DESCRIPTIONS OF VARIETIES 



63 



seed mixtures have occurred, so that purification of each 

 variety would be necessary to re-establish the differences 

 between them. 



Giant Laxtonian, with us, gave pod measurements of 

 4 ' ( inches maximum length, ordinarily 3 :5 s to 3" s inches. 

 It is essentially identical with one or both of the 

 preceding. 



Marchioness (Ref. 53) originated with Sharpe and 

 was announced in 1913. It reached America by 1918 

 at latest, and has been considerably grown. Two 

 strains of it were grown here, both justifying the descrip- 

 tion " an early Gradus." 



In plant very similar to Early Morn, tho slightly shorter, 

 2 3 4 feet, without medial branches and with rather larger leaflets 

 and decidedly larger stipules, both light in color and decidedly 

 whitened; flowers at the 8th or 9th node in each variety, but much 

 whiter in Marchioness; pods single, on long, rather slender stalks, 

 some slightly longer than those of Early Morn, but averaging the 

 same for the general run, 3 to 3 3 s inches, of similar shape, but much 

 lighter in color; peas in two strains were dark green; seeds of one 

 strain nearly all light to medium green in color, but those from 

 another source were nearly all dark cream. The two lots varied 

 much in size, 83 and 126 to the ounce. 



Marchioness was quite early, coming between first 

 and seconds, and was also very productive. Were it 

 not for the rather light color of its pods and its height, 

 Marchioness would be one of the best peas of this group. 



Harvester (Ref. 54) apparently originated with 

 Ford, was sent out in small samples for trial in 1914, 

 and regularly listed in 1915 by several firms. As grown 

 here in recent tests it was mixed in type. 



In general dwarf, 1 3 4 to 2 feet, stout-stemmed, unbranched, 

 with foliage of Blue Bantam type, but rather smaller leaflets; 

 blossoming higher on the stem, 10th node, and with rather longer 

 and plumper pods, more abrupt at the end and containing more 

 and larger peas, usually indented by crowding; peas of fair color 

 and quality only; seeds rather small, 125 to the ounce, somewhat 

 coarsely wrinkled and mixed dark cream and light bluish green in 

 color. It was a second early or early midseason variety and gave 

 rather better than good yields. 



Progress (Ref. 58) originated with Laxton Bros, 

 and was introduced in 1922. It reached the United 

 States in 1924 and is already gaining popularity. It 

 promises to be, even for America, one of the best of this 

 group; as it is early, dwarf, productive, and has large, 

 attractive pods and very large peas of splendid quality. 

 It is not yet quite pure in type. 



May be distinguished from Peter Pan, to which it is most 

 similar, both bearing curved pods, by being at least a week earlier; 

 and from most of the other varieties by the curved pods, dwarfness 

 and earliness, united in none other of the group. The seeds of 

 Progress are exceptionally large, broadly oblong, compressed but 

 thick, with many more of medium green color than of cream color; 

 and well, but coarsely, wrinkled. 



Were it not for rather poor filling under some 

 conditions, Progress would undoubtedly become a 

 leading home-garden, as well as market-garden pea. 



Thos. Laxton introduced a Progress pea, of Ne 

 Plus Ultra type, fifty years before his successors gave 

 the name to the new variety described above. 



Onward and Trailblazer are new peas belonging 

 to this group; not yet sufficiently tested for accurate 

 description; nor have their histories been secured. 



BLUNT PODDED SECTION 



Thomas Laxton. This pea, as grown in America, 

 except on heavy soils and under favorable weather 

 conditions, would be classed here; but at its best here, 

 and in England, the plants are too tall for a dwarf or 

 semi-dwarf group; so Laxton is described under the Ne 

 Plus Ultras (p. 72). 



The leading varieties in this section are old and 

 very well known; but none is sufficiently characteristic 

 to be used for fundamental reference. They are York- 

 shire Hero, Horsford Market Garden and Sutton Excel- 

 sior; all characterized by large, blunt-ended pods, with 

 noticeable tips. 



Satisfaction. Refs. 63; Ann. Hort. 103. 1889. 

 Satisfaction was introduced about 1844, by Sutton; 

 and brought to America in 1889 by Johnson & Stokes. 

 In spite of its age it was given an Award of Merit in 

 1916 by the Royal Horticultural Society, is still listed 

 in America, and was grown in our recent tests. 



In plant much like Sutton Excelsior, but in pod and pea very 

 much larger' rather taller, 2 feet, with less abundant foliage, less 

 whitened, the leaflets occasionally in 2s only; pods uneven, averag- 

 ing 3 7 g to 4 1 , inches, with some a quarter inch longer or more than 

 half an inch shorter, very broad, fairly plump, straight or very 

 slightly curved, with short-rounded ends and small tips, dark green 

 in color; peas 6 to 8 in well-filled pods, very uniform, medium to 

 large, round or slightly indented, oval, light green, of good quality, 

 seeds as sown large, round, oval or almost cubical, not deeply 

 indented and about equally cream and green — as harvested much 

 larger, more oblong, more flattened, and practically all good medium 

 to dark green in color. 



Satisfaction was not ready until late midseason, and did not 

 give a good crop, tho elsewhere reported as yielding well, as it must 

 have done to hold place so long. In England it bears paired pods 

 but rarely does so in the United States. 



McLean Best of All. Refs. 65; Thorburn Cat. 

 1873; Hogg Gard. Yr. Bk. 14:99. 1873. McLean 

 Best of All was introduced in 1870 or 1871 by Dr. 

 McLean and apparently was soon handled by other 

 seedsmen. It came to America very promptly as it 

 was listed in 1873. It is quite distinct from Sutton Best 

 of All, but as both peas were handled by the same firm, 

 the synonymy has become much confused. McLean Best 

 of All was grown at this Station in 1884, but was not 

 found for our recent trials. 



In the 1884 test it was 2 to 3 feet tall, with stocky stem, short 

 internodes, basal and medial branches, deep green foliage decidedly 

 whitened, glaucous on stipules, pods frequently paired, 2 to 3 

 inches long, slightly recurved, short-rounded at the ends, lighter 

 green than foliage, and containing 4 to 6 whitish green, oblong, 

 somewhat compressed peas; seeds quite large, 72 to the ounce 

 cream to very pale green in color and much wrinkled. The variety 

 was prolific, very late, and matured rather slowly. The pods in 

 English and French references are described as much longer; so 

 the variety is placed in this large-podded group. 



Hogg groups this with McLean's Premier, but says 

 plant is not as robust nor pods as large. 



Yorkshire Hero. Refs. 66-72; Country Gent. 

 37:134. 1872. Hogg Gard. Yr. Bk. 14:109. 1873. 

 A few references where height is given as 3 Jo to 4J^ 

 feet, would place this pea in the Ne Plus Ultra Group; 

 but most English figures and all American ones, make it 

 a dwarf or semi-dwarf pea; so it is included here. York- 



