338 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Nott's Excelsior.— An introduction of a few years ago wbicli promises well; lar- 

 ger pods, and more prolific than American Wonder, but a few days later; quality 

 about tlie same. 



SYNONYMS. 



Trobably no garden plant is more difficult to study in regard to synonomy than 

 the pea. Varieties are characterized almost entirely by qualities which are varia- 

 ble at best. Height of A^ne, color of pea, shape of pod, smoothness of seed, are 

 characteristics upon which classification must depend; yet they are not always 

 constant, and this nialces an accurate synopsis diflicult. Add to this the haste of 

 seedsmen in securing so-called new varieties, the variation of varieties on different 

 soils and under different cultivation, the mixing of stock by careless or unscrupu- 

 lous seedsmen, and the taslv of determining duplicates becomes exceedingly difficult. 

 But when seedsmen are annually introducing great numbers of new varieties 

 it becomes important that garden nomenclature should be exact. Inexperienced 

 buyers need a guide, that they may not purchase old varieties at fancy prices under 

 a new name. 



Old marliet gardeners know well that seedsmen constantly transfer names for 

 the smooth, round, early pea generally known as First and Best, that pea being 

 now known under nearly a score of different names. Other well-known varieties 

 have their names less frequently transferred. The same pea from different seeds- 

 men often varies as much as different peas from the same seedsmen. Varieties 

 differ somewhat from year to year and in different places, if descriptions 

 given are accurate. Modifications are often slight and variable, making a cer- 

 tain strain differ from another in some minor characteristic, which soon disap- 

 pears, so that it is almost impossible to distinguish many market varieties from a 

 written description, and one can hardly ever be sure that his varieties are true to 

 name. In order to be sure of the identity of a variety the grower must raise it in 

 considerable quantity for several seasons, observing closely those characteristics 

 which are constant. 



It is at once apparent that in determining synonyms there are many chances of 

 error, and if the expert gardener can not endorse the disposition of varieties in the 

 foregoing selection, he will bear in mind the difficulties to be surmounted, and that 

 he can obtain some good from it. It may aid him somewhat in selecting a desir- 

 able strain, as undoubtedly he can choose from a few varieties better than from 

 many. 



For home use it is a good practice to plant one of the early blue varieties as soon 

 as the ground can be worked; then, about ten days later, plant Premium Gem, 

 Advancer, and Champion of England. These peas follow each other so closely in 

 the order named that they will afford a constant supply for three or four weeks. 

 Additional plantings of Champion of England or other good late varieties may be 

 made at intervals after the second planting. The varieties here named may not be 

 absolutely the best, but they are all good, and experience has proved that they can 

 be trusted to come into bearing in such regular succession as to make the supply 

 continuous. For home use an early pea is wanted, and one that will continue to 

 supply the table for some time. Fine flavor is essential and productiveness of less 

 importance. The early market pea sold by every seedsman need not be planted 

 in the home garden, as the market gardener wants a pea that is early and matures 

 its crop all at once, so that he can clear the ground and prepare for a succession. 



It will pay those who are fond of green peas to use a spot otherwise vacant for 

 sowing a crop of Premium Gem peas witli a succession a few days later. The 

 chief trouble will be with mildew, and if they escape that, the crop is reasonably 

 sure. 



PEA MILDEW. 



Late peas, especially when grown in damp ground, are often so badly mildewed 

 that it is not worth while growing them. The pea mildew is one of the powdery 

 mildews, Erysiplie communis, belonging to the same family as the powdery mildew 

 of the grape. It grows entirely on the surface of the host plant, covering it with 

 a white coating of delicate, interwoven fungous threads. At certain points pro- 

 tuberances appear on the threads, which serve as suckers, drawing from the cells 

 the nourishment required for the growth of the fungus. The spores are produced 



