S THE CANADIAN HOKTICULTUfilST. 



such indifferent growers that nurserymen will not attempt to propagate 

 them, and these sorts must thei-efore remain comparativel}'' unknown, at 

 least until a higher estimate is placed upon quality, and cultivators are 

 willing to pay an extra price for choice kinds that are difficult to raise in 

 the nursery. . These varieties will all have to be double worked, which of 

 .course adds to the cost of the tree. Petite Marguerite, although a modei'ate 

 grower, both on pear and quince, is sufficiently vigorous to satisfy nursery- 

 men, and I hope in the near future to see this valuable pear extensively 

 propagated in the nurseries. The list of choice early pears is not so large 

 but a few more good sorts may be added, and I am certain that all lovers of 

 fine fruits will welcome the new comer. There is no doubt that when this 

 pear becomes known, it will be regarded as indispensable. 



It is of medium size, just large enough to be acceptable as a desert fruit; 

 skin green, covered with grey and brown dots, and sometimes bronzed on 

 the side exposed to the sun ; flesh greenish white, fine, melting, juicy, 

 acidulous, with a pleasant perfume. Ripening, as it does, about ten days 

 before the Bartlett, it possesses a particular value as an early pear. As a 

 fruit of the very first quality, it can be highly reccommended to connoisseurs 

 for the table, but it is not huge and showy enough for market. Mr. Leroy, 

 in his Dictionnaire de Fomologie, describes it as the best pear ripening in 

 August. We believe this statement to be as true in America as it is in 

 Prance. — W. C. Barry, in Country Gentleman. 



BLOOMING WINDOW PLANTS FOR WINTER. 



One of the most constant winter bloomers is the Chinese primrose. I 

 liave had them in bloom from last October and the end is not yet, for some 

 of the precocious things seem lo say : "I will not rest, but keep right along 

 in flower." Tjje ones raised from seed every year are, however, the most 

 floriferous, and for that reason I grow them from seed. 



The Bouvardia is another abundant bloomer. It likes abundant heat, 

 and the leaves must be frequently syringed or they will certainly drop off 

 with rust. Heliotropes are good window plants, luxuriating in all the sun 

 they can get, with abundance of water at the roots. 



Calla lilies, if potted in September, will commence to bloom about 

 Christmas. 



The Browalia makes a very pretty pot plant for fall and winter decor- 

 ation of the parlor, and by planting a few seeds of it together with migno- 

 nette and alyssuni, a little nosegay may be gathered late in the fall. For 

 this purpose the seed should be sown at intervals during the summer for 

 succession, and as soon as the plants are large enough, put in small pots 

 and shift to larger ones as the plant grows. 



All geraniums are excellent window plants, and some of them are 

 handsome enough in their foliage even if they produce no flowers. The 

 most constant bloomer is Mater Christine, but is a single pink, a color I am 

 not personally fond of. Jean Sisley, a good scarlet with a large wliite eye, 

 is a great favorite of mine, and Fannie, with her beautifully bronzed 



