t._

_Gathering._--The crop should be gathered as it becomes fit for use. If
even a few of the pods begin to ripen, young pods will not only cease to
form, but those partly advanced will cease to enlarge.

_Use._--"In a sanitary point of view, pease cannot be eaten too young,
nor too soon after they are gathered; and hence people who depend on the
public markets for their supply seldom have this very popular vegetable
in perfection, and too often only when it is almost unfit for use. This
is a formidable objection to the use of pease brought from long
distances. It is, of course, for the interest of the producer to keep
back his pease till they are fully grown, because they measure better,
and, we believe, by many are purchased quicker, as they get greater bulk
for their money. This may be so far excusable on the part of such: but
it is inexcusable that a gentleman, having a garden of his own, should
be served with pease otherwise than in the very highest state of
perfection; which they are not, if allowed to become too old, or even
too large."--_M'Int._

"Pease, in a green state, are with difficulty sent to a distance, as,
when packed closely together, heat and fermentation speedily take place.
This is one of the causes why pease from the South, or those brought by
long distances to market, are discolored, devoid of flavor, and, worst
of all, very unwholesome to eat. Pease intended for long transportation
should be packed in open baskets (not in boxes or tight barrels), and
laid in layers not more than two inches thick; and, between such
layers, a thick stratum of clean straw or other dry material should be
placed."

_Varieties._--These are very numerous, and, like those of the Broccoli
Lettuce, not only greatly confused, but often based on trifling and
unimportant distinctions.

From experiments made a few years since in the gardens of the London
Horticultural Society, under the direction of Mr. Thompson, who planted
no less than two hundred and thirty-five reputed sorts (all of which
were then enumerated in seedsmen's catalogues), only twenty-seven of the
number were selected as being really useful. About the same time,
upwards of a hundred sorts were grown by Mr. M'Intosh, from which twelve
were selected as being truly distinct and valuable.

"New sorts are yearly introduced: and it would be injudicious not to
give them a fair trial; for as we progress in pea-culture, as in every
other branch of horticulture,