HENRY ECKFORD'S WORK 7 



variety and Lathyrus inagellanicus, but it never bore evi- 

 dence of hybridity. The variety received the honour of a 

 first-class certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society 

 as recently as 1883. This was not the first Sweet Pea that 

 was recognised by the R.H.S., as its Floral Committee had 

 already given a similar award to Scarlet Invincible eighteen 

 years previously. At about this time, between 1860 and 

 1870, many new Sweet Peas were introduced, and cultivators 

 did not concentrate their energies on colour alone, but were 

 actively endeavouring to improve the size, substance, and 

 form of the flower. Continental as well as home raisers 

 were at work, and the firm of Carter was always promi- 

 nently to the fore. 



After the year 1880 varieties followed each other in 

 quick succession, and the interest in the flower steadily 

 increased. Noble, Cooper & Bolton, the predecessors of the 

 present firm of Cooper, Taber & Co., Ltd. ; Cattell, Wester- 

 ham ; Sutton & Sons, Reading ; Hurst & Son, Houndsditch ; 

 and Thomas Laxton, Bedford, all played successful hands. 

 But their results paled into insignificance later, owing to Eck- 

 ford's introductions. Henry Eckford commenced in 1870 at 

 Sandywell, Gloucester, and henceforth devoted his life to 

 the development of the Sweet Pea. His success was so re- 

 markable that he raised the Sweet Pea from the position of 

 an ordinary flower to one of primary importance. Eckford 

 undoubtedly made the Sweet Pea a general favourite, and 



