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. Yeitch & 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 Culverwell, 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 
