88 



THE VEGETABLES OF NEW YORK 



references, particularly American, make it taller. It bore 13 bo 

 16 pods to the plant, usually paired; very productive, ready in 

 midseason or later. 



^fat. advertised in 1841. and Stradsett Marrow, 

 considerably later, at first seemed to differ slightly from Matchless 

 Marrowfat: but in the Chiswick trials of 1860 \\<n considered 

 identical with it. All were said to be disappearing in England in 

 1865. Matchless Marrowfat and Milford Marrow were described 

 by Burr, but except that the pods of the latter were liable to thin 

 out and shrivel rather than to increase in plumpness when ready 

 tgnificant differences between these varieties were 

 They were probably soon superseded by the wrinkled 

 marrows. Matchless Marrowfat is also the name of a wrinkled 

 pea. See p. 100. 



Shilling Grotto. Rrfs. 45 49; Burr Fid Card. Veg. 547. 

 1863; Hogg Omid. Yr. Bk. 11:76. 187J. Shilling Grotto was 

 introduced about 1843 as a cross between the old Grotto, or Oyster 

 pea. and Early Frame. 



It was said in early references to have short, broad pods, but 

 later authorities make the pods 3';> inches long, one-half inch wide, 

 thick -hacked and rather quadrangular in form, typically Marrowfat ; 

 and the other characteristics of plant and seed place the variety 

 in this group. The pods were deceptive, becoming very plump 

 long before the peas were edible. Hogg says the plants were 4 ' _> to 

 5 feet tall, single-stemmed, of strong habit of growth. 



Tho described by Burr. Shilling Grotto was probably grown 

 in America only on a limited scale. 



The Oyster pea. or Mossy-podded pea, was so called from a 

 roughness of the outer pod similar to that of an oyster shell, often 

 with a dark green incrustation, especially in wet weather, which 

 could be at least partially rubbed off. This was probably some 

 form of mildew or other superficial fungus whose spores found 

 favorable germinating conditions in the rough outer skin of the 

 pod. This pea antedates Shilling Grotto by at least ten years, 

 and is credited to Field 6t Child, London. 



i arolina Ref. 50' may not be distinct from Large, or Tall, 

 Carolina, synonymous with Tall Marrowfat. The name, alone, 

 connects it with America. 



Lawson makes it shorter-vined, shorter-podded and smaller- 

 seeded than the typical Marrowfats of the time; and says it was 

 used as a field pea. 



Wellington. Refs. 51; Hogg Card. Yr. Bk. 11:81. 1873. 

 Wellington is mentioned in some American literature as a synonym 

 of other peas grown here: but it probably was not cultivated under 

 its own name. Hogg gives Wellington as a synonym of Victoria 

 Marrow. 



Lawson says its seeds were the largest white peas and rather 

 oblong or bean-shaped; otherwise a typical Marrowfat. 



Branching Marrow. Refs. 52 58; Card. Chron. 53. 

 1850. Branching Marrow and Dwarf Branching Marrow have 

 not been recorded in America, except thru synonyms. The variety 

 and its dwarf form were probably not distinct, tho the heights 

 given run from 1 ' ■• to 6 feet. Common synonyms connect the 



names and a very dwarf form was described under the un- 

 modified name. Both early and late references give figures for a 

 dwarf type: so that the confusion in synonyms can not be due alone 

 to reversion to a taller form. The variety was in cultivation for 

 30 years, and was of true Marrowfat type, but quite early. It is 



•crest chiefly as being the pea selected by the unknown origi- 

 nator of the " Mummy " pea hoax. See Grimstone Egyptian. 



\iiiiri,.in Marrow Ref. 65 1 was 2 feet tall, ready in 110 

 days from March 28: free and fine. 



Monastery. Refs. 68; Thorbum Cat. 1847. Dancer's Mon- 

 astery was advertised in 1845 by Fames, and was called new in 

 America in 1 - 



is a white marrow pea. 6-7 feet tall, earlier than Tall 

 h large pods in succession, each with 7 to 8 

 large peas of good quality. 



Iroostooii Marrow f..t Ref. 69> was said in 1888 to be of 

 true Marrowfat type in vine, free from mildew, and with more or 

 less wrinkled seeds showing cross-breeding; very productive, earlier 

 and more profitable than Champion of England, selling well in 

 market. 



Thurston Reliance. Refs. 63; Gard. Chron. 761. 1848; 

 Strong Cat. 1852; Cof. Gard. 25:291. 1861; Burr Fid. Gard. Veg. 

