1(3 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



WHO SHALL SELECT? 



There seems to be such a demand for fruit trees of all kinds with the class 

 to which I belong, that I am induced to ask you a question relating thereto. 

 We know but little of what will exactly suit our walls, our espaliers, open 

 quarters, or houses ; and, when we apply to our neighbours the nurserymen, 

 they appear all to recommend what probably they have most of, as a matter of 

 business, whether such may suit us or not. We may, to be sure, write and 

 ask the editors of the Gardeners'' Chronicle or of the Journal of Horticulture 

 to give us this information ; but we feel this entails an obligation we are 

 unwilling to incur, as our class is numerous, and our wants multifarious. 

 Suppose, for instance, I wanted to know the twelve best Gooseberries, the 

 twelve best Currants, and the twelve best Strawberries for my garden ; and, 

 not wishing to be under an obligation to any one, I am willing to pay for the 

 information, just as I would a solicitor for a legal opinion. Where am I to 

 get it? The advice would probably be worth 5s., 7s. 6cl, or 10s. Gel. to me, 

 as the case may be, and I am very agreeable to pay the fee. But is there any 

 competent authority to whom I can apply, send my fee, and get honest advice 

 in return ? I wish Mr. Editor you would take up the matter for us, and see 

 if you cannot establish some authority to give us what we ask for. 



Amateur. 



[Oh, that we had 3s. id. for every query answered, or 6s. 8d. for every letter wo write on 

 such subjects as our respected correspondent speaks of. "We fear so long as editors are so 

 yielding and indulgent as those of the Journal of Horticulture and Gardeners' Chronicle arc, 

 there is little prospect of success for any professional adviser on these subjects. — Eds. F. & P.] 



GROSSE CALEBASSE PEAR. 



WITH A.K ILLUSTRATION. 



Syjstonymes. — Calebasse Carafon; Calehasse Monstre ; Calehasse Boy ale ; Gale- 

 basse Monstrueuse du Nord ; Triomphe de Ilasselt ; Van Maruvi. 



Fruits, like individuals, have not all the same merits ; nor are they all 

 adapted to the same uses. Some there are that are essentially useful, while 

 there are others that are simply ornamental. As you select your guests for 

 the dinner table, so is it necessary to select your fruits. The former need not 

 be all philosophers, neither must they be all small-talkers ; and the latter, 

 while they contribute to the gastronomic character of the dessert, should also 

 possess some prominent feature in the way of effect. The subject we have 

 chosen for our present illustration is one having the latter qualification. Its 

 enormous size would of itself recommend it as a fine subject for the dessert ; 

 but even in the point of flavour it is better than many Pears we have seen set 

 down and eaten at more than one table. 



The Grosse Calebasse is a seedling of Van Mons, and is mentioned in 

 his Catalogue of 1823, in the " deuxieme serie," named Van Marum. The 

 name by which it is now generally known appears to have originated with 

 Poiteau, in the " Annales de la Societe d' Horticulture de Paris," xv., 374. 



The fruit, as will be seen by our figure so admirably drawn by Mrs. Dix, 

 is of the largest size and of the form of the Calebasse. The flesh is not fine- 

 grained, and is crisp and juicy ; sometimes it is half melting, as was the case 

 with the specimen from which our figure was taken, very juicy and sweet, but 

 without much aroma. 



The tree is perfectly hardy, makes a good pyramid, and bears well. 



The specimen from which our figure was taken was obligingly sent us by 

 Mr. George Lee, of Clevedon, near Bristol. 



