100 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



First of All, tliouiili wo cannot say that their presence in either 

 group is conclusively proven. In the opinion of the writer 

 only the growing of these lines in greater nunihers, for a period 

 of two or tlire(! years under the most uniform conditions possi- 

 hle, can determine whether they are homogeneous or arc, like 

 Excelsior I., made up of distinct strains. 



Discussion of the Results. 



This work deals with two somewhat distinct characters of the 

 garden pea, — vegetative vigor as expressed by vine length and 

 the reproductive power as expressed by the number of pods per 

 vine. The former seems much the more stable character, while 

 the latter is extremely variable and much the subject of environ- 

 mental influences. Vine length is, therefore, more dependable 

 in studying heredity. The figures for vine length seem to indi- 

 cate that some and perhaps all varieties of garden peas are 

 composed of strains which have different hereditary vine lengths, 

 which is in harmony with much of the recent investigation along 

 these lines. They do not, in the opinion of the writer, indicate 

 that the progeny of each individual under observation form 

 distinct units which may be distinguished from each other, but 

 rather that there are comparatively few distinguishable units 

 composed of individuals of equal hereditary value to be found 

 within the limits of what we commonly understand as a garden 

 variety. 



This work indicates nothing as to the origin or permanency of 

 these units or strains. They may have arisen by mutation, by 

 a gradual differentiation or In' hybridization ; they may endure 

 permanently or they may not. It will require much further 

 investigation to settle these questions. 



It is a little unfortunate that no records of the number and 

 length of internodes have been kept, for they would probal)ly 

 throw light on certain questions of ])roductivenes3. Each node, 

 excepting possibly the lower ones, may be considered a possible 

 location for a pod. It is probable that whether or not a pod is 

 produced from any given node is entirely a matter of environ- 

 ment. We see no reason to believe that the number of pods per 

 vine is in itself inherited in any degree. Vine length and pre- 



