254 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



In 1850 Dr. Maclean, of Colchester, commenced to cross- 

 fertilise Peas, and without hesitation I may say he was the 

 first to introduce a real improvement in the Wrinkled Pea in 

 various distinct classes. The firstfruits of his work appeared 

 in 1859, when Mr. Charles Turner distributed Sea Green, 

 Epicurean, Mons. Soyer, and Princess Royal. In this year 

 Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons sent out their Veitch's Perfection, 

 which has held its place ever since as one of the best medium 

 height Wrinkled Peas in cultivation. I have no doubt it is a 

 descendant of Knight's Dwarf Green Wrinkled. Later appeared 

 Advancer, Prince of Wales, Premier, and Little Gem, this last 

 being the first very dwarf Wrinkled Pea, growing to a height 

 of from 15 to 20 inches. All Dr. Maclean's seedlings were 

 subjected to a very rigid selection before being put into com- 

 merce, and this fact accounts for their character being so well 

 maintained. 



Laxton and Culver well, followed by Eckford, are the names 

 of successful cross-fertilisers : to the former we are indebted for a 

 peculiar type of Pea, a round seed with a very slight indent, the 

 first of this class sent out being William the First, the object 

 being to get a very early blue-seeded indented Pea of the same 

 earliness as the Sangster type with a blue seed, or in other 

 words with a Wrinkled Pea flavour. This type of Pea is most 

 difficult to keep true on account of the slight taint of the Wrinkled 

 Pea in the breed, which causes it to run back to the Round 

 variety. Mr. Laxton sent out a number of Peas, such as 

 Laxton's Prolific, Fillbasket, Supreme, William Hurst, Dr. 

 Hogg, Omega, and others. 



To Mr. Culverwell we are greatly indebted for the introduc- 

 tion of some of the finest Peas sent out within the last thirty 

 years. He informs me that his first success was a cross 

 between Laxton's Supreme and Veitch's Perfection, from which 

 he obtained his Telegraph. He says that he does not think 

 any Pea has produced so many varieties as this one. Witness 

 the many selections made from it : — Telephone, Pride of the 

 Market, Stratagem, Duke of Albany, which Mr. Culverwell 

 considers the finest Exhibition Pea there is ; but the Telegraph 

 the best Market Pea, being so great a cropper and so very hardy. 

 He considers the best Pea ever raised for productiveness was 

 Autumn Giant, but the pods would not stand the sun. This 



