GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
[NOVEMBER 27, 1873, 
Gardeners’ Chronicle, 
APPOINTMENTS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. 
MONDAY, Nov. 29 = ve mi Patch Bulbs, at ew pm Br i 
eo iium auratum, from Japan, a 
TUESDAY, Nov. 304 "Stevens Rooms, * : 
WEDNESDAY, Dec, r f e sdb Coplay Azaleas, &c. at Stevens 
Meeting of the Linrean Society, at 8 Р.М. 
THURSDAY, Dec. af Sale d Japanese Bulbs and Curios, at 
i Stevens’ Rooms. €" 
‘Faray, Dec. 3 { d € Е Instruments, &c., 
Sarurpay, Рес. 4 { n шашу Eu] and Shrubs, Bulbs, &c.; 
—— i —ÀÁ 
SPECIMEN of PYRUS, or, as it is more 
correctly written, PIRUS CORDATA, was 
lately submitted to us for identification under 
somewhat peculiar circumstances. It is not often 
that archzology and botany unite, though, as 
shown in the articles on “ The Apple of Litera- 
ture” on April 10 and 17 last, they are seen to 
do so in the case of the Apple. In the present 
be found—betwe e 
hich connect the *Isle of Apples" of Arthu- 
repute with that locality. King ARTHUR, 
it appears, is supposed to have been buried in 
Avalon (Glastonbury), in England, and in Aigui- 
i nori uivalent of Avalon being 
Isle of Apples. An island in Loch Awe, in 
Argyllshire, has a Celtic legend containing 
the principal features of Arthurian story, but 
in this case the word is “berries” instead of 
These particulars were fully given in 
a paper read on June то last, by Dr. PHENE 
before the Royal Historical Society, in which 
he expressed a belief that the legend of the 
mystical ARTHUR was derived from the cha- 
* 
closely examining 
and Avalon in 
the Apples on the tree were berries. The 
specimen he has submitted to us is the Pyrus 
 DESVA gured in DE 5 
western shores occupied, anterior to the invasion 
of the Cymry, by a peculiar race of people 
remote from that which 
shaped fruits, about the size of Hawthorn 
berries, borne on long slender pedicels. In 
Brittany wild Pears, and this among the num- 
ber, known under the name of Besi or 
Besizolle, whence the name Besi, applied to 
certain cultivated Pears. P. cordata may very 
probably be the origin of certain early Apple- 
shaped Pears, Its geographical distribution in 
Persia and in Western Europe was inexplicable, 
thing in even Arthurian story, and is as follows. 
MERLIN s one of the ancient poems, “I 
and with teeth brilliant as pearls amid Roses.” 
(Myvirian, t. i, p. 151.) 
THE case of WILLIAMS v. LESLIE, to which 
we have already referred, and which was fully 
d in our columns, will probably have 
consequences not foreseen at the time. e 
cannot doubt that these consequences will be 
the means of bringing about eventually a great 
reform in the matter of flower shows, and, if so, 
great good will have been done. 
It is not necessary to revert to all the circum- 
stances of the trial above alluded to, It-may 
suffice to say that, in the opinion of the jury, as 
also of the Judges who refused the application 
for a new trial, the plaintiff had done nothing 
incompatible with the law. That the defendant 
was worthy of great sympathy, and would have 
been yet more so had he exercised common 
prudence, is also patent to every reader. 
As to the conduct of the gardener there 
cannot be two opinions,  Disregarding, how- 
ever, this special case, let us enquire a little 
uses 
urther and endeavour to ascertain 
лег. са 
which тау lead to scandals of the nature of 
excitement of competition, the intoxication of 
success, may, and probably do, lead to transac- 
tions which, if not illegal, are at least imprudent. 
In any case they would be 
i some reasonable assurance that 
his confidential agent would do so for him. It 
would seem incredible that plate, or pictures, or 
jewels should be purchased in quantities, and 
that invoices and bills should be delivered to 
the master or his agent, without either of them 
taking the trouble i 
t or La 
rate, the “ desire to do business "— provided it be 
legitimate—offers nothing that the most rigid 
urist can object to, The purchaser can always 
protect himself if he chooses, 
ralising, vicious 
system, and we have incurred some odium for 
so doing. As a system, however, it cannot be 
BRI S ы. 
payments, would soon be a thing of the past 
In any case nurserymen and gardeners cannot 
fairly be singled out for indulging in practices 
common to all traders alike. The practice i; 
morally ruinous, and, worse still, it is wide. 
spread. 
Lastly, we come to the question of flower 
shows. These have multiplied excessively of late 
ing these exhibitions was to encourage 
vation—to bring out improvements in 
growing, to introduce new and valuable 
The primary object originally in found. 
culti- 
plant ` 
plants 
for decorative purposes or for utilitarian objects, 
Such are still the professed objects. But in too 
many cases these laudable aims are overlaid 
hearing of bands, and the display of fashionable 
attire. How many of the visitors to a 
flower 
show now-a-days care a button for horticulture? 
Only a small proportion, we imagine ; and yet it 
is for the sake of these so-called patrons of hor- 
ticulture that numerous if not large prizes are ~ 
ffered. "This assertion may seem paradoxic 
*to make a show," in order to attract the 
paying public. 
Now, to make a show it is necessary some. 
times to subordinate the 
primary object for - 
which horticultural societies were established, 
in order to get plants that will serve the purpose 
of decorative objects. 
Hence specimen plants, - 
the shows, taking all the prizes in their course | 
wearying those whose business or pleasure itis - 
out means to stable these monsters, by ue ; 
this may be done in perfect good faith and evet 
with advantage, but in such cases it shouldbe 
done openly and the public should have the 
means of knowing it. 
as 
should be made, By this means 9 
existing evils would be fairly met. 
Certain classes might be 
a condition 
Another point in which flower show manages 
should exercise greater caution 
than they dois 
in the matter of special prizes offered by trade 
men. The societies are not established to DI? - 
mote the interest of particular — ў 
the esmen are b o means to b 
science, and that it leads directly or 0 
to questionable practices, which will 
amateurs and prevent gentlemen from 
patrons of Horticulture. 
——— "s 
—— CONSIDERABLE attention was dra wm sit 
STRAITS OF MALACCA by our present pag [ 
some time since, and recent at again sered : 
scene of the murder of Мг. BIRCH, have The sketch 
to draw public attention to this Сарий 
€ 140 is from а con 
LIVER's, | is 
nut Palms, Of the interior of the Mala 
save in the hood of 
е &с., not 
