown in drills and covered about two inches deep; allow four or five feet botween each row unless 
•it is desired to grow some other crop between, when the rows may 
12 to 15 feet apart. Let the rows run from north to south thus a 
ing the plants to receive a maximum of light and air. 
Peas suffer greatly from the depredations of all kinds of vermin, and it 
will always be found of advantage to give protection either by w r ire pea 
guards or some other means while the plants are growing. The rows 
should be earthed up before they are staked, and this should be done when 
the plants are about four inches high. If the tops of the sticks are cut 
evenly, and the pieces which are cut off placed between the large sticks 
at the base, they will prevent the plants from falling about, and give them 
an upward tendency from the start. 
A good mulching of manure placed on each side of the row will help to 
retain the moisture in dry weather. Where this is not possibl they must 
be regularly watered during dry periods, and liquid manure given once 
a week ; a mixture containing four ounces Nitrate of Soda to one gallon of 
water will be found very useful for this purpose. 
When it is desired to grow Peas for exhibition purposes the following 
points should be observed: — Sow the seed very thinly on ground that 
has been especially deeply trenched for the purpose, and which has been 
dressed with old farm-yard manure or the remains of an old mushroom bed. 
If they are needed for early Summer Shows it may be desirable to raise 
the seed on turves in a greenhouse and transfer them bodily to the border 
when about four inches high, but, generally speaking, if the seed is sown 
in rows in March and April it will be found early enough. 
When the plants have shown about .four blooms, pinch out the leader 
or top of the haulm. As soon as the pods have formed, choose the best 
shaped, and remove the others, leaving only two or three on each plant. 
Always select the strongest and healthiest plants for this purpose. When 
ready to gather, do not handle the pods, but cut off with scissors so as to 
retain their bloom. 
NEW PEA, DANIELS’ EXPRESS. 
A grand new first early Marrowfat variety, growing to the 
height of about 18 inches, and of great productiveness, bearing 
a profusion of handsome dark green pods, 41 to 5 inches in 
length, well filled with peas of the most delicious marrow flavour. 
In habit of growth it somewhat resembles Competitor, but the 
pods are much darker in colour and better filled. We can 
strongly recommend this as one of the finest first early varieties 
yet introduced (Stock limited). Per pkt.. Is. ; per half-pint, 2s. 
NEW PEA, THE PILOT. 
This valuable introduction is rapidly taking a leading place 
amongst the most useful varieties, both for market and private 
garden purposes. It is a first early cropper producing deep green 
pods of the well-known Gradus type, and on account of its hardy 
constitution and the seed being round it may be sown very early 
with the certainty of a crop. It is a vigorous branching plant, 
growing three feet in height, bearing a large proportion of 
the pods in pairs, which contain fine deep green peas of excellent 
marrow flavour. Per quart 2s. 3d. 
“ I am pleased to say that 1 liave just obtained l'irst Prize with your l'cas, they 
were excellent.”— Mr. J. LEWIS, Llongadock. 
“ I had a famous crop of Marrowiat Peas Inst year.”- Mr. J. DICKS, Homina. 
" It gives me much pleasure to say that the Seeds I had from you last year did very 
well indeed. The Peas were especially good, ml yielded a very Hue crop."- Mr. j. 
MOORE, Witton. 
DANIELS' EXPRESS. 
