80 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



Other species, as Stanhopea oculata, Lycaste Skinneri, and Odontoglossum 

 grande, have developed their flower-buds. The result of these experiments 

 shows that tropical Orchids are much more hardy than they are generally 

 supposed to be. 



ARAUCARIA CUNNINGHAMII, OR LANCEOLATA. 



This, in my opinion, cannot ever become a very favourite ornamental tree. 

 In the first place it is not generally hardy ; and where it does live and make an 

 annual growth when planted to the exposure and vicissitudes of all weathers, 

 it wears a very rusty appearance many months in the year, through its aptitude 

 of making late autumn growth. One plant here planted high and dry amongst 

 the rocks in a rockery and well sheltered in every direction and pretty much 

 shaded, maintains its colour throughout the year well, and has rather a- nice 

 and exotic appearance. This tree is about 25 feet high, and has produced 

 cones for several years. I have also seen a nice healthy plant at Sir Thomas 

 Ackland's, at Killerton. 



Bicton. James Barnes. 



BRITISH QUEEN PEAR. 



WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 



It always affords us infinite pleasure to be able to announce the appearance 

 of a new British fruit of real merit. We have been so far behind our conti- 

 nental neighbours in raising new varieties to any extent, that it is gratifying 

 when we hear of any new success in this branch of horticulture. While it is 

 true that we have not raised so many new varieties of fruits as our industrious 

 penological friends the Belgians have done, still the labours of our own 

 pomologists have not been without their reward. The Apples and Pears of 

 Mr, Knight, of Downton Castle, and Mr. Williams, of Pitmaston, stand out 

 prominently as some of the best fruits of their class ; while the persevering 

 labours of Mr. Rivers among Peaches and Nectarines have met with a singular 

 measure of success. 



Mr. Ingram, gardener to Her Majesty at Frogmore, is one of the few pro- 

 fessional gardeners who have directed their attention to the hybridising and 

 raising of seedling fruits. The subject which we now bring under the notice 

 of : readers is one of his raising. A few months before the decease of 

 His Royal Highness the late Prince Consort, some of the fruit was sent to 

 Her Majesty at Balmoral. His Royal Highness was so pleased with the 

 fruit that he characterised it as the best Pear he had ever tasted. 



The fruit is large and pyramidal, somewhat undulating in its outline, and 

 very handsome in its appearance. The skin is smooth and shining, of a fine 

 golden yellow colour, freckled with patches of thin delicate cinnamon-coloured 

 russet, and with sometimes a blush of lively crimson on the side which has 

 been much exposed to the sun. The eye is small, with short, narrow segments, 

 and set in a considerable hollow. Stalk about an inch long, stout, sometimes 

 obliquely inserted, but generally straight with the axis of the fruit, and inserted 

 in a round narrow cavity. Flesh yellowish-white, very fine-grained and 

 buttery, with an abundanrc of juice, which is rich, sugary, and piquant, and 

 with a fine aroma. 



A very excellent dessert Pear, ripe in October. It received a First-class 

 Certificate from the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, and 

 the stock is, we believe, in the possession of Mr. Turner, of Slough. 



