PROCEEDINGS. xlv 



" It is needless to say that the months of October, 

 November, and December, 1848, were more than usually 

 gloomy, and that neither January nor February offered 

 any advantage over those months in ordinary years. In 

 addition to this, it was often necessary to leave the plants in 

 the dark all day long, in consequence of the sashes being 

 covered with frozen mats, which could not be removed. 

 Nevertheless, and notwithstanding these impediments, the 

 experiment was perfectly successful. 



" Mr. Gordon, to whom the experiment was confided, 

 produced the plants above named in the most beautiful 

 health, with firm short wood, broad, thick, clean, bright- 

 green leaves, and, in the case of the Gesnera and Pentas, 

 flowers perfect in colour, size, and form. In short, it may 

 be said without tiie least exaggeration, that more perfect 

 examples of high cultivation were never seen, and few so 

 perfect. It was clear that there had been no deficiency of 

 any element or condition which is required for the most 

 perfect health. 



" This conclusive proof of the excellence of rough plate 

 glass possesses the higliest horticultural interest. It shows 

 that gardeners are now seciued effectually from the scorch- 

 ing effects of the sun during summer, and tliat all the costly 

 as well as inconvenient contrivances for shading may be in 

 future dispensed with. A gentleman of my acquaintance 

 has lately been called upon to pay for shading a single span- 

 roofed house no less a sum than 60/., which is little less 

 than the whole cost of the glass roof; had the value of 

 rough plate glass been known only nine months ago, this 

 vexatious outlay might have been avoided. Such glass does 

 all tiiat a screen can do, and no light is intercepted." 



Cuttings of tlie following three Pears and Cherry were 

 distributed to such Fellows as wished to receive them : — 



1. BeurrtI d'Amanlis, a large obovate pear ripening in 

 September, superior to the Brown Beurre in quality, 

 and so much hardier that it bears well as a standard, 

 whereas the Brown Beurre will not succeed as such. 



2. Eyewood, one of the late Mr. Knight's valuable hardy 

 pears, ripe in October. Fruit of it from a standard is 

 as large as that of Gonsel's Beigaraot ; rich and 

 excellent, 



3. March Bergamot, also raised by Mr. Knight. The 

 fruit is about the size of that of the Autumn Bergamot, 

 and like it in shape. It will keep till March, or even 

 later. Mr. Knight stated that it would be found very 



VOL. IV. e 



