1;!2 CRITIQUE ON JANUARY HORTICULTURIST. 



Fddelte. A large, yellowish-green, russeted pear; juicy, melting, and sweet. 

 (Jood. First of November. 



Soldat L'lboiirenr. Bogaii to full from the trees in September, and did not 

 ripen, after being gathered. 



Theodore Van Mans. Proved to be Doyenne d'Et^'. A variety received for 

 Charles Van Mons, but supposed to be Theodore Van Mons, proved worthless 

 (from a standard), being hard, dry, and flavorless. 



Van Assche. Medium; greenish-yellow, with a faint 1)lnsh; rather coarse and 

 gritty; tender, juicy, and sweet. Good. First of Octt)ber. 



Vicompte de Spoelherch. Indifferent. First of November. Tills fruited very 

 well on the quince, and some of the specimens were of pretty good size, but with 

 little flavor. It, as well as many others of the varieties named, will probably 

 improve as the trees acquire age. The iirst fruit rarely being a fair test of the 

 excellence of the variety. 

 January 7, 1856. 



CRITIQUE ON THE JANUAUY HORTICULTURIST. 



BY JEFFREYS, WESTERN NEW YORK. 



And so, my instructive old friend, you are nestled down in soft, sunny, drab- 

 coated Philadelphia! the land of rich gardens, generous soils, and skilful 

 cultivators. It is well. Since your sudden departure from Albany, where a 

 most sad event deprived you of the genial spirit which hovered over your early 

 years, and directed your vigorous manhood, I learned that you had taken up your 

 abode among the tree-growers of far away Rochester and the lakes, where I had 

 almost lost sight of you ; but now that you are emerged into the cheerful sun- 

 light of the Atlantic, I hail the continued vigor of your career with pleasure. 

 We once had pleasant talks together, and if you do not object, in my old way and 

 fashion, we will renew our wonted intercourse — premising, by the way — that if I 

 grow tiresome at any time, the slightest intimation will silence my pen. To 

 commence, then, I send you my Critique on the January Horticulturist. 



On Gardeners and Experimental Gardens. — A capital idea, Mr. Editor, as any 

 one who knows what trouble we poor mortals, who depend upon the labors of 

 professed gardeners, have had in obtaining those of the right kind, will concede. 

 A competent gardener, iip to his business, must be a man of mind; and a subor- 

 dinate, uncomfortable situation, such a man will not occupy — any longer than he can 

 do better. The gardener himself being right, by all means give him a direct interest 

 in his labors, through the produce of the garden, if a market exist in the neigh- 

 borhood where he can turn such produce to profit. It thus gives him a responsi- 



