STOKES SEED FARMS COMPANY 



MOORESTOWN 



NEW JERSEY 



ALASKA 



AMERICAN 

 WONDER 



EVERBEARING AMEER 



Peas 



(Pisum Sativum) 



History — Of uncertain origin, but probably a native of Central 

 Europe or the mountains of Central Asia. They have been culti- 

 vated by man from a very remote time. They take their name from 

 the Greek word Pisa, a town of Elis, where peas grew very plenti- 

 fully. In 1596, they were spelled Peson in England, thence the pres- 

 ent spelling. Pliny, in the first centiu"y, refers to ancient writers 

 having spoken of peas and we have numerous references to them in 

 Bibhcal history, especially amongst the Hebrews. We are told that 

 at Damascus there were many shops where people did nothing else 

 but fry peas, as they were considered to be especially fine for travel- 

 ers. Dioscorides, the physician to Anthony and Cleopatra, recom- 

 mended them very highly. A. de CandoUe is of the opinion that 

 peas were known to the Aryans 2000 years before Christ, and that 

 they, perhaps, brought them into Greece and Italy. Peas have also 

 been found in the Swiss Lake dwellings of the Bronze Period. Peas 

 were further introduced in England during the reign of Henry VIII. 

 However, they were very rare untU at least the time of Gerard in 

 Elizabeth's reign. The industry in America has assumed vast pro- 

 portions. Several new varieties of merit have been developed by 

 American seed pea growers. In the earlier days most of these 

 came out of New York state and Michigan, but of late the bulk of 

 aU seed pea operations has been located in the Northwest. 



No. 750. Alaska, or Earliest of AU. Days to Maturity, 45. 

 Introduced about 1881 as Laxton's Earliest of All by Mr. Thomas 

 Laxton, of Bedford, England. Offered in America as Earhest of All 

 by Thorbm-n in 1882. Later renamed by Cleveland and called 

 Cleveland's Alaska. It was listed as such by Johnson & Stokes prior 

 to 1889, and commercially the name Alaska is now the more common 

 of the two. This variety is the earliest in existence. The plant at- 

 tains a height of two feet. The foUage is a light gi-een color. The 

 pods are sUghtly hghter than the fohage, and will average from two 

 to two and one-half inches in length, being blunt at the apex when 

 fully developed. There wiU be from four to six peas to the pod. 

 The dry seeds are pale bluish green. The crop will mature promptly, 

 and one picking is sufficient. This variety is in very large use 

 amongst the conmiercial canners, and is also gi'own for general 

 market and home garden purposes. 



2 oz. pkt. lOj*, lb. 35(*, 5 lbs. $1.50, postpaid; by express, 5 lbs. 

 or more, 2oi per lb., 60 lbs. (1 bu.) S15.00. 



No. 752. Pedigree Extra Early. Days to Maturity, 47. 

 A very old variety. Named by Landreth in 1823. Dr. Sturtevant 

 (1885) states that it is quite probable that the present Extra Early 

 originated from a selection of Daniel O'Rourke (1853), which was 

 preceded by Early Kent and Early Frame, two very old English 



sorts. The name. First and Best, was given 

 it by Cleveland, although this name had 

 been attached rather loosely to other 

 varieties. "Pedigree Extra Early" is a 

 strain developed by Messrs. N. B. Keeney TELEPHONE 

 & Son, Leroy, New York, after several 



years' work of selection for size, earliness and quahty. The plant 

 win attain a height of twenty inches. It is sUghtly darker, more 

 prolific and bearmg pods sweeter than the Alaska. These pods are 

 slightly darker in color and wiU attain a length of about two and 

 one-half inches. Pedigree Extra Early is a variety especially 

 recommended where the actual edible quality is a consideration. 



2 oz. pkt. 10^, lb. 40^, 5 lbs. $1.75, postpaid; by express, 5 lbs. 

 or more, 30^ per lb., 60 lbs. (1 bu.) $18.00. 



No. 758. Ameer. Days to Maturity, 55. Sometimes known 

 as Large-Podded Alaska. The vines of this variety grow to a height 

 of three feet, producing pods two and three-quarter inches long, 

 blunt at the end, slightly curved. They are borne along the vine 

 frequently in pairs. The seed is shghtly larger than Alaska, some- 

 what more dented and a bluish-green color. 



2 oz. pkt. 10^, lb. 40^, 5 lbs. $1.75, postpaid; by express, 5 lbs. 

 or more, 30^, 60 lbs. (1 bu.) $18.00. 



No. 756. Prolific Early Market. Days to Maturity, 55. 

 The vines wiU average two feet in height, and will produce pods 

 two and three-quarter inches in length, blunt at the end, light 

 green m color. They wiU be found considerably larger in general 

 proportions than Pedigree Extra Early. A highly recommended 

 pea for home or market garden purposes. 



2 oz. pkt. 10^, lb. 50?, 5 lbs. $2.25, postpaid; by express, 5 lbs. 

 or more, 40^ per lb., 60 lbs. (1 bu.) $24.00. 



No. 766. Pilot. Days to Maturity', 60. A pea of English 

 origin, originally being a selection from the Gradus. Walter P. 

 Stokes was one of the first seedsmen in America to recognize the 

 value which this pea held for the commercial grower. He offered it 

 in 1913. The seeds are hard and round and thus may be planted 

 earlier than such tender varieties as Gradus and Thomas Laxton. 

 It will not mature in a less number of days, but because it may be 

 planted earher In the season, it will mature earlier in the season. 

 Pilot is not recommended for home garden purposes, inasmuch as the 

 sugar content is very much lower than the more wrinkled varieties 

 from which this came. The height of the vine will reach nearly 

 three feet when mature. The pea will be four inches long. The seed 

 is round and hard, varying from liglit green to creamy white. 



2 oz. pkt. 10(*, lb. 50?^, 5 lbs. $2.25, postpaid; by express, 5 lbs. 

 or more, 40ji per lb., 60 lbs. (1 bu.) $24.00. 



62 



The Seed Pea Crop is the shortest within memory. Be sure YOU are not the one who is told "sold out." 



