Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-02-15
FARM AND GARDEN.
Garden Pens.

CTdEOeu feaBs
A correspondent of the Prairie Farmer
says:
It requires some judgement and ex-
perience 10 choose from among the nu-
merous varieties of garden peas, offered
by our seedsmen, the kind best adapted
to our particular soils or locality. Most
of the descriptions of culture, time of
maturing, &C.. &C., are copied from Eng
lish catalogues, and although in that
country, the pea reaches its greatest per-
lection, it is not always safe to rely upon
their descriptions of varieties suited to
our climate which is so dissimilar. Ny
object is, in this short article, to only
mention few varieties, and such as we
know to be No. l.
The use of the pea in this country is
becoming more and more common. and
the smallest garden withouta pea patch
is something seldom seen. A loamy
soil is the best for this crop, and more
especially for the dwarf varieties it
cannot be too rich.
For the early sorts choose a warm
sheltered situation on the southern side
of garden feuce, or south slope of hill
side.
A pint of seed will sow a row about
forty feet in length.
A great mistake is very often made in
not covering the seeds deeply enough.
| have often seen sowings by market
gardeners. where the seed was scarcely
covered, and when the hot, dry spell of
the latter part of May came on the roots
were dried up, and the vine of course
yielded nothing. By my own expert
T 1l,1 i i
less than three inches in depth, and for
the later and larger sorts, not less than
four inches will befound too much, if a
good, well-flled pod is desired.
rule laid down by English gardeners
is, when peas are sown in the usual man
ner, the rows should be as far asunder
as the length of the stem of the variety
planted. Thus a pea that attains a
height of two feet should have two feet
from row to row, and so on to taller or
lower growing sorts.
For convenience, peas are classified by
seedsmen into three classes, viz, Extra
Early, Early, or Second Early, and Late
or General Crop.
EXTRA EARLY VARIETIES.
Carters First Crop is the earliest pea
III CI1tlfdtlOll. 1dIlbco ADT1l IL
bloomed May 25th, and was suitable for
picking June 10Th. For the kitchen
garden it cannot be too highly recon-
mended.
Caractacus--A variety very much re-
sembling the above, with trifie larger
pod, maturing three to five days later.
Philadelphia Extra Early.-Sown
April 9th, came into flower June LIST,
and matured a fine crop June 18th. Is
a great favorite with market gardeners.
McLean's Little Gem is, undoubtedly,
the finest garden pea now in cultivation.
Sown April 9th, lowered June 5th and
produced a large and perfect crop June
23rd. In its habit very dwarf and of
much superior flavor.
Ton Thumb.-An old and much es.
teemed favorite, dwarf variety yields
well and natures about same time as
Little Gem.
EARLY OR SECOND EARLY VARIETIES.
McLean's Advance is to be considered
sort; grows to about two feet in height
Sown in early part of June will mature
about July 1st.
Saxton's Prolific Long Pods very
productive long podded variety, often
having seven to ten peas in pod. Very
hardy and of fair quality; will mature
about July 4th.
Bishops Dwarf-Grows to height OF
about two feet, is of good quality and
very prolific.
LATE VARIETIES OR GENERAL CROP.
Dwarf Branching, or Waterloo Mar.
row, new English varie,y Of great
promise, very dwarf habits, productive,
and very fine flavor; natures about
middle of July.
Champion of England.-Is an old
time favorite, grows to height of four
to five feet; will mature heavy crop
by 18th to Goth of July, and is ALWAYS
sure to give satisfaction, where the gar
dener can procure brush to stick them.