1873.] VISIT TO JAPAN. 285 



remain all the winter, very little water being given them, and only 

 protected by a mat during frost. AYell, I really thought I had seen 

 the last of them, but early the next spring the majority of them began 

 to make their appearance ; water was administered rather more freely, 

 and in May and June a large number of them flowered. When the bloom 

 was over, and they had gone to rest, they were repotted in the same 

 compost as before, and treated in precisely the same manner as the 

 winter and spring preceding, with the same result. There are in flower 

 at present, Ophrys fusca;. Orchis provincialis, Ophrys olbiensis, and 

 others. I have noticed that those which were put at the side of the 

 pot succeed much better than those put in the middle. If any of your 

 many correspondents could give me any information respecting the 

 culture of this interesting class of plants, I should be very much 

 obliged. G. G. 



Hafoduxos, Xor.TH "Wales. 



LAMBTON CASTLE PINE- APPLE. ' ' ^ 



We have lately — the first week of May — had an opportunity of testing 

 the quality as to flavour of this splendid-looking Pine-apple. The 

 fruit in question started in winter, and stood for a long time in a 

 temjDerature of G0°, with a batch of Pines at rest. It was not by any 

 means a large fruit for this variety, having been borne on a plant that 

 started prematurely ; still it measured 10 inches high, and 6 inches in 

 diameter. We unhesitatingly pronounce the flavour to be first-rate, 

 second only to a Queen or Black Jamaica, but certainly superior to 

 Cayennes, Charlotte Eothschild, or any other large Pine that we 

 are acquainted with. We trust Mr Hunter will soon be able to 

 submit this grand Pine to some more public tribunal, for we will be 

 disappointed if it does not take front-rank place among Pines, in 

 appearance, fruitfulness, and quality. 



VISIT TO JAPAN.- GARDElSr CULTURE. 



TO THE EDITOE OF THE ' YORKSHIEE GAZETTE.' 



TOKIO, Kgv. 1, 1S72. 

 SiE, — In one of my previous letters I gave a short notice on agriculture ; and 

 now, with the kind assistance of a horticultural friend, I send you a letter on 

 garden culture and fruit and forest trees, which I hope will be interesting to 

 some of your readers. The soil of Japan is well adapted to gardening, being 

 generally rich and loamy in its nature, and of a great depth. Trees, therefore, 

 grow to great perfection, and are very cheap. In the garden in front of my own 

 bungalow I have three dozen Camellia trees, in addition to Firs and Palms. The 

 former only cost me Is. 8d. a dozen, and they are now in flower, and will remain 

 so throughout the winter, as they appear to be very hardy, and the frost does 

 not kill them. 



