24 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
continue, as surely as seed-time and harvest, for 
himself and his children and his children’s 
children. It is a perfectly new supply, because 
practically it is unknown, and therefore neg¬ 
lected, but nevertheless it is as old as the hills 
that fill the lakes, and is the ultimate source of 
every possible water supply.” Of course the 
source of supply referred to is the rain which 
falls from heaven—25 inches on the average 
in London, and the idea of water for nothing 
implies the collecting and storing of this preci¬ 
ous gift from the clouds. The main requisites 
pointed out are three in number:—(1), The 
rejection of the first supply, or its separation 
for rough purposes, because contaminated with 
washings of the roof; (2), the saving of the 
bulk of the best water in a cool situation, and 
in complete darkness, but allowing a current of 
air to pass over the surface ; (3), the filtration 
of the best water before it is supplied to the 
table, to render it perfectly bright and com¬ 
pletely aerated. How this is to be done is ex¬ 
plained and illustrated in the pamphlet, which 
those who are interested in the subject should 
read and apply for themselves. 
Album Benary (part vi., 1879) is now be¬ 
fore us, and contains excellent chromoliths by 
Severeyns of five varieties of Borecoles or 
Kales, of eight varieties of Onions, of six 
varieties of sugar or edible-podded Peas, and 
of eight varieties of Tomatos. The figures are 
well executed, and will be useful for the recog¬ 
nition of the several kinds.—T. Moore. 
EARLY PEAS. 
<£5b^)HE gardens at Wycombe Abbey have 
^ 0I1 & keen f amous f° r the excellent 
supply of Fruits and Vegetables ob¬ 
tained by Mr. G. T. Miles, whose success as an 
exhibitor sufficiently attests the quality of his 
productions. He has recently ( Gard . Cliron ., 
N.s., xiii., 14) explained his method of rearing 
Early Peas, from which source we abstract the 
following remarks thereupon :—There are, he 
says, some naturally sheltered places situated 
at a moderate altitude, where early Peas may, 
with some degree of certainty, be depended on 
almost every year, yet this is not generally the 
case. Here, as in many other gardens similarly 
situated, in a low valley with the air almost 
constantly charged with moisture enough to 
make vegetation most susceptible to frost, the 
crop is most doubtful. For this reason we 
have of necessity been compelled to resort to a 
more certain and effectual method, and, from 
past experience, our practice is strongly recom¬ 
mended to the notice of those who labour under 
similar difficulties. Our plan is to have 
recourse to a temporary erection in the shape 
of a frame, about 3 ft. high at the back, and 
2 ft. in front, with a strip under the junction 
of the lights in order to facilitate ventilation, 
the width according with the size of the lights 
which may be available for the purpose. This 
frame should be placed on a suitable border, 
and dwarf kinds of Peas only should be sown, 
at about 18 in. apart between the rows, which 
should run from north to south. With such a 
convenience covering an area of about 20 ft. 
by 6 ft., and with ordinary coverings applied, a 
crop of Peas may be safely secured before the 
end of May, the average of which will favour¬ 
ably compare with the produce of many outside 
borders of far greater extent, with but little 
additional trouble. For this purpose we sow 
thinly, in rows 18 in. apart, Laxton’s Unique 
and Little Gem the first week in January— 
keeping the lights on until such time as the 
Peas are becoming visible, when a little air is 
given them every day. As soon as they are 
well up they are thinned out to about 2 in. 
apart, and before they have made much growth 
they are carefully staked to a height which will 
just admit the lights to run. At this time they 
are mulched with 3-in. or 4-in. of the best 
decomposed manure, and well watered when¬ 
ever necessary. Tbe frames are likewise covered 
up as may be required. 
Mr. Ward’s practice at Longford Castle, as 
set forth in the same publication, is to sow in 
large 60-pots, about the end of December or 
beginning of January. The pots are three- 
parts filled with leaf-mould, about a dozen 
peas put into each, covered with the same 
material, and set near the glass in an early 
vinery. When a couple of inches high, they 
are hardened off, and are planted out about 
January 20th, or as soon after as circumstances 
permit, on a south or south-west border, in 
rows 4 ft. apart, and 1 ft. apart in the row. 
The plants are turned out of the pots, with the 
balls undisturbed, and put in ground prepared 
for their reception ; a little soil is drawn up to 
them on either side, and then a line of soot and 
lime, after which short sticks are put round pro 
tern ., and them some short Spruce boughs 
on either side to shield them from frost, snow, 
and biting winds. As they become inured to 
the weather, the boughs should be gradually 
thinned, and so soon as the weather becomes 
