PEAS AND BEANS 131 



The American public developed a liking for 

 these small peas, and a willingness to pay more 

 for them than for the larger ones, but no Ameri- 

 can canner could profitably duplicate them in size 

 and quality. 



The American canners are themselves con- 

 vinced that peas of medium size are really better; 

 and they were desirous that the public should 

 have what it wanted. 



So it came about that I received a letter from 

 the management of the canning company asking 

 me to undertake the work of developing a pea 

 that would meet the specifications as to size, 

 and yet would mature in such quantities and 

 with such uniformity that there would not be 

 great loss in handling, as there would be if 

 the pods matured as then grown at different 

 times. 



The reason that this specification* is imperative 

 is that peas for canning, according to modern 

 methods, are not gathered by hand. Indeed they 

 are not touched with the hand at any stage of 

 their existence, even in planting. The crop must 

 be ready all at once, because the vines themselves 

 are harvested. A machine is drawn along the 

 rows cutting off the roots about an inch under- 

 ground, and raking four rows together in a 

 windrow. 



