90 THE FLORIST. 



de Bavay, half-melting, but harsh in flavour ; also, a variety called 

 Winter Bergamot, small and juicy, but of no particular merit; reported 

 to be common amongst market gardeners ; but not recognized by the 

 members present ; and a variety without name, which had every ap- 

 pearance of being Swan's Egg, although so much out of season. 



Of other Pears sent for examination, the following were the most 

 interesting : — 



Beurre Ranee, by Henry Webb, Esq , Reigate, from a standard, on 

 loamy soil, over fullers' earth. Fruit medium-sized for the variety, 

 melting, juicy, very sweet, and high-flavoured. 



Easter Beurre. by Mr. John Brown, gardener at Bentworth Rectory, 

 Alton, Hants, from a south-east wall ; soil, strong loam, over tenacious 

 clay. The fruit was very fine in appearance, half-melting, but not 

 high-flavoured. Mr. Brown attributed this to his not having thinned 

 the fruit to the same extent as he had usually done, — mentioning that, 

 in the previous season, they were very excellent, and lasted in use from 

 the end of December to the first week in May. 



Josephine de Malines, by Mr. Thomas Rivers, from a pyramid on 

 quince stock. Medium-sized, very juicy, melting, rich, delicious, and 

 aromatic. 



Grapes. — Mr. Thomson (gardener to the Duke of Buccleuch), 

 Dalkeith Palace, Edinburgh, sent a dish of Lady Downe's Seedlings, a 

 variety not much known, but considered by the meeting to be worthy of 

 more extended cultivation. It is evidently of the St. Peter section. 

 Bunch about eight inches long ; shouldered ; appears to be a very fine 

 setter, and to require much thinning ; berry medium-sized, nearly 

 round ; skin moderately thick ; flesh very juicy, sweet, and vinous. 

 Mr. Thomson reported, that the bunch sent, which did not exhibit the 

 slightest appearance of long keeping, by loss of bloom, or shrivelling in 

 either berry or stalk, " was ripe in August last," and adds that, " he 

 finds no Grape hang so long and combine so many good qualities." 



Messrs. Webber and Co., of Covent Garden, exhibited good examples 

 of retarded Black Hamburgh, which had been ripe since September 

 last ; the berries of which were still plump, although their stalks gave 

 evidence of the long time they had been kept. 



Seedling Apples. — Mr. G. Wolsep, of St. Andrew's, Guernsey, again 

 sent specimens of his Seedling. Though past its best, it was considered 

 to have maintained the opinion formerly expressed regarding it ; its 

 general character approaching that of the Golden Harvey. Mr. Wolsey 

 reports, that the original tree is twenty years old, moderate in habit of 

 growth, shape of head rather globose, and thinks it will prove a good 

 dwarf prolific kind for small gardens. 



Mr. Oxley (gardener to Miss Sitwell), Spondon, near Derby, sent a 

 Seedling, called Pretty Apple, apparently possessing the properties of a 

 good late Kitchen Apple, being large, small cored, and acid. Reported 

 also to be a great bearer, of healthy constitution, and compact habit. 

 (On being baked without sugar, they are found to be pale brown in 

 colour ; tender, but not breaking into pulp ; not syrupy; sweetish 

 subacid in taste. The fruit had, however, been gathered before they 

 were ripe, as stated by the sender, and were not in condition. 



