JAMES J. II. GREGORY & SOM'S RETAIL CATALOGUE. 
27 
MOTT'S 
EXCELS/OR 
THIS HAS COME TO STAY! 
As early as the American Wonder, while the pods are larger, 
fully as well filled, and there are more of them. The cut rep¬ 
resents just about the comparative size of the pods of Ameri¬ 
can Wonder and the Excelsior. Were we to follow the fashion 
of the day, we might make one as large again as the other, 
but there has been altogether too much humbug along this 
line; we propose to give facts only. It grows half taller than 
the American Wonder, and is a much heavier cropper. Our 
farmer friends should be sure to give this nevjpea a careful trial. 
for we feel sure that it has come to stay as the standard early 
wrinkled pea. 
In a comparison made on our own grounds between the 
American Wonder and Excelsior, we found that under the 
same conditions the Excelsior yielded one quarter more, in 
shelled peas one fifth more, and in weight of peas one third 
more. 
The Rural New-Yorker says that while the Little Gem surpasses the 
American Wonder in productiveness, the Excelsior is “ far more produc¬ 
tive than the Little Gem that the pods'arelarger than thus** of Premium 
Gem, the Excelsior being “ within a day or two as early as the first early 
smooth pea.” 
William Monroe, of Beverly, Mass., one of the best of gardeners, writes : 
“ Growing side by side at Gregory & Son’s experimental grounds were 
Nott’s Excelsior and American Wonder peas, and while the former were 
just as early as the latter, the Excelsior was far ahead in the size and 
number of pods. I ordered a supply-for next year on the spot ” 
Mr. Geo. Buchanan writes : “ I found these peas a very distinct, pure 
sort, with many marked excellences over American Wonder, Tom Thumb, 
Premium Gem, Advancer, etc.” 
D. C. Hicks, No. Clarendon, Vt., writes : “The Nott’s Excelsior is a fine 
pea, and must eventually take the place of the American Wonder, which 
it outranks at all points.” 
An extensive market gardener writes: “ They are certainly the earliest 
wrinkled pea 1 have ever raised, and I have tried nearly all ‘the different 
kinds. They are a very distinct variety, early, hardy, productive, and of 
extra fine quality.” 
We believe that, where sufficient stock can be obtained, within 
live years the Excelsior vnll take the place now occupied by the 
American Wonder. Being every way a better pea, why should 
it not ? 
Price, per qt., postpaid, 80 cts.; per pkg., 10 cts. 
THE} DEEICIOTJS. 
In quality the u Delicious ” belongs at the head of the list. 
It requires thicker planting than most sorts, and should not be 
put in the ground as early as the hard peas by ten days. 
The true strain will always show a per cent of a smaller va¬ 
riety in the blood of it. 
Mr. P. A. Johnson, Tioga County, N. Y., writes: “ As to sweetness and 
richness, they are l'ar ahead of any pea I ever saw. If 1 could not get an 
additional supply, I would not take ten dollars a quart for them.” 
Write Messrs. Northrup, Braslan & Co., seedsmen of Minneapolis: 
“ Tt is of very robust habits, the peas of large size and of very superior 
flavor, and the pods well Idled.” 
Writes W. H. Grenell, of Adams County, who raises thousands of 
bushels of many varieties for seed purposes : “ I think this pea something 
extra; it is very sweet, and of fine flavor.” 
Price, per qt., by mail, 40 cts.; per pkg., 10 cts. 
THE MARBLEHEAD EARLY MARROWFAT. 
We will venture to say that every one of our customers who 
raised this Marrowfat pea last season had a heavier crop from 
it than from any other variety they grew, it matters not how 
many kinds there were; and, further, that they got mom 
pickings from it than from any other. This was our own ex¬ 
perience. Having raised it on a large scale, we are ready to 
indorse the first six of the points made by the farmer from 
w hose hand we received it. He writes: — 
Who that now eats a Hubbard or a Pike’s Peak Squash would 
wish to go bark to the old days of pumpkins for the sake of pump- 
kins — but some pumpkins, notably the neiv Sugar and the newer 
Gibson, are a big advance in quality over the old varieties. Try them . 
“1. With ordinary cultivation it will outyield any variety. 2. P wilt 
do better than any variety on thin land. 3. It remains a lonj time in 
bearing. 4. Its large well-filled pods make it very valuable m ^ market 
gardener’s pea. 5. The quality is first-class; so all who have eaten it 
testify. Picked early, they are as sweet and delicious as Little Gem or 
American Wonder. (>. Jt is an extra strong grower. 7. It will stand 
drought better than any other variety.” 
The seventh point we have as yet had no opportunity to de¬ 
termine, but as the vines are remarkably vigorous the fact is 
probably as he states. The well-known editor of the Rural 
New- Yorker , Mr. Carman, who is one of the most extensive ex¬ 
perimenters with new varieties, makes the statement: u Pods 
large, often containing eight peas. Vines immensely strong; 
remains in bearing a long time. Comes in after the earliest. 
First picking July 1; a fine kind.” Pea growers will please 
note that while our old-fashioned Marrowfat has been among 
our latest peas, this new variety, in addition to its other excel¬ 
lent traits, follows close after the earliest sorts. Price, per peck, 
per express or freight, $1.75; per qt., postpaid, 50 cts.; per 
pkg., 10 cts. 
