GARDEN PEAS. 
259 
it is pretty certain each row, though sown with seeds which are 
the produce of an undivided plant, would produce plants showing 
great diversity in habit of growth, earliness, and in the character of 
the pod and seeds. As a general rule, after reaching this point 
it is necessary to select the most promising plant in each of the 
six rows, and by succeeding selections fix the character of the 
particular variety. It very likely happens that the best type 
obtained from a particular cross is found in selections made in 
the fourth and fifth year after the cross was made. By the same 
process of cross-fertilisation, the Sweet Pea has been vastly 
improved, and the varieties largely increased. 
Before closing my paper. I think it may interest my hearers 
to know what I consider the best Peas that have been intro¬ 
duced into commerce up to the present time, or perhaps I 
should say the best Peas that exist now for purposes of growing 
(1) in gentlemen’s gardens and also (2) for market gardens. 
Possessing a trial ground where every sort of Pea introduced 
has been grown, and all their different characteristics and 
qualities carefully noted, I think you will agree that from in¬ 
spection year by year I am able to form a pretty good estimate 
of what are the best varieties according to our tests. It is quite 
possible, however, that my estimate may not be generally 
admitted to be correct; neither do I claim that it should be so : 
I am only expressing my own opinion, in the hope that it may 
be of service to Pea growers in general. 
On the following page will be found the lists of what I con¬ 
sider to be the leading varieties at the present time 
