THE FOOD OF VEGETABLES. 



29 



be absorbed and retained by the then moist soil for the certain 

 benefit of after-crops. These remarks are founded on practice. 

 I think they cannot do harm to anyone, and may possibly be 

 suggestive to some who may engage in the cultivation of food- 

 producing crops. 



Discussion. 



The Chairman (Mr. Shirley Hibberd) remarked on the too 

 frequent neglect of lime as a corrective of acidity, and a promoter 

 of useful chemical changes in the soil, as well as a necessary 

 plant food ; and he directed attention to the important subject of 

 the derivation of nitrogen by the roots and leaves of plants as 

 bearing direct relationship to the commercial value of manures. 



Mr. G. Wythes said that wood-ashes should be used for 

 manure, especially in old gardens. Wood-ash, soot, and lime 

 were better than farmyard manure. 



ON THE IMPROVEMENT AMONGST PEAS DURING 

 THE LAST QUARTER OF A CENTURY. 



By Mr. T. Laxton, F.R.H.S. 



The Pea is so well known as constituting an important part of 

 the vegetable food of the inhabitants of this kingdom, and is so 

 highly appreciated by all classes of the community, that I think 

 the committee of this Conference has acted wisely in giving 

 the subject prominence ; for although the time of year for prac- 

 tical illustration is somewhat inconvenient, the opportunity for 

 discussion is appropriate, and it cannot be surprising that the 

 matter should have a peculiar fascination for the writer, who has, 

 during thirty years, found Pea breeding and selecting a laborious 

 and interesting, if an unprofitable, occupation. 



Time and the syllabus set before me will hardly permit of 

 more than a cursory glance at the work which has been done to- 

 wards the improvement of Peas during the period covered by my 

 paper, for it is probable that in this time more has been effected 

 than was ever previously attempted. The work has chiefly been 

 confined to this country, but recently cross-breeding and selection 

 of Peas has to some extent received successful attention in the 

 United States and Canada, where Peas would seem also to be 

 popular. On the continent of Europe, with the exception of the 