 549. 1863; Hogg Gard. Yr. Bk 11:80. 1873. Tho Thurston 

 Reliance was considered later only a synonym of Victoria Marrow, 

 it was announced as a new variety in 1848 by Thurston. It was 

 probably a carefully bred selection from the older variety. In trials 

 at Chiswick when at least a decade old, it was considered a distinct 

 and useful pea. 



Height 6 7 feet, strong and robust in growth, unbranched, 

 Bowering from 3 feet to top of plant, with longer, bright green, 

 smooth pods usually single, and more peas to the pod than Victoria 

 Marrow; pods very broad and flat, slightly curved but appearing 

 more so by the long curve of the outer edge. 



Princess Royal. Refs. 73; Amer. A&r. 2.1:116. 1864. This 

 was one of Dr. McLean's crosses of Beck Gem and a marrow pea, 

 said to have been introduced in 1860. In America it was said to 

 resist mildew much better than Champion of England. According 

 to Hogg, its pods filled poorly. 



It was a second-early or mid-season variety, 2^£ to 3 feet tall, 

 with single or sometimes paired large, broad, straight pods, round- 

 or blunt ended, with rather heavy tips, and containing 7 8 large 

 peas of excellent quality. The seeds were typical large marrowfats. 



Great Eastern iRef. 75 1 was "inferior to peas resembling 

 the old Marrowfat with which it was compared." 



Good Marrow Ref. 76) was announced in 1862 as new. 



Height 4'^ feet, peas edible in 8 weeks, of good flavor; pods 

 long and rather narrow. 



Krfurl Earl} Dwarf White Marrow Ref. 781, according to 

 manuscript notes, was grown at this Station in 1886, from seeds 

 sent by Haage St, Schmidt, probably the introducers. It was 

 unlike other Marrowfats in having strongly curved pods borne on 

 short peduncles. Other vine, pod and pea characters were those 

 of the marrows; but lacking seed description, it is uncertain whether 

 it was a wrinkled or smooth marrow. 



Short-Strait Marrow. Refs. 79; Landreth Cat. 1889; 

 Kans. Sta. Rpt. 2:153, 160. 1889. This pea probably originated 

 with Landreth in or just prior to 1889. It was introduced too late 

 to be included in the early pea tests at this Station; and is now not 

 listed. 



Stem strong-growing, succulent, 2 to 2)^ feet high, often 

 branched, foliage light bluish-green, whitened, with 2 4 leaflets, 

 entire or toothed, and often with a curled or tendril-like tip; pods 

 frequently paired, 2j/£ to 3 inches long, broad, not evenly filled, 

 peas 4 to 7 of good quality: seeds smooth, yellow. Second-early, 

 ready in 64 days from early sowing or 58 from late sowing. 



Giant I'odilid Marrow. Refs. 82, 83; Johnson & Stokes 

 Cat. 1892; Rural N. Y. 55:546. 1896. The introducers, Johnson 

 & Stokes, claimed extreme dwarfness for Giant Podded Marrow, 

 which other references sustain, and pods from 7 to 8 inches long, 

 which others found only 3j^ to 4 inches. At the Station they were 

 shorter than those of ordinary marrowfats. 



California Marrowfat i Ref. 88a) was listed in 1913 by 

 the California Seed Co., but may have been only a strain of White 

 Marrowfat. 



Mammot Ii-I'<mI<I«-<I Suyar Marrowfat. Ref. 87. Buck- 

 bee claims credit for this pea, which originated in 1911; but aside 

 from length of pods 4 to 5 inches), their abundance, uniformity 

 and good color, no separatory characters are given. 



These points could not be confirmed from our Station tests of 

 1925, and the height, 5 to 5^£ feet, was decidedly greater than the 

 introducer's figure for the variety. It is large-seeded and the 

 seeds show rather more wrinkling than most other marrowfats, 

 indicating possible better quality, as implied by the name. This 

 point was not tested here. 



Earl] Sugar Marrowfat 'Ref. 88) was first listed in America 

 by Moore & Simon in 1907; but the seed came from England. 

 Earliness, dwarfness and profuse bearing were claimed for it, as 

 well as large size and beauty of pods. It is still carried by the 

 introducers; but apparently has not found general favor. 



Springtide Ref. 89 i originated with Carter in 1904. from 

 a Telephone x Exonian cross, both wrinkled peas, but giving as 

 progeny this pea of the marrowfat type with pitted or slightly 

 wrinkled, large, light cream-colored seeds. It might be classed 

 also cither as Dimpled or as Wrinkled. Cream-seeded. 



