:8 7 o.] NOTES ON THE NEWER PEAS. 413 



NOTES ON" THE NEWER PEAS. 

 There are a few new or at least reputed new varieties which I 

 have seen growing this season that are well worthy of being recom- 

 mended. In describing these I will so arrange them as that the 

 order of their bearing shall be observed. 



Of the Ringleader type, and as representing the very earliest, one 

 called Caractacus (Waite & Co.) appears to be about the very best. 

 Rather more robust in growth and a better bearer than Ringleader, it 

 has also the advantage of larger and better-filled pods. A comparison 

 between the pods of each gave a larger average of peas in a given 

 number of pods in the case of Caractacus than in those of Ringleader. 

 Advancer (Maclean), a pea now getting pretty well known, is a fine 

 early wrinkled marrow of first-class quality and a great cropper. It 

 grows about 2J feet, and comes in as quickly as some of the reputed 

 earlyk inds. Essex Rival (Eley) is a most useful second early pea, 

 growing from 3 to 3J feet, and cropping heavily. It, however, lacks 

 the fine quality of flavour of the wrinkled varieties. Little Gem 

 (Maclean) is a very dwarf -growing variety, well adapted for forcing 

 or for early work. In height about 12 inches, it can be planted closely, 

 and it crops well. It is a wrinkled marrow of fine flavour. A little 

 taller, a little more robust in growth, and a rather better cropper, yet in 

 other respects exactly like it, is Multum-in-Parvo (Nutting). Either 

 one or the other should be grown in all large establishments. Wonder- 

 ful (Maclean) is another very useful and prolific Pea, growing about 

 3 feet, and a wrinkled marrow. As a cottager's Pea it can scarcely be 

 surpassed for general usefulness. Premier (Maclean), Veitch's Per- 

 fection, and the Prince (Stuart & Mein), are three fine main-crop 

 Peas somewhat similar in character, and give a good succession. 

 Premier is the earliest, and the Prince the latest. Laxton's Alpha 

 sent out as a new variety for the first time last season, is A 1 in 

 quality, very early — within three or four days of Ringleader ; a great 

 cropper and of fine quality. This bids fair to become a standard first 

 early Pea. Laxton's Supreme I am somewhat disappointed with as 

 it has not proved so early as it was said to be. The pods are very fine 

 and it is a grand Pea for the exhibition-table. Hundredfold or Cook's 

 Favourite, a round olive-coloured Pea sent out by Messrs Carter & Co. 

 for the first time a short period since, is a wonderful cropper, of fine 

 quality, and a thoroughly good late variety. 



The foregoing sorts I have had an opportunity of testing during the 

 past summer, and what I have set down concerning them is, to my 

 mind, a fair estimate of their true characters. Nemo. 



