FEBRUARY 1, 1859. 27 



bited are growing, one on a south and the other on a west aspect 

 wall, is mixed with strong soil to the depth of ^ feet, and the 

 bottom is concreted. The trees are about thirty" years old, and 

 healthy ; they make little wood, but bear well ; the diameter of 

 the stock is proportionably very small, and this, Mr. Douglas 

 thinks, may in some measure account for the trees making httle 

 wood. The trees are about 12 feet high, trained horizontally, 

 and closely pruned. It was remarked, that in the autumn of 

 1857, the borders were flooded from a heavy fall of rain, and that 

 although 1858 was a hot dry season, yet the fruit ripened about 

 the same time as in ordinary seasons. The specimens exhibited 

 from the south wall were considerably larger than those from the 

 west wall, though it was stated that the largest from the former 

 aspect could not be sent in consequence of being too ripe. As 

 regards flavour, the smaller fruit from the west wall were nearly 

 as good as those grown to a larger size against the south wall. 

 This was the first exhibition of pears brought before the Com- 

 mittee from a concreted border ; but the quality of the fruit was 

 much inferior to that of the same variety produced under ordinary 

 circumstances 150 miles farther south, near London. 



The Committee remarked, that on the whole, the Easter 

 Beurre Pears, notwithstanding the heat and great amount of 

 sunshine experienced last summer, were not so buttery and rich 

 as they have usually proved in former tolerably good seasons. 



J. Allnutt, Esq., F.H.S., again sent samples of his Easter 

 Beurre Pears for examination ; they were very mealy and with- 

 out flavour, caused, in the opinion of the Committee, by the trees 

 having suffered from dryness at the root, 



BRUSSELS SPROUTS, &c.— Mr. Wm. Melville, gardener 

 to the Right Hon. the Earl of Rosebebry, Dalmeney Park, near 

 Edinburgh, sent a specimen of the Chou de Milan, crossed with 

 the Brussels Sprouts ; also a white variety of the latter, some 

 Roseberry Brussels Sprouts, and a variety obtained from crossing 

 the latter with the Dwarf Ulm Savoy. The Roseberry Brussels 

 Sprouts were very good ; 

 improved them. The white ^ 

 leaves being entirely destitute of any green colouring matter, an( 

 others prettily variegated. — Mr.TuENER, F.H.S., Royal Nurseries 

 Slough, exhibited a sample of the Cottagers' Kale, planted in i 

 pot ; the stem was 4 feet in height, and abundantly furnished, from 

 base to top, with sprouts of a very fresh appearance. This variety 

 from its hardiness, is well adapted for " " 



