AprU 13, 1871. ] 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE A.ND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



275 



is put together with patent joints. All that is necessary is a 

 small spanner, and with this two or three ordinary labonrers 

 can dismantle and replace it in a few hours. These joints do 

 away with all fear of fracture from expansion or contraction. 



If the damper is carefully worked, it will keep up an intense 

 heat, and the small amount of fuel required will be almost in- 

 credible, yet it will be found capable of heating a very large 

 quantity of piping in sharp weather with less waste of heat than 

 any other boiler. 



Fig. 1 shows that it can easily be removed from place to place, 

 or a new section put in, so as to be easily converted to any 

 length of pipe. 



Fig. 2 shows that it can be worked in a similar form to the 

 old saddleback boiler, with the advantage of the hollow bars, 

 and the return flue above, and the two ends can easily be added 

 at any time by simply removing the plugs which connect them 

 with the main part of the boiler. — H. Cannell, F.E.H.S., 

 Woolwich. 



APKIL PEARS. 



I SEND for your inspection three or four Pears — viz., 1, Oliviek 

 DE Seeees ; 2, PoKTUNEE DE Peintemps ; 3, Louise Bonne de 

 Peintemps ; 4, Beeoamotte (Esperec). 



No. 1 was raised by M. Boisbunel, and fruited here in 18G9. 

 It is a Pear to be depended upon for March and April, as it is 

 a good bearer, is quite Lardy, and ripens well. Its flesh is 

 melting, with a fine aroma, and is nearly or quite as good as 

 Winter Nelis in December and .January. It was raised from 

 Fortunee de Printemps, or, as we call it, Fortunee. 



No. 2, from a wall in the garden of my son at Harlow, ripens 

 in February, and is of most excellent flavour, with an agreeable 

 acidity, very refreshing. The specimen sent is from a pyramid 

 here, and not of so high a flavour. 



Olivier de Serres. 



No. 3 is a sort raised by M. Boisbunel. It is handsome, and 

 much like its namesake, Louise Bonne d'Avrauches, or of 

 Jersey. This sort keeps well till May. It is simply melting or 

 half melting, and sweet without any aroma ; it is, however, 

 handsome, and worthy a place in a spring dessert. 



No. 4 is a well-known and deservedly-esteemed February 

 Pear. In my cool dry cellar it keeps well all through April. 

 It is the hardiest and most abundant bearer of all our late 

 Pears, and deserves, like No. 1, unisrersal cultivation.— Thos. 



ElVEES. 



[The fruit of Oliviee de Seekes, referred to by Mr. Rivers, 

 is represented in the accompanying figure. Unlike many of 

 the Pears which are recommeuded for their late keeping, it is 

 one of unusual excellence, and is really worth growing in every 

 collection. Hitherto Beurie de Eance has been the variety on 

 which the maintenance of a late supply depended, but its coarse 

 and frequently gritty flesh Contrasts unfavourably with that of 

 Olivier de Serres. 



The fruit of Olivier de Serres is of good size, round, and 

 Bergamot-shaped, a little uneven in its outline. Skin entirely 

 covered with cinnamon-coloured russet. Eye rather deeply 

 sunk, rather large, and half open. Stalk short and stout, in- 

 serted in a small cavity. Flesh half buttery, sweet, richly 

 flavoured, and with a high perfume of musk or ambergris. 



This is a delicious Pear, and unusually richly flavoured for 

 a Pear at this late season. It was raised at Bouen by M. Bois- 

 bunel, who has been so successful in adding to the treasures of 

 the fruit garden. The seed from which it sprung was taken 

 from Fortunee d'Angers. The seedling tree first produced 

 fruit in 1861.] 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



As soon as the principal crops are in the ground, and the 

 supply of dung for the season has been wheeled to the main 

 quarters, proceed to make good any part of the edgings not in 

 order, either (supposing they are Bos) by taking the whole up 

 and replanting, or filling up such blanks as may have occurred 

 during the past season. Thrift and similar edgings require 

 taking up and replanting every two or three years. Although Bos 

 edgings look neat, and help to set off a kitchen garden, yet as 

 forming a harbour for slugs, &c., and from the annual repair 

 which even with the best care Box always requires, I decidedly 

 prefer stone or earthenware for bordering, for though more ex- 

 pensive in the first place, it will in a few years repay for the ad- 

 ditional outlay, besides giving an appearance of stability. After 

 the edgings are put in order turn over or regravel the walks, and 

 after rain let them be well rolled till they again become firm ; 

 the garden will then present throughout the season a clean, 

 well-regulated appearance, premising that the quarters as well 

 as the minor paths and alleys are kept in an equally neat state 

 for which purpose place scrapers at each intersection of the' 

 paths or walks, or, in fact, wherever they may be necessary. 

 As soon as young Asparagus is from 3 to 6 inches high let new 

 plantations be made. Let a sowing of all the winter and spring 

 Broccoli be made forthwith. Cape Broccoli and CaxiliflmocTS 

 for Michaelmas may, however, be sown a week or two later. 

 Sow Silver Beet where it is required. Prick out Celery tor 

 succession crops, and attend well to the early plants with water, 

 and if they are under glass see that sufficient air is given to 

 keep them stocky. Celery is best kept in a rapid-growing state j 

 the manure should be fat and rich, and there should be plen- 

 tiful applications of liquid manure, with a small portion of salt 

 dissolved in it. Keep the surface deeply stirred amongst the 

 open rows of Cauliflowers, and look out for slugs; continued 

 hoeing and surface-stirring greatly disturb them, and will now 

 be continually necessary for all advancing crops. Sow succes- 

 sions of Horn Carrots — indeed, sow a bed of them every month 

 from January to September. This is the best way to be in- 

 dependent of the grub. The Carrots, Onions, and Parsnips, 

 just coming up may have the teeth of an iron rake passed 

 among them to loosen the surface. Ridge Cucmnbers should 

 DOW be forwarded. See that Capsicum, Basil, KaotteA Marjoravi, 

 Vegetable MaiToics, and Tomatoes, are in a proper state of 

 forwardness for planting out when the time arrives. A few 

 Kidney Beans may be sown in a box of sandy soil and placed 

 in a cold pit or other convenient place for protection, to be 

 transplanted after a time. 



FKUIT QAEDEN. 



The disbudding of Peaches and Apricots should be proceeded 

 with ; this should never be the work of a second person, but 

 should be put into the hands of one who thoroughly under- 

 stands the principle on which he works, for it is a delicate 

 operation, and will require all his powers of thought and ob- 

 servation to do it well, and must be carried on through several 

 weeks, even up the final disbudding and thinning. The most 

 expeditious way is to commence from the centre, and take 

 every shoot as it comes, not leaving it till all that is required is 

 done ; at that time a quick practised eye accustomed to the 

 work, will see in a moment what to do, so that there need be 

 no hesitation. If any of the early Plums are expanding their 

 blooms, it would be well if a little protection could be afforded 

 them at night for a time. 



FLOWEE GAEDEN. 



The continuance ot cold drying winds, and occasional bright 

 sunshine, will have been trying to large-sized evergreens that 

 have been recently transplanted, and the attention and ex- 

 pense in watering, &a., which they will have required to carry 

 them safely through, may probably convince many persons of 

 the impropriety of removing large plants in winter or spring. 



