The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-02-16
FARM AND GARDEN.
Garden Peas.


A correspondent of the Prairie Farmer
says
1t 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. My
object is, in this short article, to only
mention few varieties, and such as we
know to be No. |.
The use of the pea in this country is
becoming more and more common, and
the smallest garden without 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 warm
sheltered situation on the southern side
of a garden feuce, or south slope OF hill
side.
A pint of seed will sow 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
ence, | should say, never cover the seed
less than three inches in depth, and for
the later and larger sorts, not less than
four inches will be found too much, if a
good, well-filled pod is desired.
A 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.
Carriers First Crop is the earliest pea
doomed 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 lst
and matured 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 9Th and
produced large and perfect crop June
23rd In its habit very dwarf ard OF
much superior flavor
Tom 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
the best of this class a fine wrinkled
sort; grows to about two feet in height
Sown in early part of June will mature
about July LIST.
Saxton's Prolific Long Pod.-ls a 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 a height o.
about two feet, is of good quality and
very prolific.
LATE VARIETIES OR GENERAL CROP.
Dwarf Branching, or Waterloo Mar
row, new English variety of great
promise, very dwarf habits, productive
and very fine flavor natures about
middle OF July.
Champion of England.-Is an ole
time favorite, grows to height of foul
TO five feet; will mature heavy croT
by 18th to 20th of July, and is always
sure to give satisfaction, where the gar
4. Il. Al