DESCRIPTIONS OF VARIETIES 



71 



Ultra; and others say Magnum Bonum was Cullingford s; 

 so the three names may apply to one pea. The two 

 varieties are, at least, very similar; and the descriptions 

 given do not permit separation. Sutton's and Ambler's 

 Magnum Bonums of later date were quite different; but 

 are probably the varieties grown in America under the 

 name. 



W Plus Ultra. Refs. 4 11; Burr Fid. Gard. Veg. 

 544. 1863; Hogg Gard. Yr. Bk. 14:103. 1873. The 

 origin of Ne Plus Ultra is unknown; but Thos. Andrew 

 Knight's name is associated with it in one advertise- 

 ment; Knight's Albert Edward is given as a synonym, 

 and the variety is said to be " very close to Knight 

 Dwarf Green Marrow." It was apparently first adver- 

 tised by Brownlees in 1845, and a later reference says 

 it was introduced under several names in successive 

 seasons between 1837 and 1847. Gen. Wyndham is 

 generally given as a synonym of Ne Plus Ultra but 

 Hogg says it was produced from that variety tho a 

 much more vigorous grower, with much larger pods 

 and a longer season. In America Ne Plus Ultra was 

 described by Burr in 1863, listed in the United States 

 Patent Office Report for 1865, noticed in a rural publi- 

 cation in 1870, tested by the United States Department 

 of Agriculture in 1904, and grown by one of the leading 

 seed-pea firms in 1907. It was not grown at the Station 

 during its early years but was included here for the 

 World's Fair display in 1893, when found tall, vigorous, 

 of good quality, late. It was not found listed in America 

 during our recent trials but seed of it was sent here from 

 British Columbia and from Idaho. 



In England Ne Plus Ultra grows very tall, sometimes TV2 

 feet, but here it seldom exceeded 4j-£ feet; stems slender, round at 

 the base but enlarged and angular above, with long internodes 

 and moderately prominent nodes, occasionally branched below the 

 flowering node, 10th- foliage abundant, light green, almost bloom- 

 less and little whitened, with non-characteristic leaflets in 4s and 5s, 

 and much larger, round-tipped stipules with shallow teeth at the 

 base, and clasping the stem deeply; pods single or in pairs on long 

 slender stalks, 3 to 3 3 s inches long, occasionally 3 3 4, with long 

 sepals, broad, only moderately plump, oval to flat in cross section, 

 straight, almost blunt at the ends or rarely square, with small 

 recurved tips, smooth or slightly wrinkled when ready to pick, 

 good dark green in color, with heavy bloom giving a grayish cast, 

 holding freshness well; peas 3 to 7, large, oval to long-oblong usu- 

 ally separated in the pod, smooth coated, dark green in color and of 

 splendid quality; Idaho seeds were much smaller than those from 

 British Columbia and all cream colored, the other being one-third 

 green. These differences practically disappeared in the crop seeds 

 of the two strains. The variety is not ready until past midseason, 

 requiring 9 weeks from very late sowing to more than 10 for earlier 

 ones. The crops in different years ranged from fair to very good. 



Quality rather than productivity is the commonly 

 noted merit of Ne Plus Ultra. 



Non Plus Ultra, an improved strain, was grown here 

 from seed sent by the Swedish improver, and is quite 

 different in many ways: 



Dwarfer, heavier stemmed, with shorter internodes, often 

 with two stems from base and branches from mid-stem, with small 

 leaflets in 4s, and lightly clasping stipules, both much darker in 

 color but with heavy bloom; pods slightly shorter, usually quite 

 uniform, but occasionally only 2 3 4 inches long, narrow, plump and 

 square-ended or even protuberant, more like those of some of the 



Gems than like the old Ne Plus Ultra. Peas 7, very large, not of 

 as good color as in the original variety, but of excellent quality. 

 The season was a little earlier and the crop better. 



Carter has recently reintroduced, or improved, Ne 

 Plus Ultra and the variety was " highly commended " 

 in Royal Horticultural Society tests. 



Conqueror. Refs. 12, 13; Rural N. Y. 47:113. 

 1888. Conqueror is said to have originated with Payne, 

 of Gayton, Eng., who found it as a sport in a field of 

 Knight Tall Green Marrow. Part of the stock was sold 

 to the Messrs. Jeyes of Northampton, who sent it out as 

 Jeyes Conqueror. Both this name and Payne Con- 

 queror are given as synonyms of Ne Plus Ultra, but the 

 two varieties are distinct, originating at different times, 

 one from Knight Tall Green Marrow and the other 

 probably from Knight Dwarf Green Marrow. Con- 

 queror was more vigorous, had larger pods, and filled 

 better than the original Ne Plus Ultra. As Payne 

 Conqueror, this pea was grown here in 1888 and differed 

 from the current and recent descriptions of Ne Plus 

 Ultra, having pods often paired, borne high on the stems, 

 on short, curved stalks and containing flattened seeds. 

 It was productive, but too tall and too late to be con- 

 sidered valuable. 



Ritchie Conqueror, grown here recently from seeds 

 received from British Columbia, is only 3}^> feet tall, 

 has stout, unbranched stems, rather scanty foliage with 

 larger leaflets and stipules which are more whitened but 

 less glaucous than those of Ne Plus Ultra, flowers high 

 and has more pointed pods, hardly of this type, with 

 similar peas and even larger seeds. It was fully as late, 

 and unproductive. 



Veitch Perfection. Refs. 15 19; Evans Car. 

 1868. Were Veitch Perfection, as grown in America, 

 more true to the Ne Plus Ultra type, its name might 

 well be applied to this group, as it has been more widely 

 grown than the type variety; but it differs from Ne Plus 

 Ultra and others of the group in many points. It is 

 included by relationship, rather than by resemblance. 



The variety originated with Veitch (1) before 1857, 

 probably as a selection from Hairs Dwarf Mammoth; 

 and after 70 years is still extensively grown in England. 

 It came to America about 10 years after its introduction, 

 was listed by several firms as lately as 1901, and, as 

 Perfection, is probably still grown by Pacific Coast seed 

 firms. It was very popular in the Northwest. 



It was grown at the Station in 1884, but was not 

 found, at least not under the full name, in 1921 or 1922 

 American catalogs. In the old tests: 



Height 3) 2 to 4 feet, with strong stem, much branched at 

 base and often above, with internodes of medium length; foliage 

 ample, deep green, only slightly whitened and slightly glaucous on 

 stipules; pods shorter than those of Ne Plus Ultra (not so in 

 England), 23^-3 inches, often paired, straight, broad, "tapering 

 gradually to apex" lothers say blunt-ended), medium green (others 

 say " good " or " dark " green): peas 5 to 6, large, flattened, whitish 

 green; seeds large, much flattened and wrinkled, dull, pale green 

 and bluish white. The variety was late, tho earlier than Ne Plus 

 Ultra, matured pods slowly and was " extremely prolific." 



It was considered in England the finest pea of the 

 Knight Green Marrow class. 



