EARLY PEAS TRIED AT WISLEY, 1915. 



277 



EARLY PEAS TRIED AT WISLEY, 1915. 



Report by C. C. Titchmarsh, Trials Officer. 



The invitation for seed for a Trial of Early Peas met with a ready 

 response. For purposes of comparison a number of varieties which 

 had previously received awards was obtained from various sources. 

 One hundred and fifty stocks were grov/n in the trial. 



The stocks were planted in groups according to the height as stated 

 by the senders on the forms of entry and to the shape and colour of 

 the seeds. 



The seeds were sown in well-prepared ground on March 18. The 

 germination, though not rapid, was regular. 



Since the purpose of the trial was to select for award peas which 

 came into bearing at an early date, the Judging Committee, before 

 proceeding to make awards, decided to rule out, as not being early, 

 all those stocks which were not ready for picking on a certain day. 

 The date fixed upon was June 23, that date being ten days after 

 the earliest pea in the trial was ready for picking. Of the stocks so 

 excluded, some came into bearing soon after the 23rd, others were not 

 in bearing at the time of the drafting of this report (June 29). It is, 

 of course, possible that some of the former might prove earlier on other 

 soils, but on the light soil of Wisley, with a season all in favour of 

 earliness, they failed to qualify for inclusion in the trial. 



Inasmuch as the labour connected with the trials is very great, 

 it is hoped that on future occasions the senders of stocks will exercise 

 the utmost care in entering those stocks only which conform strictly 

 with the conditions of the trial. It is evident that peas, sown on 

 March 18, which are not ready to pick by the end of June, can under 

 no circumstances be classed as early. 



Since a difference of a few days is of great importance among early 

 crops, it has been found advisable to subdivide the early peas into 

 two classes : 



(a) The earliest, which includes those coming into bearing between 

 June 14 and 19. 



(b) The second early, those coming into bearing between June 20 

 and 23. 



As is to be expected, the number of second-earlies is considerably 

 larger than the number of first-earlies ; and in that fact is justified 

 the shorter period allowed for the second-early varieties. To have 

 included stocks which were ready to pick on June 24 would have been 

 to form an excessively large class of second-earlies. 



Notwithstanding the drought which obtained throughout the 

 growing period, the crop was excellent. This result was in no small 



