Domestic Notices. 461 



against frost. The blanching of celery should proceed gradually, about two 

 inches at a time, care being ta!;en to prevent the soil falling into tlie heart 

 of the plant, and, at tlie same lime, not to crush and twist ihe tender tissues, 

 as is often done by the rough grasp of the gardener. Finally, attend to 

 cleanliness. Strawberry beds should be finished off now, and not left in a 

 wild, rank state till the spring. Pea sticks, and all decayed haulm, and all 

 weeds, should be removed not only that neatness may give its charm to the 

 garden, but also to |>revent the rapid production of damp and mouldiness, 

 which are quickly generated among masses of decaying vegetation. 



In the flower garden you should consider what departments you intend 

 devoting to bulbs, and the beds must be prepared for that purpose as soon 

 as possible. A difficulty is felt in this case, on account of the beds being 

 often occupied till late m the season by autumnal flowers, which we are, of 

 course, unwilling to sacrifice before the frost commits its ravages. Here 

 there is no remedy but to pot hyacinths and other bulbs, which ought to be 

 growing, and then to have them out as soon as the beds are ready. Atten- 

 tion should now be given to taking up plants which it is desirable to pre- 

 serve, a few at a time, so as not to leave gaps, or spoil the general appear- 

 ance of the garden. Young fuchsias, ptlargoniums and verbenas, if taken 

 up carefully and placed in a shaded frame after being potted, will flag 

 scarcely at all. They will form pretty window plants till (Christmas, and, 

 what is more important, will constitute a stock to propagate from in the 

 spring. Tender greenhouse plants, which have been out (»f doors during 

 the summer, must be watched, lest an unexpected frost should injure them. 

 They need not be taken in, but the amateur should have his eye upon them, 

 and, when the night is brilliant and frosty, the most sensitive should be put 

 under shelter. 



The cuttings prepared for next year should now be looked over, and if 

 they are rooted may be potted, either singly or three or four together, ac- 

 cording to their habits. Every piping of pinks and carnations must be in 

 the ground or pots at once, if you wish them to stand the winter. The se- 

 cret of preserving these beautiful plants is, to secure plenty of roots. — {Id. 

 1847, p. (i05.) 



Art. II. Domestic Notices. 



'Richards'' s Beurri Pear. — Last spring, a gentleman of Ilingham gave us 

 a very favorable account of a new pear, which had originated in western 

 New York, scions of which had been sent to him, as one of the very finest 

 pears, fully equal to the Swan's Orange ; at the same time, he kindly offered 

 to give us buds, should his few scions succeed. Subsequently to this, we 

 saw a notice of it in the Horticulturist, where it was called the Hichards's 

 Beurr6, and there stated to be better than Swan's Orange, and we were very 

 desirous to secure a few buds ; but, just as we were sending after them, a 

 couple of specimens of the fruit came under our notice, and, to our ast n- 

 ishment, they proved to be the old Summer Bon Chretien, one of our oldest 

 41* 



