JOUR.XAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 20, 1888. 
C2 
re-.luction of rent as an amendment for all the evils that have been 
lately hoisted before us. The land is as good as ever, and speaking 
generally no better can be found in any other country. Its resources 
only want developing. In man 3 ' c.ases I firmly believe that if cul¬ 
tivators had the land for nothing they would fail to make it pay. 
There is prosperity still in store for many tillers of the soil if they 
coal 1 only be induced to bestir themselves to greater diligence and 
energy ; in a word, to turn over a new leaf in the management of 
land and cropping. I am not alluding to farmers in particular, but 
to all tillers of the soil, whether they term themselves agriculturists 
or horticulturists. I see an Agricultural Education Bill is projected 
to provide for teaching the principles of agriculture and for the 
provision of school gardens for the illustration of those principles, 
the subjects to be taught including grafting, pruning, fruit, flower, 
and vegetable growing. So far so good, but while these principles 
are being instilled and take permanent effect, there is ample time 
for many by their own efforts to rise to a prosperous condition, or, 
on the other hand, to be ruined by neglect. 
If we try to see how matters stand at present, to what conclu¬ 
sion can we arrive if we glance at the returns of our agricultural 
imports that have been issued for the past year ? We have to pause 
before we can say that we are making progress, at least in the pro¬ 
duction of vegetables. We imported more by £1.33,14.'! worth last 
year than was the case in 188G. Are we to draw the inference that 
we have been producing less than formerly ? or shall we take the 
more hopeful and perhaps reasonable view of the case, and say that 
the public demand for vegetables has increased so enormously ? I 
should say this is the right view to take, and I believe the increase 
w:ll go on steadily—especially if trade continues to prosper—then 
why not prepare in earnest to meet from our own land this in¬ 
creasing consumption? The question that it is natural to ask is, 
How do we know that the increased consumption of vegetables 
will continue ? Xo fear need be entertained on this seore, or even 
in disposing of the produce if good and of the right kind. If we 
suppose that it does not increase there is ample scope for cultiva¬ 
tors to meet the demand that already exists, for we paid away last 
year for these articles the enormous sum of £000,882. I think it is 
high time we stirred up to greater effort those engaged in husbandry, 
.md I do not know a more suitable place than our Journal in which 
it can bo done. 
While the impression so largely exists that “ nothing pays ” it is 
my intention, with the Editor’s permission, to remove if possible 
these erroneous notions how it can be accomplished by growing 
'' crops that pay." Mushroom growing has been urged as a profit¬ 
able concern to the successful grower, and its claims cannot be too 
forcibly pressed to the front, as it is one of the most remunerative 
crops that can be grown. They can be grown to realise a good 
return to the grower at a much less price than can now be obtained 
for them in the market. This is a good time to make beds, and 
those who know nothing of the business should study Wright’s 
“ Mushrooms for the Million,” and if the details there given are 
intelligently carried out and added to or modified according to cir¬ 
cumstances none need fail. My crops, by information gathered from 
that source, paid the rent and labour, besides clearing the cost of 
the manure, which will materially reduce the cost of other ground 
crops by applying it instead of having to buy fresh. But it has 
been said. If more start growing them you will not make so much 
oot of them. I shall just make the same, for this is easily done by 
increasing the number of beds. At present there are more con¬ 
sumers than there is supply, consequently they are imported from 
France. If they are cheaper more will be eonsumed ; the supply 
mav be in our own hands, and the grower as well as the consumer 
will profit by increased production.— Mahketeh. 
SIX GOOD PEAS. 
There is no vegetable that commands more attention for 
summer cultivation than Peas. So anxious are many to possess 
them that the days are counted from the time the seed is sown 
until the first dish is gathered, and this is not confined to large 
gardens, but amateurs, and even cottagers, have all a desire to 
secure early Peas. From iMay until October Peas afford a never- 
failing topic. If we go into a garden in May one of the first 
questions asked is, “ Have you g.ithered Peas yet ?” Farther on, 
when the hot dry weather of July and August is apt to interfere 
with the success of many crops, the question is, “ How are your 
Peas?" and later still when the days are shortening and the cold 
nights are staying the progress of vegetation the question is still, 
Ilave you any Peas ?’’ and from beginning to end the important 
question as to which are the best varieties for a long and good suc¬ 
cession is freelj' discussed. This is a point that is forced on all ; 
and although it is not unseasonable to speak of it when the Peas 
are being inspected in the rows or tasted on the table, it is now at 
the commencement of the sowing season that the matter may be 
discussed with great advantage. All kinds of vegetables have 
multiplied at an extraordinary rate during the last twenty years, 
and none more so than Peas. In a list before me, a good and 
trustworthy one from Messrs. Barr & Son, the number of varieties 
of Peas offered is just sixty, and I almost tremble to think of what 
will be said of the fifty-four that my heading excludes, but for all 
that I am not afraid of stating what I regard as six good Peas ; and 
although these are some of the newest my selection has been made 
from over fifty, and the weeding out has been done w'ithout fear 
or favour. 
