88 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ April, 
Vr 
LAXTON^S SUPKEME PEA. 
‘E gave at page 17, a representation of a new pea, raised by crossing 
one of Mr. Laxton’s choice varieties, named Prolific, with a well- 
known favourite sort called Ne Plus Ultra. We add here an illustration 
of a somewhat older variety, but one which ^ 
may virtually be regarded as a new pea, and which 
bears a high character, namely, Laxtoris Supreme. This 
is an early variety of the green-marrow race, ranking 
as a second-early sort of the first quality, and producing 
large, long, well-filled pods, of a deep green colour, 
containing 9 or 10 peas, or sometimes more, in each pod. 
It is not only a fine variety for exhibition purposes, but 
is also a grand pea for the table. The haulm grows 
from 3^ ft. to 4 ft. high, and is very prolific ; the 
produce, moreover, is remarkably well flavoured when 
cooked. This pea was raised from Laxton’s Proliflc, 
crossed with Little Gem, and is described in the official 
Chiswick Eeport as a variety destined to become largely 
popular; while, as a mark of their appreciation of its 
merit, the Committee to which its examination was 
entrusted awarded it a First-Class Certificate. 
Laxtoris AIpha Pea, another recently obtained 
variety raised also from Laxton’s Prolific, but crossed 
with Maclean’s Advancer, forms an excellent first-early 
sort for growing as a companion to Supreme. This 
latter was awarded a First-Class Certificate at Chiswick, 
where it was highly spoken of, both as to its bearing 
properties and its quality. It is a blue wrinkled 
marrow, and grows about 34 ft. high. 
The great merit of these and similar new varieties 
of peas, is their earliness, absolute or comparative, 
combined with high quality in the produce, since they 
belong to the race of high-flavoured marrows. Hence 
it may not be an improbable result that ere long the 
small white round-seeded peas which now represent our 
earliest class will be fairly driven from the garden. 
Even now, with Eingleader or First-Crop as the earliest, 
and then such sorts as Alpha and Advancer to follow in close succession, our 
lists of first-early peas might well be rid of many incumbrances. We shall from 
time to time invite attention to the really useful of recent acquisitions, with the 
view of ministerinof to this end.—M. 
