72 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



t January 27, 1876. 



imparts a tinge of uncertainty to its culture which makes it 

 very interesting. 



The subtle qualities which are combined in a iirst-class 

 fruit, and which the educated palate so much delights in, are 

 also materially affected by the management of the fruit after 

 it is gathered. Let us not forget this last point, for it is one 

 of much importance, a few degrees more or less of temperature 

 affecting the fruit so much that it is in our power to accelerate 

 or retard the period of ripening of many kinds by several 

 weeks; some, indeed, will not ripen at all in our unheated 

 fruit shed. Moreover, it is surprising how wonderfully a warm 

 room will promote the development of aroma and saccharine 

 matter even in ripe frait which is taken into it from a cold 

 fruit room. Granting the truth of all this, one very naturally 

 is led to ask, Would it not tend to simphfy matters if the fruit 

 store itself was heated ? But this is objectionable, for the ob- 

 vious reason that it is desirable to retard the ripening of much 

 of the fruit to maintain a supply as long as possible ; a shelf 

 or two in any apantment where a fire is kept in the daytime, 

 affording ample space for suooessive relays of fruit for imme- 

 diate nee. 



The ripening of the fruit and the length of time it will con- 

 tinue good after it is ripe, is also much influenced by the time 

 and manner of gathering it. The early summer kinds should 

 never be suffered to ripen on the tree, but be gathered just as 

 faint traces of changing colour betoken approaching maturity. 

 My own plan U to devote an hour as frequently as possible on 

 fine afternoons to looking over the Pear trees, making several 

 gatherings of each crop, and thus materially prolonging the 

 season even cf the Uttle Doyenne d'El6 and Citron des 

 Carmes. Of course it will be understood that the duration of 

 these and other early Pears in prime condition must necessarily 

 be brief under the most favourable conditions. Let there be no 

 misconception about this matter. I have known much annoy- 

 ance to arise from Jargonelles sent to table fully ripe remain- 

 ing untouched for several days, and then, of course, proving 

 mealy, insipid, and decayed at the core. 



Later autumn and winter kinds require equal care. No 

 reliable time can be given for gathering, tlie earliness or 

 lateness of the season being our best guide. We must take 

 especial care not to gather late Pears too soon. If the fruit 

 parts readily from the branch as it is lifted upwards it is fit 



Fig. 20.— Palmrtte VEnEiER. , 



for storing, and not otherwise. Do not suppose that because 

 some portion of a crop falls that the remainder should be 

 gathered forthwith. Take, for example, that excellent Pear 

 Knight's Monarch, so notorious for its proneness to shed much 

 of its fruit, and yet if we were to press forward the gathering 

 it would be against the dictates of experience and good sense, 

 the nnfallen fruit olingmg to the branches with such tenacity 

 that most of the stalks will break asunder rather than yield 

 before Nature has given her finishing touch to the fruit. 

 Neither let an early frost or two induce you to take the fruit 

 from the trees prematurely ; wait patiently till its hold is so 

 far loosened that it comes away as Nature intended, and you 

 will be well rewarded by fruit of the best quality, sound and 

 excellent in every respect. 



Some difference of opinion exists about the cause of that 

 cracking of the fruit which often seriously affects some delicate 

 sorts. Closely examine a crop that is so affected, and you will 

 find it is the fruit near the ends of the boughs which suffers 

 most, and that much of it in the interior of the tree is quite 

 sound, thus plainly showing that it is caused by the exposure 

 of the fruit to cold cutting winds while it is swelling and when 

 its skin is sensitive and tender. A sheltered situation or the 

 protection of walls are the best remedies; portable screens 



might also be used with good effect. It is my intention to try 

 some such means for saving the next crop of Red Doyennfi, 

 Doyenne Defais, and two or three other first-class sorts which 

 alwavs suffer from this disease. — Epward Ldckhdkst. 



TDBEROUS-EOOTED BEGONIAS. 



To Messrs. Veiteh & Sons of the Royal Nurseries, Chelsea, 

 and Mr. Louis Van Houtte of the Royal Nurseries, Ghent, the 

 horticultural world is mainly indebted for this valuable class 

 of summer-flowering plants. Their free-growing and flowering 

 capacities, their elegant habits, and varying yet brilliant 

 colours, are a combination of qualities only possessed by our 

 most popular plants, as Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, ilc. The 

 new varieties of Begonias which have originated in the two 

 great establishments referi-ed to may justly rank amongst the 

 most useful introductions of recent years. 



In the spring, autumn, and even during the winter months, 

 it is not difficult to have conservatories and greenhouses gay 

 with flowering plants ; but in the summer months these 

 structures are seldom so satisfactorily furnished as wo could 

 desire them to be. Pelargoniums, it is true, of the zonal 

 type are almost continually blooming, and their variety is 



