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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The native country of the Pea, like that of most of our culti¬ 
vated esculents, is not known for certain, hut remains of Peas 
are said to have been found among the lake dwellers of the 
Bronze age in Switzerland and Savoy, the seeds being spherical 
in shape and smaller than those of our modern varieties. 
Monsieur Heer states that he also has found Peas amongst 
remains of the Stone age at Moosedorf ; but he is doubtfully 
explicit, and gives only figures of Peas less ancient from the isle 
of St. Pierre. I have not been able to find any records of culti¬ 
vated Pisum sativum in Ancient Egypt or among the Hebrews ; 
but it has long been cultivated in India, and bears a Sanscrit 
name, and is designated by various very different names in 
other Indian languages. 
The Pea was introduced into China from Western Asia, 
and Pent Sao, writing at the end of the sixteenth century, terms 
it“ Mahomed Pea.” A species appears to have existed in Western 
Asia, which came perhaps from the Southern Caucasus to Persia, 
where it was cultivated. The Aryan races are said to have 
introduced the Pea into Europe, but it was probably in India 
before the arrival of the Oriental Aryans. In all probability the 
Pea no longer exists as an indigenous plant, and when found is 
only in a quasi-wild state, showing modification and approach¬ 
ing other species. It may, I think, be assumed that the Pea 
undoubtedly came originally into France, Italy, and Spain from 
the East; and although it may be difficult to identify the lentils 
used in the days of Jacob and Esau with the Peas of later times, 
yet it is known that they were cultivated by the Greeks and 
Romans in the time of Pliny, who informs us that the Greeks 
sowed their Peas in November ; but the Romans did not 
plant theirs until the spring, and then only in w 7 arm places lying 
well to the sun ; for, says he, “ of all things Peas cannot endure 
cold.” 
The time of the introduction of the Pea into Britain is as un¬ 
certain as its native habitat. I find in Traill’s “ Social England” 
that in 1066 Peas are said to be one of the chief crops grown in 
England. J. Thorold Rogers in his “History of Agriculture and 
Prices in England,” under the heading of Garden Peas and 
Beans, writes thus:—“ This kind of seed, under the name of 
Pottage, Green, Grey, and White Peas, is mentioned frequently in 
the ‘ Expenses of Collegiate and Monastic Houses ’ between the 
