EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 411 



PEAS. 



Fifty-six varieties were tested. These included most of the new varie- 

 ties and many standard sorts. Considerable attention was paid to 

 classifying the varieties. Those that were known to be of the same season 

 and the same manner of growth were planted close together for conven- 

 ience in comparison. 



On May 10 the seeds were sown, two hundred seeds of each variety be- 

 ing planted in double rows ten feet long. After the vines were well up, 

 all but one hundred were removed and the remaining vines were supported 

 by a woven wire trellis. The season was favorable for a good test, although 

 the hot weather hastened the maturity of the late varieties. 



When the pods were in an edible condition, they were picked and the 

 data for "the last three columns of the table were obtained from them. 



Among the smooth, white, early varieties there is but little choice. The 

 Bergen Fleetwing was the most prolific, but the pods were small. Maud 

 S and Extra Early had the best filled pods. In earliness, there appeared 

 to be no choice. 



Following these varieties very closely are several blue peas. Although 

 edible in from forty-nine to fifty-one days, they were about four days 

 behind the first-early kinds in market maturity and in ripening. 



Between the Alaska, Clipper, and Lightning there appeared to be no 

 difference. Of these the table shows the Clipper to be the best, although, 

 as they grew, no choice was noted. Of these second-early peas the Blue 

 Beauty easily stands at the head. It is a dwarf, stocky grower, productive 

 of medium-size well-filled pods. Universal, a new variety of dwarf 

 habit, is fairly promising. The pods are small and rather variable. 

 Chelsea differs from the Premium Gem in the color of the peas and 

 slightly in the appearance of the leaves. McLean's Little Gem belongs in 

 this season. The pods are of good size and the peas are of good quality. 

 It is well known and planted everywhere. Kentish Invicta is a very pro- 

 lific variety, but its pods ran very small at the last. Wm. Hurst with- 

 stood the hot weather well. The pods were crisp and the peas were very 

 sweet, but the vine was unproductive. 



Exonian, a new kind imported into this country, is a day or so later 

 than the above varieties. It is fairly promising, but did not withstand the 

 heat as did the native sorts. Early May, a new variety, was said to be as 

 early as the American Wonder, but it was much later. The pods are 

 mostly borne profusely in pairs, and all reach maturity nearly at the same 

 time. It fills the season very nicely between the second-early and the 

 mid-season kinds. Petit Pois is a new variety introduced from France as 

 of the highest quality. The vines are slim, medium tall, and very pro- 

 ductive of rather small but closely filled pods. The peas are very delicious 

 until full grown, when they rapidly harden. Profusion is a good variety 

 for this season; its pods ran rather small at the last picking. 



Following these varieties come those that are known as the mid-season 

 kinds, most of which have larger pods than those preceding. Among 

 these varieties there are a large number that are so nearly alike in growth, 

 pod, and season, that if a grower had one of them he would not need any 

 of the others. 



Belonging in one class are the Stratagem, Juno, Stanley, Shropshire 



