NEW YORK EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 357 



weather in order to set fruit, and never does so excepting during a norther 

 or cool spell, when the fruit sets in great quantities." Mr. Benson's letter 

 is accompanied by an admirable illustration of the fruit. In the northern 

 states it has always proved a shy bearer, if I may judge from such records 

 as exist. " D," writing to the Gardener 's Monthly, says that he had " only 

 about two pears to each plant, among literally hundreds of blossoms." 

 Orchard and Garden comments upon this feature as follows: " The gen- 

 eral experience with it here (New Jersey), thus far, seems to justify us in 

 calling it exceedingly" shy in setting fruit, and if this tendency to abortive 

 blooming can not be overcome, the melon pear must be considered without 

 practical value." These remarks are certainly counter to the statements 

 and pictures made by some seedsmen in regard to its productiveness. 



The pepino is an unusually interesting plant, and if it could be made to 

 set fruit more freely in the north, it would be an aquisition for the kitchen 

 garden and for market. It is a good ornamental plant. Altogether, it is 

 deserving of a wider reputation. L. H. Bailey. 



GHOROGI.*— Stachys Sieboldi. 



In 1882 Dr. Bretschneider, physician to the Russian legation at Pekin, 

 sent to the society of acclimatization of France tubers of a mint-like plant 

 which is cultivated in China. The society transferred the tubers to Mr. 

 Paillieux, at Crosnes, near Paris, who grew them that season, and who 

 has since been largely instrumental in introducing the plant to the horti- 

 cultural world. Three or four years after its introduction the plant began 

 to attract attention in France and^England, and in 1887 Nandin named it 

 Stachys tiiberifera, upon the supposition that it is really not the true 

 Stachys affinis, under which name it had passed. It appears to have been 

 grown in England about as early as in France, probably from some of the 

 stock which Paillieux had received or whifh he grew the first year. It 

 was first exhibited in England December 13, 1887, before the Royal" Hor- 

 ticultural society by Mr. Hashing*, gardener to Sir Henry Thompson of 

 West Mousley. It was certificated by the society November 14, 1888. It 

 had now been introduced to the horticultural trade, chiefly by Vilmorin 

 of Paris, under the name of Crosnes du Japon, in allusion to the home 

 of Mr Paillieux where it had been most extensively grown, and in refer- 

 ence to the country whence it was supposed to have come originally. In 

 the spring of 1888 it was introduced into this country under two names, 

 Stachys affinis and S. tiiberifera.. In 1890 Hemsley, writing of the bot- 

 any of China, determined that the proper name of the plant is Stachys 

 Sieboldi of Miquel. 



It still remains to determine upon a good English name for the plant. 

 Many names have been proposed, as Chinese artichoke, Japanese arti- 

 choke, knotroot, curlroot, and spirals, all of which are more or less objec- 

 tionable if the plant is ever to assume any importance in trade. Some 

 contend that the French Crosnes du Japon should be used, but this name 

 does no suit an English vernacular. It is also proposed to call it by the 

 scientific name, but a Latin name would hinder the popularizing of the 

 plant. Again the simple generic name stachys has been proposed, but as 



* Pronounced Chor'ogi: ch soft, as in chart; both o's long ; g hard; i short, as in it. 



