IMPROVEMENT AMONGST PEAS. 



35 



ferent varieties may be obtained ; but, as might be expected, I 

 have found that where the two varieties desired to be intercrossed 

 are unfixed, confusion will become confounded, and the variations 

 continue through many generations, the number at length being 

 utterly incalculable. 



We must therefore still largely look to selection as the final 

 means of obtaining permanent improvements in the Pea, and I 

 fear the results of the recent work of Pea-crossers can hardly be 

 fully appreciated for some years to come, during which their 

 labours must be carefully followed by those of the seed-grower. 



To the late Dr. McLean I am deeply indebted for the intro- 

 duction of his then fine new varieties, Little Gem and Advancer, 

 the blood of which being mingled with that of my own Prolific 

 Longpod, raised in 1858 by crossing Sangster's No. 1 with Beck's 

 Prizetaker Green Marrow, formed the base of a good many of 

 my earlier productions. Alpha originated from a cross between 

 Little Gem and Kingleader. William the First comes from Little 

 Gem and Prizetaker, and Supreme from Advancer and Prize - 

 taker. Subsequently, with a view of increasing the size of the 

 pod, I introduced the blood of the large tall Sugar Pea, which 

 led to the production of Superlative ; and although this Pea was 

 much abused for its fat sides and puffy interior, it served its pur- 

 pose, and has left its mark unmistakably in the increased size of 

 the pod of many of our best newer varieties, and has since been 

 well displaced by its more comely progeny. 



My own endeavours have been directed chiefly towards gain- 

 ing in earliness with both garden and agricultural Peas, towards 

 the increase of size, well-filling of the pod, improvement of the 

 quality, and to the production of later garden varieties, and these 

 of moderate height, so as to continue the supply of Green Peas 

 over a longer period. Eecalling advances made in earlier matur- 

 ing, I may refer to Laxton's Earliest of All and Harbinger (now 

 more generally known as Eclipse) as earlier round blue-seeded 

 half-dwarf garden varieties, equalling if not exceeding in precocity 

 Dillestone's Early Ringleader, or Prince Albert; to one new agri- 

 cultural variety, Laxton's Early Maple, obtained by crossing the 

 old Maple, or Partridge Pea, with Eingleader, and in precocity 

 quite equalling the earliest garden Pea. Amongst dwarf Peas to 

 American Wonder (apparently a reproduction of the original type 



d 2 



