88 THE FLORIST AND 
Treated as above, they recovered perfectly, and this year fruit has been 
kept on the stronger branches ; the quantity exceeded all expectation. 
The trees were, it its true, transplanted with the greatest care, and then all 
the roots were taken up for a yard and a half at least from the stem. 
The same plan was followed on an occasion when an old orchard [Norman- 
die) was destroyed ; the trees from it were transplanted here and there in 
the kitchen garden, and they have yielded excellent fruit. 
The pyramids which were not cut down yielded this year as many as 
eight pears each, of good quality. Amongst them were some Duchesses 
(d'Angouleme) which were not less than a foot in circumference, and to all 
appearance the next gathering will be much more abundant. 
These facts lead to the conclusion that cutting down is not indispensable, 
and that it is not wise inconsiderately to sacrifice that which is useful, and 
so to defer, for perhaps four years, the production of the means of enjoy- 
ment. 
. I am aware that the necessity for cutting down is attributed to the 
horizontal position which the lateral branches of the bottom of the pyramid 
must be compelled to take, in spite of their tendency to grow upwards. 
But this necessity is by no means so obvious when it is remembered that 
there are many trees which, without being cut down, have their branches 
brought from a vertical to a horizontal position by the weight of their fruit. 
So much is this the case in many instances that the branches have either 
to be propped up from below or tied back from above. — M. Bardoriy in 
Revue Sorticole. 
CENTRADENIA ROSEA. 
Though not very showy, this is really a useful little plant, which, under 
ordinary cultivation, may be made to blossom abundantly all through the 
winter and spring. Cuttings struck early this month, and properly attended 
to, will be bushy plants by the end of June, at which time they should be in 
5-inch pots, and should be removed from the stove or propagating house to 
a light and airy greenhouse shelf. If large specimens are not wanted, they 
should not be shifted after this, but should be allowed to become somewhat 
pot-bound, and they will not require any further attention, except moderate 
waterings till the end of September, when a few of the plants may be intro- 
duced to a light and warm shelf in a stove or intermediate house, where a 
