New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 527 
days and they also gave a slightly larger yield. ‘‘ This difference 
was more noticeable while the plants were growing than after they 
had ripened their crop.” 
In the Third Report”” a monograph is given of the garden peas. 
In the introduction we are told that there are three botanical 
species to which our agricultural peas may be credited: First, 
Pisum sativum, the common garden pea which may be known by 
its white or bluish white flowers and by a thin but tenacious lining 
to the pods. Second, P. macrocarpon, frequently called sugar pea, 
but inappropriately, since these peas really contain less sugar than 
those of the previous species. There is no lining to the pods as in 
the P. sativum and consequently varieties of this species are fre- 
quently eaten, pod and all, after the manner of string beans. Third, 
P. arvense, the field pea, having reddish purple or variegated flowers 
and a parchment-like lining to the pods similar to the P. sativum. 
The first species mentioned is of greatest importance horticulturally, 
its varieties being much more numerous than the others. The 
varieties of this species are subdivided first, according to stature, 
whether dwarf or standard; second, according to color of seed; 
and third, according to whether the seed be wrinkled or smooth. 
Ninety-eight varieties are included, many of which are now either 
out of cultivation or passing under different names. 
. The next year the vegetable selected for study was lettuce. The 
treatment here is quite similar to that given peas. Of 200 differ- 
ently named varieties tested during three seasons, eighty-seven are 
described as being apparently distinct. The writer states: “We 
scarcely hope the classification and descriptions which we here pre- 
sent will enable one unacquainted with the characters of the lettuce 
plant to name a given variety with ease and certainty. The most 
we dare to hope is, that with the help of these it may be possible 
to decide with some degree of certainty whether or not a given 
lettuce is true to the name which it bears.” It is said that in work 
of this kind it is quite necessary that the plants be some distance 
apart so that each may assume its own individual character as dis- 
tinct varieties are frequently difficult to separate when the plants 
are crowded together. This work seems particularly valuable in 
that before the description of each variety a list of synonyms is 
given with the name of the seedsman using each synonym. 
* Rpt. 3:228 (1884). 
* Rpt. 4:156 (188s). 
