Pear-Blossoms. 3 



The magnolias are all rather difficult to transplant with success. I pre- 

 sume that there is scarcely any other genus of which a larger proportion 

 are lost in transplanting. 



Our experience is, that if moved just as growth commences, say, from 

 the time the leaves begin to appear until they are one-fourth grown, and the 

 roots not allowed to suffer in the least by exposure to the air, success is 

 almost certain. We have moved large plants in full bloom and almost 

 in full leaf, with entire success. 



These brief notes are intended to draw the attention of planters to these 

 beautiful spring-flowering trees. Too much cannot be said in their praise. 



May 22, 1869. 



PEAR-BLOSSOMS. 



The time in which our fruit-trees are in bloom is so short, and comes at 

 a season when so many calls are made upon the orchardist, that the oppor- 

 tunity to study their flowers is but limited. A little observation would 

 probably show the different varieties to be more distinctly marked than is 

 generally supposed ; and a careful examination might afford the means to 

 settle disputed points regarding the identity of varieties. 



As such an instance, we may mention, that, some years ago, the question 

 coming up whether the pear commonly known as the Long Green of Du- 

 hamel really was the one described by "the always accurate Duhamel," we 

 found, on referring to the description by that author, " that each blossom 

 often has six or seven petals," and, by examining the flowers of the tree in 

 question, we found not only six or seven, but even a greater number of 

 petals ; leaving no doubt that it was correct. This led to the examination 

 of other varieties ; and several, among them the Rostiezer, were found to 

 have generally more than the normal number (five) of petals. 



The Beurre Delbecq, Van Mons says, was originally called " Fleur de 

 Mars," because it blossomed in the month of March. It does not bloom 

 as early as that here, but much earlier than most kinds. The flowers of the 

 Beurre Bosc are remarkable for the narrowness of the petals, and for the 

 distance to which the flowers are spread apart in the corymb. 