C.irter’s Lightning is said to be the earliest Pea. I ean verify 
the assertion, and therefore begin the season with it. It is a com¬ 
pact robust grower, attains a height of 21 feet, or 3 feet if grown in 
very rich soil. The pods are produced in multitudes about 3 inches 
in length each, and they are crowded with Peas of fine flavour. 
They fill quickly, and prove very remunerative and acceptable as a 
first erop. Probably some may think if it is only ready from six 
to ten days before Harbinger, Ringleader, and other better known 
Peas, it is not much to speak of. I am of a different opinion, as 
even a week advance in the time of having Pea.S in the market or 
on the table makes a wonderful difference in the price and the 
appreciation of this choice vegetable, and apart from its unique 
early character, its other points are decided y good. We put it 
down as a May Pea, and come to 
Veitch’s Prodigy as a June variety. This Pea has two good 
parents, one being Giant Marrow and the other Stratagem, and it 
is therefore not surprising that it has come to the front as a Pea of 
the finest quality. It is a second early. It is a robust grower, and 
runs up to about ,o feet in height. It pods with I’emarkable freedom, 
and each pod contains from eight to ten Peas. Being wrinkled 
Marrows they are grandly flavoured, and in all points Prodigy is a 
fine second early Pea. 
Webb’s Wordsley Wonder is our favourite for July, or indeed 
for a general main crop. No fault can be found with it. Probably 
no Pea was ever subjected to a more rigid tri.al all over the country, 
and the result was all in its favour. I have grown it here from the 
first. It is a blue wrinkled Marrow, grows to a height of 2 j or 
3 feet at the most, and is more prolific than any Pea I ever saw. 
It has a capital constitution, is thoroughly adapted to contend suc¬ 
cessfully with the warmest and driest weather, and as a table or 
show Pea it will hold its own against all comers. Some varieties 
have a bad fault of forming good Peas in the middle of the pod, 
but fail to fill at the points ; this deficiency is unknown in this 
variety, as the pods fill from end to end in a most satisfactory 
manner. Had these notes been confined to one Pea, Wordsley 
Wonder would have been the one selected. 
Telegraph is a well-known variety. It has been out for years, 
and has done excellent service in thousands of gardens. It grows 
to a height of 0 feet or more, and its stature is rather against its 
culture in the hands of those who are badly off for stakes, but it 
produces many handsome dark green pods, and the flavour of tlie 
Peas is excellent. It is a main crop variety, and well merits being 
included in all lists of six good Peas. 
Veiteh’s Perfection has stood the test of many years, and all 
who have grown it cannot help asserting that it is a good Pea. It 
is not so prolific as some, but it grows compactly, and the flavour is 
delicious. It may be sown to bear freely m September, and while 
it will not display any deficiencies in the garden, it is certain to give 
the highest satisfaction on the table. 
Sutton’s Latest of A'l Green Marrow.—Very late Peas should 
be grown in every garden. When they can be secured in October 
or later they are as much valued as very early in the season. I 
could name many with pretensions to be late, or the latest, but in 
my opinion the one named above is not only a good Pea, but the 
best of the late varieties. It is 3 feet in height, and very productive 
as a late Pea. It is dark green in the colour of the leaf, the pods 
are the same, and they swell and fill more freely at the end of the 
season than any other. Its extremely hardy character is a sti’ong 
point in its favour, and as to the flavour it is first-rate, irdeed as 
a late Pea I consider this variety to be unique. Consider ng that 
Peas are so generally grown, and all can readily note their qualities, 
some of your readers may be inclined to give their opinion of these 
or other varieties, and I have no doubt their remarks will prove 
highly interesting.—J. Muir, Mai'gam, Port Talbot. 
Kexxedva Makeyatt.e.— •Though an old plant, this is not by any 
means frequentlj^ seen in gardens. At the present time we have a plant 
trained to the rafters of a conservatory, the shoots being allowed to 
droop over the side stages and path to the lengths of 3 or 4 feet. These 
are now crowded with bright red llowers, and have a beautiful appear¬ 
ance, the foliage also being distinct and pleasing. When it can be in¬ 
duced to grow freclj' this plant needs but little attention Ireyond a good 
pruning every season and keeping it clear of insects, such .as mealy 
bug.—II. A. 
