REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES. 319 



Thomas Laxton, of England, and is a cross between the celebrated 

 Champion of England, and the large Blue Imperial. The vines 

 grow from three to three and a half feet high, are immensely 

 strong and stocky, and have a branching habit, bearing continuously 

 pods of the largest size, each containing from eight to twelve 

 large wrinkled peas which are unusually rich, tender, and fine 

 flavored. The pods are from five to six inches in length, of a 

 beautiful deep green color, and hang in clusters of two and three 

 on the vine. Owing to their branching habit less seed is required 

 to plant a row than of the common sorts, and a single sowing will 

 continue to bear for ten or twelve weeks. In planting, the distance 

 apart of the peas in a row should be not less than four inches. 

 As a new variety this certainly promises to be particularly valuable 

 for the kitchen garden, on account of the length of time it con- 

 tinues in bearing, as well as for its size and excellent quality. At 

 the weekly exhibitions the leading varieties have been American 

 Wonder, Stratagem, and Advancer, and these vax'ieties have taken 

 the prizes. 



The weekly shows have been well attended, and the displays of 

 the various vegetable productions during the entire season were 

 especially noteworthy, both as regards their quantity and quality. 

 Competition for the prizes has been more spirited than usual, and 

 quite a number of new contributors have entered the lists during 

 the year. Nearly all the prizes have been awarded. 



Among the novelties introduced the past season we note as 

 worthy of particular mention, Dreer's Earh' Golden Cluster Wax 

 Pole bean, which, on account of its many good qualities, we feel 

 assured has come to stay. It is distinct in habit of growth and in 

 seed from the Giant Red Wax, and in earliness surpasses all 

 other pole beans. The pods, which are of a rich golden yellow, 

 retain their tender qualities long after the beans have acquired a 

 large size, so that only a few days elapse, after they cease to be 

 fit for string beans, before they may be used to shell. The pods 

 are from six to eight inches long, of large size, and are borne pro- 

 fusely in large clusters of from three to six ; each pod containing 

 from six to eight medium sized beans somewhat resembling the 

 Lima and equally good in quality as a shell bean. As a string 

 bean it snaps easily, is stringless, cooks tender and is of delicate 

 flavor. The beans, the past season, although not planted until the 

 first of June, were large enough for use by the middle of July, 



