362 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



folium, G. interr upturn, 0. undulatum, C. variegatum, Dracaena 

 Cooperi, D. strida, D. tenninalis, Hibiscus Cooperi, and I'andumis 

 javanicus variegatus. 



Very little has been said about the cultivation of tbe various 

 subjects mentioned, because full directions have been given for 

 their successful management in recent issues of the Floral "Wosld, 

 by growers vpho are adepts in their culture. A reference must, 

 therefore, be made to the indices of the back volumes, for information 

 under this head. 



CHEISTMAS APPLES AISTD PEAES. 



BT WILJLIAM COLE, 



Head Gardener, Ealing Park, Middlesex, "\Y. 



S the fi'uit stores will soon be overhauled, for the purpose 

 of ascertaining how far the supply is likely to meet the 

 demand during the Christmas and ISTew Year's festivities, 

 it will perhaps be both useful and interesting if atten- 

 tion is directed to the finest apples and pears in season 

 during the period over which the above-mentioned festivities extend. 

 Apples and pears are the only hardy fruits of importance in season 

 durnig the next two months, and, as they add much to the attractive 

 appearance of the dessert, and are generally rather highly appre- 

 ciated by the guests, they are usually in great demand, as a reference 

 to the market reports will show. Notwithstanding this important 

 fact, sufficient importance is not, as a rule, paid to the selection of 

 varieties in season at mid-winter, and too many trees are planted 

 of those which ripen during September and October, when plums, 

 peaches, and other soft fruits are abundant, and dinner parties less 

 frequent. Especially is this the case in gardens of a small size, in 

 which it is of the utmost importance to select the varieties of the 

 various fruits in a manner that will secnre a good supply at mid- 

 winter as well as at midsummer and the three following months. 

 Of course grapes should form a part of the dessert during the 

 forthcoming season, but of these, and other fruits grown under 

 glass, it is not my intention to speak at the present moment. 

 Apples are of immense value, for the richly coloured sorts, such as 

 the Blenheim Orange, will supply all that is wanted in the way of 

 colour on the dinner table, and contrast admirably with the brown 

 and yellow pears and black and white grapes, and other things of 

 which the dessert consists. Even some of the high-coloured kitchen 

 apples may be brought into requisition, for they are exceedingly 

 useful for trophy groups, and may be so arran2;ed that no guest 

 would, for a moment, think of taking one ; and when done with 

 they can go to the kitchen for tarts, sauce, and other uses to which 

 they may be put. Some of the large kitchen pears may also be 

 turned to account in the same manner ; and it is notorious that 

 immense examples of Uvedale's St Germains are imported from 

 Jersey by the fruiterers in the centre row of Covent Garden, and let 



