64 Bulletin 127. 



we used last year (although it was iu better condition), and Mr. 

 Wyman has again taken notes, Mr. Hutchins, C. C. Morse & 

 Co. and the Sunset Seed and Plant Co., supplied us most gener- 

 ously with seeds and have been most helpful with suggestions. 



It may be well to repeat that these estimates of the varieties of 

 sweet peas are those which have been formed solely from a most 

 careful study in the experiment patch at Ithaca. We did not 

 make the experiment as a mere variety test, and we do not care 

 whether anyone accepts our estimates of varieties or not. We 

 have tried to write the truth as we have been able to see it, hoping 

 that the record may be a contribution to the history of the evo- 

 lution of the sweet pea. The lists are capable of showing the 

 student how far the flower has been developed, and what measure 

 of satisfaction he may expect in the growing of it. Neither are 

 we desirous of breeding new varieties. That is not our mission, 

 and there are others who can do it much better. We have made 

 a record of what the flower is and what may be expected of it ; 

 and now we must hurry on, for we have lots to do. 



Our peas were sown April 20, upon a clay loam which is low 

 enough to keep moist through the season. Until the plants 

 began to bloom freely, the land was kept in a thorough state of 

 tillage. Fig. 22 shows the plantation as it looked July 20, before 

 the heaviest bloom had appeared. In this plantation, 176 separate 

 samples of peas were grown. The study of these peas was put in 

 the hands of two mature and capable students, Mr. Wyman did 

 the greater part of the work upon the former test. During the 

 present season he represented us at the sweet pea show at Spring- 

 field, Mass. , whence we sent a collection of blooms representing the 

 common run of the plantation, Mr. Kains is a post-graduate 

 student in the College of Agriculture. The work of these young 

 men has been carefully supervised, and I endorse the results, 

 although, of course, it is impossible for any two persons to arrive 

 at identical conclusions respecting the merits of given varieties. 

 We have no further information to give for the cultivation of 

 sweet peas than was given in our former bulletin, except to say 

 that the ground may easily be made too rich for them. Several 

 persons complained to me last year that their sweet peas grew 

 luxuriantly but did not bloom. They had used too freely of 



