Covent Garden Market. 243 



vious general partiality to iron structures. Notwithstanding Mr. Macmurtrie's experience, yet, 

 we cannot avoid being of opinion that iron hot-houses, from their admitting much more light 

 to the interior than wooden ones, will ultimately be found even peculiarly adapted for early 

 forcing, in which light is so much wanted. We also think, that if the same care be bestowed in 

 painting, &-c. as on wood-work, they will last longer. With respect to expense, where the 

 roof is made of iron rafters and sashes, as at Syon, compared with wood it is, we believe, as 6 to 4 

 or 4|. But opinion is of little value compared to experience, and for this reason we are 

 anxious to neutralize our own perhaps rather partial remarks, by the sound practical judgment of 

 so eminent a gardener as Mr. Macmurtrie. We invite him to favour us with a communication on 

 this subject, which, however much it may differ from our views, we shall be most happy to in- 

 sert"; having no other object in all our lucubrations, than the promotion of improvement, and the 

 entertainment and instruction of our readers; and well knowing that these objects are best pro- 

 moted by free discussion. 



Immense Pear. " Sir ; — A tradesman of this island, has in his possession a most extraordi- 

 nary fruit of the pear, which grew in his garden this year. It weighs 44£ oz., measures 16 inches 

 in circumference, and 10 inches from the top to its base. It is a baking fruit, and has been called 

 the ' Belle de Jersey,' and also the ' Rateau Gris ;' but Mr. Saunders, a respectable nurseryman 

 here, thinks it to be a variety of the Bon-Chretien, to which fruit it is allowed by all to bear a 

 great resemblance. [It does, being the Uvedales St. Germain, noticed as above, as exhibited at 

 the Horticultural Society on the 19th of December.] 



" While I am writing, I may as well acquaint you with a species of imposition which has been 

 practised on the London Horticultural Society, by an individual from this island. This person, 

 on being about to visit the metropolis last year, begged a specimen of the above fruit from the pro- 

 prietor, which weighed about 26 oz. ; this, 1 understand, he presented to the Society, as the 

 growth of his own land, and in return he was awarded a silver medal, for having produced the 

 largest pear. The proprietor, on the return of this person, having heard of the circumstance, 

 immediately forwarded another larger fruit from the same tree, which weighed 35 oz. ; but it 

 came too late, and the real proprietor received only a letter of thanks from the Society. [We 

 believe the writer is mistaken as to the medal, but we insert his remarks to encourage vigilance.] 



" This person attends the market regularly in quest of the largest and best fruits of both the 

 apple and pear, intending to send a box of them to the Society, no doubt as the production of his 

 own land, and in return for which he entertains hopes of being elected a member. [Here, also, 

 our correspondent must be mistaken ; for if the individual alluded to can pay his fees, he may be 

 elected a member without the trouble of sending a present of fruit, and without in the slightest 

 degree risking his conscience.] 



" I hope that you will insert this, and prevent an imposition, likely to be favoured by the dis- 

 tance and obscurity of this island. I am, Sir, &tL 



" Isle of Jersey, Dec. 6. 1826. Juvenis." 



We have inserted these extracts from a long letter, trusting, that a9 no 

 names are given, no harm can be done ; while, if the latter part of the state- 

 ment be correct, some good may be the result. — Cond. 



Art. IV. Covent Garden Market. 



February 13. — The supply of fruits and vegetables has been adequate to 

 the demand till' about the middle of February, when; most articles got 

 rather scarcer and dearer. White and purple brocoli, being nearly all 

 destroyed by the frost, is now very dear ; purple from 4s. 6c?. to 6s. per 

 bundle, white from 5s. to 125. per bunch. Asparagus has been at a rea- 

 sonable price through the winter, but now sells at from 9s. to 12s. per 

 hundred; best sea-cale 6s. per dish. Pine-apples have hitherto been 

 abundant and cheap. We have had ample supplies of Newton pippins, 

 and Reinette gris from America and France. Our own apples and pears 

 have kept very badly this season ; they are now scarce, and very dear. (J. G.) 



Art. V. Garden Libraries. 



We are happy to find that our suggestions on this subject have been 

 received, as we expected they would, with general approbation ; and though 

 we have to regret the indifference which appears to exist as to the personal 

 improvement of gardeners in some nurseries and other public gardens, yet we 

 have the satisfaction to announce the formation of at least three libraries ; 



R 2 



