DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



433 



The range of glass occupied by this collection is 

 about 100 feet long — square-roofed and divided in- 

 to three compartments, the larger or central one 

 being filled with noble specimens 10 or 12 feet 

 high, which arc finely developed on every side and 

 loaded with immense flowers, certainly double the 

 size of those usually seen in green-houses. Among 

 these large and finely grown plants, we observed a 

 very grand specimen of Chandler's Elegans, bend- 

 ing under the weight of blossoms, some of which 

 we measured and found them four and five inches 

 across. Floifs Powhatan, 10 feet high, was re- 

 markable for the pendant habit of its shoots and the 

 deep-red color of its flowers. One of the finest 

 plants of the old Double White, that we ever beheld, 

 graced one end of this house. It was about 10 feet 

 high, and the diameter of the head 8 feet — and as 

 finely shaped as a linden that had grown in an open 

 lawn. It exhibited, in Januarj', the beautiful spec- 

 tacle of 120 fine flowers open at once upon its 

 branches. We also noticed among the large speci- 

 mens two or three of that fine old variety C. spe- 

 ciosa in very great perfection. 



We have not room for a detailed account of the 

 gems of this fine camellia house. We will notice, 

 however, C. Jlbertii, with several fine blooms, 

 beautifully striped like carnations ; Sacco-uova, 

 finely shaped, with delicately varieil petals of an 

 exquisite peach blossom color; Leana sujjerba, 

 deep red, with very rich petals. Gilesii, full of 

 blossoms, remarkable for the rich wax-like tex- 

 ture of their parti-colored petals; and Donclarii, 

 with immense blooms, semi-double, but^ very 

 showy. 



Mr. Becar has raised a great many seedlings, 

 but only one was in bloom at the time of our visit. 

 C. Brookliana, a finely shaped, rose-colored flow- 

 er, of much beauty. Another seetlling was just 

 expanding a bud of a delicate flesh color and full 

 of promise. 



The exceeding health of the plants, and the un- 

 usually large size of their blossoms, led us to in- 

 quire of the intelligent gardener, Mr. Quin, what 

 peculiarity of soil or treatment was adopted. He 

 informed us that he was not conscious of any ex- 

 cept thai a larger proportion of fresh or maiden 

 loam, was used than is common iu growing the 

 Camellia. 



Among the few choice plants which Mr. Becar 

 allows to occupy a very limited portion of his Ca- 

 mellia range, we noticed those charming orchi- 

 deous plants, Cypripediuni insignc and Zijgopeta- 

 lum speciosum, both in full bloom. 



Mr. Becar's grounds are in that part of the city 

 called South Brooklyn, and enjoy the finest expo- 

 sure and abundance of sun and air. We know no 

 private collection of any one tribe of plants in 

 America, which on the whole surpasses this admi- 

 rable collection of Camellias. 



Treatment of Orange Trees in Pots. — Sir : 

 I should be glad of some information respecting 

 the treatment of tropical fruits in the Horticul- 

 turist. I have some Lemon trees which look 

 healthy and floui'ish very well, but do not bear 



55 



abundantly; also plants of the Citron and Orange 

 which bloom every spring profusely. Still but 

 little fruit sets, and the latter drops when about the 

 size of a filbert. Any information regarding their 

 culture will be gratefully received. Respectfully, 

 Mary E. Fisher. Warrenton, Va. 



[The most common error in growing the OrajQge 

 tribe in pots, is that of allowing them no season of 

 rest — i. e., keeping them in a high temperature, and 

 abundantly supplied with water in winter. The 

 consequence of this is, the plants become too much 

 enfeebled to carry good crops of fruit. In its native 

 country, the Orange has a cold season, when, for 

 six weeks or two months, it is quite dormant. 

 This hint should be followed in cultivation when 

 fine fruit is desired. During the winter, the cooler 

 the plants can be kept, so as to avoid frost, the bet- 

 ter. No more water should be given than just 

 enough to prevent the earth from becoming abso- 

 lutely dry. In this way they will remain nearly 

 dormant till towards spring. As soon as they be- 

 gin to grow, in the spring, supply them plentifully 

 with water, and thin out at least half the blossom 

 buds before they expand. You will then have a 

 fine crop of fruit. 



Orange trees in tubs should be thoroughly drain- 

 ed, by putting at the bottom of the tub, at least 

 three inches of clinkers and pieces of charcoal over 

 the holes made to allow the escape of water. This 

 and the use of compost composed of equal parts of 

 good fresh loam (made of rotted sods from an old 

 pasture) and decayed hot-bed manure, will enable 

 any one to grow Oranges, Lemons, &,c., in fine 

 perfection. — Ed.] 



History of the Tyson Pear. — The origin of 

 this very delicious new native pear, which some 

 consider as fine as the Seckel, and which the Pre- 

 sident of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 

 in a note lately received from him, informs us that 

 he considers " nearly or quite on a par with that 

 delicious fruit the Fondante d'Jlutomnc," has hitli- 

 erto been involved in some obscurity. We have 

 therefore great pleasure in laying before our Po- 

 mological readers the following authentic account 

 from our obliging correspondent Dr. Brinkle, of 

 Philadelphia. — Ed. 



Dear Sir : — In the description of the Tyson 

 Pear, contained in Hovey's Magazine for last No- 

 vember, the writer says, " the precise origin of 

 the Tyson is we believe unknown." 



As this pear is likely to become a favorite, it is 

 perhaps, desirable that its precise origin should be 

 known. I now furnish you with this information, 

 which I also recently communicated to Col. Wild- 

 er, President of the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society. I presume there can be no impropriety 

 in your making any use of it you may think 

 pro|)er. 



The only catalogue in which I could find the 

 Tyson pear, after 1 became acquainted with its ex- 

 istence, was that of Mr. Thos. Hancock, of Bur- 

 lington. I immediately ordered it, and requested 

 from Mr. H. all the information in relation to it 

 which he possessed. He replied, that he had ob- 



