72 



JOUENAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the 91/100 day peas the average interval between " first flower " and 

 ** ready to pick " in the second sowing was longer than in the first 

 and third. Again, in the 111/120 day peas it is clear that the interval 

 between " above ground " and " first flower " was longer in the third 

 sowing than in the second sowing. In order to make these facts still 

 clearer a fourth table of retardation, signified by the + sign, and 

 acceleration, signified by the — sign, has been drawn up. 



Table IV. — Retardation and Acceleration in Days. 



Retardation (-f) 

 or 



Acceleration (— ) 

 between 



80-90 and 91-100 

 day peas 

 91-100 and 101-110 



day peas 

 101-110 and 111-120. 



day peas 

 80-90 and 111-120 I 

 day peas 



First Sowing 



o a 



+lf 



+1 



+n 



+ 4 



21 



+2 



+H 



+4 



S O4 



Second Sowing 



> a 



+i 

 + 1| 

 + i 



+n 

 +1 



+ 2| 



+4 



+ 10i 



+ 4f 

 + 13| +1 



Third Sowing 



^1 



+ i 

 + i 



+2 



+ 41- 



+H 



ft 



-If 



-If 

 _i 



-3f 



EH 



+ i 



+H 



From the above table it appears that the retardation is not 

 so strongly exhibited in the period of germination as in the period 

 of fructification, but it is of interest to note that in third sowing 

 there is in every instance an acceleration in the period of fructifica- 

 tion, so that the total difference is only seven and a half days. It 

 would have been of interest if the sowings had been increased to at least 

 five, and then a complete curve might have been obtained indicating 

 the probable return of the produce when sowings were made at certain 

 fixed dates. 



Conclusion. — Undoubtedly had not the third sowing failed in so 

 many cases (sixty-three in all), further interesting facts might have 

 been obtainable. But it does appear from the above that a case is 

 made out for the repetition of the trials in order to confirm the 

 above figures, and to extend the sowings over further periods. By 

 such further trials results might be obtainable to guide hybridizers 

 to attempt to obtain varieties which would bear fruit quicker, as it 

 is obviously the period of fructification which requires shortening in 

 order to bring the late peas safely to fruit independently of the climatic 

 conditions. 



