272 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



Pears, which, as standards, will ripen in our country under any fair 

 conditions, such Pears as Beurrt Giffard, Jargonelle, Betirre Goubault, 

 Beurre Dumont, Beurrt dAmanlis, Beurre Hardy, Fondante des Bois, 

 Louise Bonne, Rousselet de Reims, Doyenne du Cornice, Marie Louise, 

 Urbaniste, Soldat Laboureur, Triomphe de Jodoigne, Comtesse de Paris, 

 Nouvelle Fulvie, Bergamotte Saumier, Charles Cognee, Doyenne 

 dAlenqon, Josephine de M alines, Suzette de Bavay. 



Much has been said of late about the advantages and disadvantages 



of planting in grass ; but most growers of Kent and other orchard 



counties have long known that in hop, arable, and 



Pear foliage anv other land, the trees show quicker growth and 

 effects. greater vigour at first. It is not every one, how- 



ever, that cares to break up grass to plant an 

 orchard, and we can do very well without grass by mulching the 

 ground round each tree for a few years, until they have gained a 

 good hold. 



These words were fresh penned when I came across the follow- 

 ing notes by M. Charles Baltet of Troyes. " The habit, the foliage, 

 and the fruit of the Pear tree will leave nothing to be desired, no 

 matter in what soil or climate it may be grown. Prolific, large- 

 fruited varieties such as Beurre de I Assumption, William, Van 

 Marum, and others, will always be a delight to the fruit lover, 

 but the artist who looks for effect from the natural appearance of 

 the trees, if he wishes for luxuriant growth will find it in the Pear 

 known as the Cure, Conseillier de la Cour, and others. Beurre 

 Hardy, Vanquelin, and Duke de Nemours have long, upright 

 branches; those of the Beurre d'Amanlis, Bon Chretien, and 

 Triomphe de Jodotgne spread out more or less horizontally, or even 

 curve downwards ; Arbre courbe and Nouvelle Fulvie would not 

 be out of place as drooping trees ; while we may admit a group of 

 Pear trees which grow as natural pyramids, such as Fondante du 

 Panisel, Beurre de Nantes, Fondante de Noel, Beurre dAngleterre, 

 and a number of others, including Charles Ernest. 



" The beautiful foliage of the Sucree de Montlu$on, Delpierre, and 

 Triomphe de Jodoigne is rivalled by that of the Mikado and Daimyo, 

 two varieties of Japanese origin, with large, thick, and somewhat 

 cottony leaves. The German Kopertscher, the Belgian Delices de 

 Jodoigne, the American Philadelphia, the French Gil-6-Gile, present 

 the same characteristic." 



Mr Baltet omits to notice the fine colour of the leaves of many 

 Pear 'trees in autumn, and I find that this seems to be intensified 

 in the few trees I have on their natural roots. 



" The observer who notices the features of each variety knows that 

 Marie Guisse, Monseigneur des Hons, and Royal d'Hiver are the first 



