Peas should be planted among the earliest of seeds. They are a hardy
vegetable, and will bear severe frosts in the spring without injury. A
light, sandy soil is the best. If manured, let only the most
thoroughly rotted be used. Two sorts of peas are sufficient for all
ordinary purposes—one early kind, and one for the later and main
supply. The number of kinds advertised by seedsmen is very great, and
every year adds to the new varieties. Many of them are of little
value, and many, hitherto esteemed, are supplanted by better ones. The
Early Warwick and Cedo Nulli are fine early peas, unsurpassed till the
Prince Albert appeared. This is now esteemed the earliest of peas,
ripening at Boston in fifty-three days from the time of sowing, and in
England in forty-two days. We hope to be able, soon, to have this
variety for distribution. Early peas are seldom of high flavor; none
that we ever raised are comparable to the larger and later peas, and
it is, therefore, except for market purposes, not desirable to plant
very largely of early sorts.
Of late peas we have, after trying many sorts, fallen back upon the
old-fashioned _Marrowfat_, and now raise it exclusively. It will be
fit for the table in from seventy to eighty days after planting.
_Knight’s tall marrowfat_ is recommended in Hovey’s Magazine (a
standard authority), as of “delicious quality and producing throughout
the whole season.” We have never had an opportunity of proving it.
We prefer _buying_ our seed to _raising_ it. In this region the
pea-bug pierces every seed-pea, and, although the germ is not usually
destroyed by this depredator, the seed is weakened, and the certainty
of growth very much diminished. If one _must_ plant buggy peas, let
them have _scalding_ water poured upon them and turned off again
immediately. The bug will be destroyed and the pea not injured.
When peas are up they require but one or two hoeings, as they soon
shade the ground so as to prevent weeds from growing. They should be
well supplied with brush, strongly set in the ground. When peas are
allowed to fall over, they become mildewed and rot. This also happens
when the rows are planted so near together as to prevent free
circulation of air.
When large quantities of peas are desired they should be sown
broad-cast, at the rate of about three bushels to the acre—more rather
than less. It leaves the land in fine tilth, smothering all weeds.
Thirty bushels to the acre is a fair crop; but eighty-four, and
eighty-eight, have been taken.
* * * * *
AUTUMN-PLANTED ONIONS.—Onions for seed should be planted in October;
and, like their more brilliant, but less perfumed, friends of the
tulip and hyacinth connections, they will thoroughly root themselves
during the autumn and mild winter weather, and be ready for early
work, the moment the frost rises from the ground.