MONTHLY CALENDAR. 



365 



1044. A further experiment was undertaken in 1850, under the direction of 

 Mr. Thomson, when 235 varieties of seeds were sown at the same time and 

 under the same circumstances. Out of this number he selected twenty-seven 

 sorts. These he reduces to eleven varieties, which he recommends for 

 general use. These are : — 



1. Prince Albert, — a white pea, which he 

 classes with Early Kent, Early Hesse, 

 Early Warwick, and Early May, as 

 synonymes lor Early Frame. 



2. D'Auverfrne, — already described. 



3. Dumas' Monastery, — a white pea, 4^ 

 ft. ; a good second crop pea, of medium 

 size. 



4. Bishop's New Long-pod, — an abundant 

 bearer, 2 ft. high, producing a succes- 

 sion of pods, and valuable for small 

 gardens. 



5. Fairbairn's Surprise, — a profitable 

 pea for second crop, 5^ ft. high, pods 

 thick, round, with seven to nine bluish 



6. Victoria Marrow, — an excellent pea for 



principal crop, 5J feet high, pods 4 

 inches, iu pairs, with seven to eight large 

 bluish peas ; one of the best bearers. 



7. Bedman's Imperial, — a very prolific 

 pea, 3 ft. high ; a large bluish pea, er- 

 cellent for green-pea soup. 



8. Flack's New Large Victory, — muchliko 

 the last. 



9. Knight's Tall Marrow, — already de- 

 scribed. 



10. Fairbairn's Champion, — a fine wrinkled 

 pea, 5 to 6 ft. high, seven and eight large 

 bluish-green peas, and very early. 



11. Knight's DwarfMaiTow, — alarge bluish 

 green pea, six in a pod, 3 to 4 feet high, 

 sugary, and excellent flavour. 



1045. Subsequent experiments, and criticism upon them, leave the question 

 as follows : — 



1046. Early Peas. — Essex champion, Wai-ner's early emperor, Warner's 

 eai'ly conqueror, early Bedalian, early railway, and the eai'ly wonder, may be 

 considered as identical. Warner's early emperor is stronger and taller than 

 the early Kent, not quite so early ; but a few days earlier than the early May. 

 Danecroft rival, Danecroft early green, Tarne's Conservative green marrow, 

 and the transparent pea, are the same. 



1047. -^^'^ Peas. — Of fifteen varieties (so called by the seedsmen), the fol- 

 lowing appear to be the best, as proved in the Horticultural Society's Garden : 

 American dwarf, sown April 6, fit for use July 8 ; about a foot and a half in 

 height, a good bearer, ripening about ten days later than Bishop's long-pod. 

 Stubbs's or Burbridge's eclipse, sown April 6, fit for use July 12 ; a good 

 dwarf for its season, having the peas larger than any other variety equally 

 dwarf. Hunter's new marrow, sown April 6, fit for use July 18 ; larger than 

 Knight's dwarf marrow, and of very sugary quality ; a good bearer. Hair's 

 dwarf green mammoth marrow, 2^ feet high, sown March 11, in full flower 

 June 24 ; six peas in a pod, of large size and full flavour ; first gathering 

 July 10 ; the most prolific and best. In some experiments undertaken by 

 Mr. Mcintosh at Dalkeith Palace, he reports the blue Prussian, early 

 Charlton, and one or two of the old sorts, as unsurpassed, and adds to the 

 list, as excellent sorts :— 



British Queen, — 4 to 5 ft.; pods large, 

 seven very large peas, sometimes a single 

 one l^inch circumference. 



Hair's Defiance, Knight's Marrow, — 4 ft.; 

 should be planted 4 to 6 inches apart in 

 rows, and -i-foot rows ; a large profitable 

 pea, and long-bearing. 



Tall Crooked Sugar Skinless Pea, with 



great pod, — a rambling sort. 

 Sutton's Early Goliath,— a large-pod pea, 



resembling Knight's Marrow, 4 ft. 



high. 



