Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-06-16


Europe, where it is extensively culti-
vated, especially IN the French prov
inces. The flower is generally white,
though some unusual species bear deep
pink, or red blossom. There are five
principal and quite distinct forms of the
common pea. They are the Saccharatuns
(Seringe), or sugar pea; the Macrocdr-
pun, or large-stem pea the Una5ellatuna,
or English crown pea; the Quada-dtstBa,
or French pea, and the Httnile. or dwarf
pea. From these have sprung many
varieties, which are scattered through
out the world. Of some twenty varie-
ties grown in Europe only five are espe-
eeially recommended as profitable to the
agricglturist. They are the "Eerly
Fame the ls'Charton," (" the "Blue Prus-
sian Imperial.s the "Blue Imperial
Dwarf and ''Knightis Marrowfat.
Peas were first brought, 10 this coun-
try by the Huguenot refugees, and have
ever since been cultivated more or less
extensively in the district lying between
New York and South Carolina, though
they may be grown in any part of the
United States where the soil is suitable,
except in the extreme South, where the
climate is too hot. There are several
varieties grown here, but the most com
mon are the sDan O'Rourke," early
June," "Blue Imperial" 'tChampion of
England and 'Marrowfats, the latter be-
ing generally acknowledged the favor
tie from their tender, succulent proper
ties.
The nutritious quality of peas is not
so fully known as it should be. There
is perhaps no vegetable grown SO rich
in those properties which tend to sup.
port human life. An analysis of 1000
parts pea -four gives the following re-
suits:
574 nutritive matter.
353 mucilage.
% sugar.
35 gluten.
16 insoluble extract.
Although there is quite number of
packers engaged in canning peas, and
although the quantity packed is increas-
ing yearly, yet so far the chief labor in
volved in the operation of shelling
lis done entirely by hand, some pack
ers employing at times as high as one
thousand shelters. 1t is therefore rea-
sonable to suppose that ingenuity will
ere long devise some means by which peas
may be expeditiously shelled through
the agency Of machinery. When this
occurs we may expect much lower prices
than has heretofore characterized this
article.
After the. peas are shelled they are
passed thrdRgh screens, by which the
different sizes are separated, the small
est being classed as Extra Early, and
Sifted, and command by far the best
price. After being sorted they are placed
in perforated buckets and immersed IN
boiling water. When partially cooked
they are put in cans, and again placed
in boiling water The cans are then re.
moved and the caps soldered on. They
then undergo processing in steam re-
torts or kettles. When this operation
is completed they are removed and
placed in the warehouse, where they re-
main ten or twelve days; when, after
being found in good condition, they are
labeled and packed IN cases, ready fol
shipment.
Much care lately has been exercised
in this country in the selection Of stock
and the quality of domestic canned peal
has become SO excellent that the impor
tation of the French article is said tx
have fallen off fully eighty per cent.
our extra sifted being regarded by ex
perts as fully equal, if not superior, K
the very best imported.
Within few years the expectation 0
dried apples from this country to Franc
has enormously increased. 1t is nov
said that considerable part of this use
full product comes back in the form D
Normandy cider and light claret Lat
frosts are reported to have injured tn
French apple crop, and Of course thi
country will be expected to supply tn
deficiency, in accordance with the usua
custom of providing for the world
wants. Baltimore Sun.