only the best flowers, and it is well to remove all poor flowers from the bed. Among 

 the best Petimias is the one we figure in this article, Petunia punctata, as it is of fair 

 form, and of a remarkable color, approaching to blue, with a sort of variegated stripe 

 of white, which forms a pretty contrast with the ground color. 



THE BEURRE CLAIRGEAU PEAR. 



This is a new French variety, originated by M. Clairgeau, of Nantes, and sent out 

 from the French nurseries in 1848 or '49, we believe. It is a very large fruit, and so 

 far as it has been tested both in Massachusetts and New York, gives promise of being 

 a valuable acquisition. Col. Wilder sent us the following description among his 

 notices of new pears that promise well, but we delayed its publication in order to 

 accompany it with a colored drawing.* 



" Size — extra large. Form — oblong, ovate pyriform, outline a little irregular. Steni — 

 short and stout, set obliquely and without much depression. Calyx — open, segments short, 

 moderately sunk. Color — ^brownish green, coarsely clotted and almost entirely covered 

 with russet, sometimes intermixed with dull red on the sunny side. Flesh — melting and 

 juicy, with an agreeable sub-acid flavor, resembling the Baronne de Jlello, but with more 

 aroma. Class — good ; will probably prove very good. 



" The Beurre ClaArgeau has fruited in several gardens in the vicinity of Boston and New 

 York, and promises to be a gi'eat acquisition. The tree is a strong, thrifty grower, either 

 on the Pear or Quince root, and comes early into bearing, many trees which were gi-afted 

 in the spring of 1851 being now full of fruit buds." 



Mr. Cabot, President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, speaks of it as 

 follows, in Hovexfs Magazine o{ March last : 



" So far as an opinion, formed by testing one or two specimens and those from imported 

 trees of the first year of bearing, is justifiable, this Pear promises to be, on account of its 

 size, beauty, and quality, a highly valuable acquisition. It is a new Pear, raised from seed 

 by M. Claiegeatj, at Nantes, of a yellow russet color, with darker russet specks, and a 

 little red in the sun ; very large, with a short, very thick stem ; calyx small and open ; 

 flesh yellowish white, tender, half melting, of a very pleasant sub-acid flavor, ripening last 

 of October and November ; tree a strong grower, wood stout, and appears to come early 

 into bearing." 



It was figured and described by Mr. Le Rot, of Angers, in Vol, 6 of this journal. 

 The specimen from which our drawing is taken, was grown by us last season. 



* See Frontispiece. 



