Peat 



Pelargonium, Cape 



are ornamental, and they are useful. In growing 

 cordons it is important that the leader be allowed 

 space for extension, as restriction is almost invari- 

 ably followed by ill effects. 



Gathering and Storing. Pears should be gathered 

 before they become dead ripe, but not much, or 

 they quickly shrivel and become useless. Though 

 generally stored with Apples, they develop a much 

 superior flavour when kept in a slightly warmer 

 temperature. 



Pear Canker. Though not generally so serious 

 as in the case of Apples, the fungus, Nectria ditis- 

 sima, has to be reckoned with. (For preventives 

 and remedies, see CANKER.) 



Cracking. This is caused by the fungus Clado- 

 sporium dendriticum pyrinum, and it does much 

 damage. Preventive measures in the form of good 

 cultivation are best. Where infestations are 

 serious spray with a solution of 1 Ib. of copper 

 sulphate to 25 gallons of water just as the blossom 

 buds begin to swell ; and follow, just prior to the 

 flowers expanding, with Paris Green, 1 oz. to 20 

 gallons of water (see PARIS GREEN). 

 Selections of Varieties : 



Twenty-four dessert Pears in their order of 

 ripening. If only twelve are required, choose those 

 marked * ; if only six, for excellent flavour, those 

 marked *f. 



Jargonelle. *+Thompson's. 



tWilliams'BonChretien. *Beurre Ballet Pere. 

 *Beurre Superrln. *tGlou Morijeau. 



Souvenir du Congres. Beurre d'Anjou. 



Louise Bonne de Jersey, Nouvelle Fulvie (see p. 



Beurre Hardy. 109). 



(Marie Louise. Knight's Monarch. 



Gansel's Bergamot. *fWiuter Nelis. 



Marechal de la Cour. Nee Plus Meuris. 



Pitmaston Duchess. "Josephine de Mahnes. 



tDoyenne du Cornice. Bergamotte Espereu. 



Emile d'Heyst. . Doyenne d'Alencon. 



Beurre Diel. 



Pears for Stewing. If only one is required, 

 choose *. 



Catillac. Uvedale's St. Germains. 



Vicar of Winkfield. 



PEAT. 



Vegetable matter found in quantity in a more or 

 less decomposed state and closely compressed, is 

 called peat. It is formed chiefly of marsh plants, 

 such as Mosses, Rushes, Reeds, etc., but sphagnum 

 moss is probably the most common constituent of 

 peats. The formation of peat chiefly occurs in 

 temperate climates. The method of formation 

 is easily seen in a bog ; the surface is generally 

 covered with living plants, while below there is a 

 decomposing mass of vegetable matter, and still 

 lower down firm peat is found, and this in some 

 cases passes by insensible degrees into what is known 

 as Brown Coal, Wood Coal, or Lignite, especially 

 where the bog has contained more highly organ- 

 ised plants than those usually found in such places. 

 Bog peat has high antiseptic properties, and con- 

 sequently is a preservative of many subjects, 

 vegetable and animal. Cut into turves, and stacked 

 to dry, peat forms an important item of fuel in those 

 districts where it abounds, more especially in Ire- 

 land, Scotland, some parts of England, and in Den- 

 mark, Germany, and Holland. 



The peat that is employed in such large quan- 

 tities for Orchids and other peat-loving plants is 



Pea/rcea (Isoloma Jiypoci/rtiflarum). 



Pearl Cud Weed (zee Anaphalis maraaritacea). 



of a totally different nature. It 'is invariably cut 

 from uplands, and is almost wholly composed of 

 such plants as thrive on upland commons, where 

 the soil is usually very sandy. Of those Ling 

 and Heather are the chief, though the Brake Fern 

 occurs abundantly in some places ; the fine roots 

 of some annual Grasses also have a place. 



The material so largely used in the cultivation 

 of American plants, Orchids, and Heaths is also 

 known as peat, but this differs from the true peat. 

 Orchid peat is composed almost wholly of brown 

 root fibres, and is very porous. On the other hand, 

 the variety known as Rhododendron peat has more 

 earth and fewer fibres, is sandy, and more reten- 

 tive of moisture than Orchid peat. 



PEAT PLANTS (*' AMERICAN PLANTS). 



PECTIS. 



A small genus (ord. Compositse) of half-hardy 

 annuals of no special horticultural value. They 

 may be treated similarly to Ten-Week Stocks. 

 The principal species is angustifolia, 6", summer, 

 yellow, fragrant. 



PEDALIUM. 



The principal species of this genus (ord. Ped- 

 alineae) is murex, a branching, tender annual, with 

 yellow flowers. It has probably been lost to 

 cultivation. 



PEDICULARIS. (LousEWORT.) 



Very few Pedicularises (ord. Scrophularinese) 

 appeal to the cultivator. Most are hardy perennial 

 herbs, and two are common British plants. All are 

 partly parasitic on the roots of other plants. Prop- 

 agated by seeds. Soil, moist peat. 



Principal Species : 

 Sohchorhiza, 1' to H', golden yel. Charles's 



sum., hdy. per., yel. Sceptre, 



rlammea, 6" to 12 ', My., sylvatica, 3" to 10", Ap., 



Je., hdy. per., red. Jy., hdy. per., ro., pk., 



palustris, 6 ' to 18", sum., or wh. ; British. Field 



hdy. aim., pk. or ro. ; Lousewort. 



British. Marsh Louse- verticillata, 6" to 12". 



wort. My., Je., hdy. per., ro. 



Sceptruin - Caroliuum, 3' or wh. 



to 4', Aug., hdy. per., 



PEDILANTHUS. 



Stove shrubs (ord. Euphorbiacea;), whose fleshy 

 branches present a curious appearance. Propaga- 

 tion, by cuttings, which should be allowed to dry 

 before being inserted in sand in a warm, dry house. 

 Soil, sandy loam three parts, rotten cow dung one 

 part. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 

 tithymaloides, 4' to 6', cucullatus, Ivs. mar- 

 involucre grn. (fi/ns. gined wh. and cupped 

 Euphorbia carinata and or hooded. 

 E. canaliculata). Jew variegatus, variegated, 

 Bush. not cupped or hoodrd. 



PELARGONIUM, CAPE. 



Description. About 200 species, chiefly from the 

 Cape of Good Hope, belong to this genus (ord. 

 Geraniacea;). The cultivated plants need green- 

 house protection, and are perennial, evergreen, and 

 shrubby. Quite a number have tuberous roots, 

 and many have succulent steins. A few are herb- 

 aceous, the most interesting of these being 



Pea, Tangier (tee LatJn/rus tingitawut). 

 Pekea (see Cari/ocar tomentmum). 



