Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-07-10
Green Peas.

We are so much of a connoisseur in this
vegetable that we never eat them on hotel
table. Green peas are but shadow, de-
fusion and snare when eaten the day after
they are picked from the vines. Like trout,
the shorter the time between the capture
and the eating, the better
In warm weather nothing replaces meat
diet better than green peas in abundance
and properly cooked. Most people plant too
few to allow themselves liberal supply. A
quart of seed is scanty allowance to fur
nish the table of small family. Better to
plant quart each of two or three different
varieties to succeed each other, thus securing
full supply for two months or more.
OF varieties, good in quality and abundant
in yield, there are considerable number, all
the leading seedsmen furnishing list of a
dozen or more to choose from. After try
ing great number of kinds we have settled
upon three that give us perfect satisfaction,
and supply our table during the whole of
the warm season, from the 18th of June to
the middle of September.
The first of these is the Magog Extra
Early" a sort originated by ourself from a
cross between the old 9" Dan O'Rourke" and
an English kind known as Carriers First
Crop" This produced pea earlier and
better than either of its parents, and equal to
"Dan O'Rourke in productiveness, while
of lower growth. This we have since again
crossed with the "Little GEN." which cross
without prejudice to its earliness and pro
ductiveness, has improved its sweetness and
delicacy of flavor. The "Magog Early" is
in season Of June 18th TO the 4th of July.
The "Little Gem is a dwarf English
variety, belonging to the green wrinklet
class, but much earlier than most of them
being ready to succeed the "Magog Early
about July lst 1t is very productive anC
SO dwarf that it may be grown in row
eighteen inches apart. Two paintings o
this variety about two weeks apart will
give peas until the middle of August.
There has been difficulty in growing lat
peas, owing to the mildew which attacks ant
ruins the vines, especially on light soils
But we have found an excellent variety o
the sugar pea class that perfectly resists tn
mildew, and yields the longest and fulles
pods, and the largest peas of any sort wit
which we are acquainted 1t usually come
into use the middle Of August, and cor
tinues good until the middle of September
1t is good variety ito plant with potatoes
putting two or three peas in hill, and a
lowing them to grow and support then
selves upon the potato vines, without stick
Neither the Magog Early" nor the "Littl
Gem" requires any support except upo
very rich and strong land, which is not th
best for peas.
AS rule, peas are not planted dee
enough, or thick enough in the row. On
light soil we never should plant less tina
four inches deep, and five or six inches
better. Strew the peas thickly in row
over surface three or four inches wide, an
not more than an inch apart. In this wa
quart will plant row from seventy-fye
one hundred feet long, and they will pod
full, or nearly as full, as when planted,
they usually are, in single row, two
three inches apart. From such row of Il
"Magog Early" from peck to half
bushel can be picked daily for two weel
and the same for the Little Gem"
Peas should not be heavily MANFRED wi
strong manure. 1t is better to plant the
on land well MANFRED the previous seasc
and give them liberal dressing of ashes
the drill at planting.
Never cook peas in an iron vessel, or
hard water. Boiled from twenty minutes
half an hour in bright tin pail and lit
soft water, then dished up, slightly salt
and well buttered, and you will have di
:" fit for the gods,' or, better still, for 20
Yankee citizens.