PEAS AND BEANS AS PROFIT- 

 ABLE CROPS 



IMPROVEMENTS WHICH PROMISE MUCH 



A VERY good illustration of directive 

 plant breeding is furnished by the case of 

 the Empson peas. 



This was a case in which I received an order 

 for the development of a new variety of pea that 

 would fulfill certain definite specifications, some- 

 what as a manufacturer of cloth or of electric 

 dynamos or of machinery of any sort might re- 

 ceive an order for a new product to meet a special 

 condition. 



It is gratifying to record that I was able to 

 meet the specifications, and "deliver the goods," 

 as a manufacturer might say, as accurately 

 and satisfactorily as if the product had been 

 one to be turned out by factory machinery 

 instead of by selective breeding of a living- 

 plant. 



The specifications were these: A productive 

 variety that shall mature all its pods at the same 



129 



5 Vol. 5 Bur. 



