The Illustrated Guide for Amateur Gardeners 
Peas. 
Cultivation. — The Pea is one ot our most important crops, and to be 
successfully grown, must bo liberally treated. A deep rich soil, well pulverized 
and incorporated with a fair allowance of well-decayed manure, should be chosen 
for the principal crop in summer. For early Peas the ground does not require 
to be so rich. Sowings of William the First, Gem of tho Season, and other first 
early varieties should be made in November, December, and January. The 
second early sorts, including Lye’s Favourite, Supreme, and Gladiator, three 
splendid varieties, may be sown in February, and others including Daniels’ 
Matchless Marrow, Yorkshire Hero, Veitch’s Perfection, Ne Plus Ultra, and 
Maincrop Marrow for main crops, from March to the end of May. For last 
crop sow a few of the first early varieties in June or July. 
In sowing Peas those of ordinary height should be in drills three or four 
feet apart; the taller varieties five or six feet. They can also be grown to 
advantage in rows twelve feet apart, and some other crop between them, as by 
this means both sides of tho row get the full benefit of light and air, and yield 
a greater abundance of pods. When a crop is grown between the rows, the 
rows should run, if possible, from north to south, to give both the Peas and the 
intervening crop free access to the sunlight. 
Staking up should be commenced when they are throe inches high. The 
dwarf varieties may be grown without sticks, but all are benefited by being kept 
from the grouud. Peas, when making their appearance above ground, aro very 
subjeot to the depredations of sparrows, &c. ; this may be easily prevented by 
placing a short stout stick at each end of the row, and then leading from one to 
the other a single black thread or cotton at a distance above the ground of two 
or three inches. We have found this by experience to be at once the most 
simple and efficacious remedy that will apply with equal benefit to any kind 
of seed subject to the depredations of birds, whether sown in drills or seed beds ; 
if the latter, tho threads should be stretched from end to end at intervals of 
about nine inches. 
Section I.— Earliest Varieties. 
DANIELS’ GEM OF THE SEASON. The earliest 
Pea in cultivation. Height three feet, and very prolific. This 
magnificent early Pea is the most valuable for general use ever 
sent out. Is always the earliest, whether sown in Autumn, Winter, 
or Spring. Is also the hardiest, resisting frost better than any 
other kind, and is not affected by mildew. Being very prolific and 
of a most delicious flavour, will be found most desirable for 
marketing, and invaluable for the private garden. New selected 
stock ... ... ... ... ... ... per quart 2s. 
“I have been very fortunate with Pea, Gem of the Season, for notwithstanding 
the lateness of the season and thy weather, I gathered first lot 13th of June.'’— Mr. L. B. 
LOVELACE, Rickingliall. 
# “Your Pea. Gem of the Season, did so well with us last year that I should like 
to try them again,”— The Rev. U. KNOWLES, Doncaster. 
Exonian. A First Early Wrinkled Marrow; very productive. The haulm, 
which is thickly covered with pods containing six to eight peas of fine 
flavour, is rather light and pale green in colour. Awarded a First Class 
Certificate, Royal Horticultural Society. Height 3 feet. 
Per pint Is. 3d., quart 2s. 
“The Peas sent me last Spring were excellent. Exonian is the best, early quality 
I have ever tried, and is a good cropper.”— Mr. Z. INGOLD, Frampton. 
English Wonder (new). A great improvement on the 
well-known American Wonder, in earliness, productiveness, 
length of pod and flavour, and being somewhat dwarf er than that 
variety cannot fail to become a general favourite 
American Wonder, a first early Pea, some days in 
advance of William the First. For small gardens it is unsur- 
passed, owing to its earliuess, productiveness, and tho small space 
it occupies 
Dillistone’s First Early. Very early. Known also as 
Carter’s First Crop and Sutton’s Ringleader 
Early Sunrise. Very hardy and prolific 
Earliest of All. A round blue-seeded Pea of excellent 
and rich flavour; is dwarfer than Eingleador, more prolific 
ht. pr quart, 
in ft. s. d. 
12 3 
116 
3-4 0 9 
21 1 3 
21 1 4 
Early Paragon. A blue wrinkled Marrow of fine flavour. 
It is the earliest of the large wrinkled marrows ... ... 4-51 9 
Kentish Invicta. A fine early blue Pea ... ... ... 21 1 0 
Sangster’s No. 1 Improved. Extra select stock .. . ... 3 1 0 
William Hurst. An early blue wrinkled variety, similar 
to American Wonder. An abundant bearer, of first-rate quality: 
as an early Pea it should be grown in every garden ... ... 1 2 0 
William the First. Selected stock. One of the 
finest early green Marrows, combining flavour, earliness, and 
productiveness ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 16 
