I May, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 333 
gardener of advanced ideas planted an acre of potatoes in his garden in the 
environs of Paris in the time of Louis XV., in the year 1743. He could not 
induce anyonesto purchase the unholy tuber. At last, in despair, he sought 
an interview with the king, and induced him to appear at a ball in the midst of 
his courtiers wearing a bunch of potato flowers. ‘Then fashion came to his aid. 
The flowers were sold at exorbitant prices, and the consumption of the root 
became universal in France.—Hd. Q.A.J.] 
* 
MARKET GARDENING. 
ae No. 4. 
By H. W. GORRIE, 
Horticulturist, Queensland Agricultural College. 
PEAS. 
Tur Pea (Pisam sativum) is an annual plant indigenous to Western Asia, 
Persia, and Northern India. 
This vegetable has been cultivated in Hurope from a very remote period, 
seeds of peas having been found among relies of the bronze and stone ages. 
When the pea was first cultivated in England is not known, but we have 
records of itin the 18th century. The peas which are grown at the present 
day are so much improved by cultivation and selection that it is almost impos- 
sible to believe that they are the same species known 100 years ago. ‘There are 
two distinct forms of peas now in general cultivation—namely, round and 
wrinkled. f 
_ ‘These again may be either dwarf, medium, or tall. The wrinkled varieties 
are usually the earliest to come into bearing, generally the most productive ; 
and, as a rule, remain longer in bearing than the smooth or round kinds. 
.. Peas may be grown in many different kinds of soil, but a rich, light, sandy 
loam is perhaps the best. If manure is used, it should be well decomposed, 
and thoroughly worked into the ground. 
The time for sowing here is from January to September, sowing enough once 
afortnight or so to keep up a constant succession. The dwarf varieties should be 
sown in rows not less than 8 feet apart, and the tall-erowing kinds about 5 feet ; 
a good plan is to plant the rows of tall peas 8 or 9 feet apart, and grow two or 
three rows of cabbages or other vegetables between. By this plan the sunshine 
and air have free access to all the rows of peas, which would not be the case if 
they were so close as to partly overshadow each other. 
: A common mistake in sowing peas is planting them too thickly. The seeds 
should be dropped into the drills from 3 to 4 inches apart, and the drills should 
be from 2 to 3 inches deep. In moist weather 14 or 2 inches is deep enough ; 
but in very dry weather it is advisable to sow a little deeper in order to get the 
benefit of the moisture in the soil. Peas are very often sown in double rows, 6 
inches apart, and the seeds at intervals of 6 inches in the rows. By this 
system a good crop can be obtained, and also ground economised where the 
latter is valuable or of limited area. er 
- The tall varieties require some kind of support, such as brushwood or 
sticks, or, better still, wire netting, which can be placed over the rows, 
supported on stakes, the lower side of the netting being about 10 inches above 
the ground. 
In dry weather, frequent cultivation is necessary, and an occasional 
watering will also be beneficial ; if liquid manure is procurable, so much the 
better for the crop. . 
Very fine peas are sometimes grown by sowing them in a furrow 6 inches 
deep, only partially filling in the furrow at first, and gradually filling it up as 
the plants grow. ; 
