<J6 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. March, 



soil never becomes too dry, as tliat is sure to prove fatal to tlie bottom leaves. 

 When tbe plants have filled tbe pots with roots, they will be greatly benefited 

 by the use of weak manure-water twice a week. If the plants are intended for 

 the table, they should have a few pieces of the common Selaginella placed on the 

 soil, which will soon cover the pot, and form a nice contrast with the bright 

 foliage of the Draccena* — T. Hearn, Somerley Garde^is. 



EARLY VARIETIES OF FRUITS. 



G^HE subject broached by Mr. Thomson in the Florist (p. 19) is of so much 

 K^ importance, that one wonders that the early varieties of Peaches have not 

 '.<c^ found a more general distribution in the northern parts of the kingdom. 

 ^ But some of the older varieties, such as Acton Scot and Early York^ begin 

 to ripen at Studley towards the end of August ; the Malta early in September ; 

 succeeded by Early Admirable, Violette Hdtive, Royal George, &c, — the latter sort, 

 however, rarely giving us fruit presentable at table, as it becomes more or less 

 mildewed every year. Then Late Admirable and Walburton Admii-able, in favour- 

 able seasons, continiTe our supply through October ; the last year indeed they were 

 good to the beginning of November, and then the S(dway gave us fruit for tarts 

 to the second week in November. Only once in eleven years — in 1866 — have 

 Peaches failed to ripen well here, and that year we gathered several dozen. 



Of the American Peaches, Golden Rath-ripe ripens on the walls about the end 

 of August, and is a fine-looking Peach ; it is the only one I grow on the wall, 

 having discarded several. The new early Peaches of Mr, Elvers' introduction 

 I only grow under glass, and therefore cannot speak of their suitability for out- 

 door culture. Our late houses supply us with Royal George, Bellegarde, and that 

 splendid Peach, Princess of Wales, till the early part of September. The best 

 Nectarine on the walls at Studley is the Pitmaston Orange; Pine-apple, a seed- 

 ling from it, is much finer under glass, but I have not tried it out of doors. I 

 may say that two or three very keen amateurs in this neighbourhood grow all 

 the new varieties under glass, and I anticipate they will soon make their way 

 into our larger gardens. Early Rivers, Early Silver, Early Alfred, Dr. Hogg, 

 are all good early varieties ; and then we have the Early Ascot from Mr. Standish, 

 and Hales Early from America. We expect Mr. Thomson will supply us with a 

 first-class Early White Grape as a companion to the Black Hamburgh, than which 

 we scarcely expect a better black Grape. — John Clark, Studley Royal. 



PICEA PINSAPO. 



(>mj'NE great merit of this Silver Fir as an ornamental tree consists in its 



*^^\qJ) faultless symmetry of growth ; while among other qualities of no small 



^'^ importance may be named its perfect hardiness, as well as its indifference 



Y^ as to soil so long as it is moderately light, though it doubtless prefers one 



which is deep. As a specimen tree for lawns and pleasure-grounds few of the firs 



• Plants thus treated, Mr. Chilman informs us, were about the best he has ever seen. 



