1869.] SPRING GARDENING. 3G5 



or two of soil. Now no one can deny but that there is as little trouble 

 in doing this as in root-pruning ; and if this be the case, and the after- 

 results prove better, the advantage entirely lies with the Quince 

 stock. 



Our reasons for proceeding upon these principles with the Pear upon 

 the Quince are as follows : The Quince, as every one knows, is a weakly 

 grower compared to the Pear, therefore by placing the Pear upon it 

 we are imposing a burden greater than it can bear in a natural way. 

 We therefore are hard taskmasters, and worse than Pharaoh, who 

 expected the children of Israel to make bricks without straw, if we 

 do not use the means, by providing the meat ready at hand for the 

 use of the Quince, so that it may be enabled to procure at once an 

 abundant supply of food for the capacious stomach of its glutton 

 brother who is saddled upon its back for life. 



It is impossible that the Quince can do the work required of it by 

 the Pear without assistance, and it is still more wonderful that so many 

 intelligent and able gardeners should expect it to do so. It is as if, 

 should we choose to place the donkey in the horse's cart, the donkey 

 should be expected and compelled to bear the horse's burden. 



I trust, if I failed to convey my full argument upon " The Quince 

 stock " when treating of the Pear, that I have now done so. No doubt 

 others may have different opinions upon the matter in hand, and if 

 they have found the issue of their labours different from mine, they 

 are quite entitled to hold their ground with steadiness and firmness ; 

 but if those who are of the reverse opinion to what I am will give my 

 principles a fair trial, I have no doubt that in the course of a few years 

 their war-cry at the " battle of the Pears " will be, "The Quince ! the 

 Quince for ever ! " 



I am much obliged to Mr Simpson for the very kind and gentle- 

 manly manner in which he opened up the subject, and trust that what 

 I now have said may prove of interest to the many readers of the 

 ' Gardener ' who may not have fully understood the ground upon which 

 I defended the Quince. James M'Millax. 



SPRING GARDENING AT BIRMINGHAM. 



Foremost of all the illustrations of spring gardening I have been 

 privileged to look upon this season, stands that almost unrivalled 

 garden in the grounds of the Holte Hotel, Lower Grounds, Aston, 

 Birmingham. Better than Belvoir, with its vast and elaborate arrange- 

 ments ; better than Clieveden, with its immense masses of colour and 

 its grand surroundings of rich scenery and woodland ; better than 



