January 27, 1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
the earth from some imaginary planet; thus Darwin was blamed 
for saying that man “ sported ” from the monkey ; and thus igno¬ 
rant persons who believe in spontaneous generation quote 
Huxley (!) in support of their ridiculous views. 
I might have replied at more length, but 1, it is hardly worth 
while, and 2, I fear to trespass on your space. In the meantime 
I would urge young gardeners to study those sciences which bear 
on their profession, such as botany, and more especially physio¬ 
logical botany ; geology, and chemistry, more especially agricul¬ 
tural chemistry. The great majority of men who read, study 
science in some of its branches now-a-days, and we think it a pity 
that all clergymen should not. It is certain that even clever men 
who try to ridicule what they know nothing of only make them¬ 
73 
selves ridiculous. Science is not what people in general think, 
and it certainly is not what it is represented to be by *• D., Deal." 
Observation becomes scientific when it becomes accurate and 
painstaking, and we become scientific men when we are thus 
accurate in our observations. Science does not spin theories 
merely; it ascertains facts. True enough, ridiculous theories 
have been spun and science been burdened with the name of 
them, but science is not to blame for the fancies and vagaries of 
those who rave in her name.— Single-handed. 
PEAR DURONDEAU. 
As a late autumn Pear this is one of the finest. In size, colour, 
Fig. 15 —Durondeau. 
and quality it is meritorious, and a dish of well-grown specimens 
is not easily surpassed on the exhibition table. The finest fruit— 
especially in colour, which is sometimes very brilliant—is obtained 
from trees on walls having a good aspect; but excellent produce 
is gathered from pyramid and espalier trees in good situations. 
In the north it does not colour so well as in the southern counties; 
nevertheless it is a hardy variety, and a good if not a heavy 
bearer. A fine dish is imposing on the dessert table, and those 
who grow Pears for exhibition should include it in their collec¬ 
tions. The “ Fruit Manual ” description of this Pear is as follows :— 
“ Fruit large and handsome, regularly formed ; obtuse pyriform, 
and small at the stalk. Skin shining, as if varnished, on the side 
next the sun, where it is of a lively crimson, marked with broken 
streaks of darker crimson, and covered with large grey russet dots ; 
on the shaded side it is yellow, with a thin crust of cinnamon 
russet, and large russet dots. Eye small and open, set in a rather 
deep cavity. Stalk an inch long, very slender, and inserted on 
the end of the fruit. Flesh very tender, melting, and very juicy, 
sweet, rich, and delicious. A first-rate and beautiful Pear ; ripe 
in the end of October and beginning of November. 
“ The original tree exists in the garden of the late M. Durondeau, 
at the village of Tongre-Notre-Dame, near Ath, in Belgium.” 
ZONAL PELARGONIUMS FOR WINTER—GUILLON 
MANGILLI. 
“ J. D.” at page 48 asks for information respecting this semi¬ 
double Zonal, which in my opinion is one of the most distinct in 
colour and the freest bloomers of all the semi-double varieties. I 
always understood it was one of M. Lemoine’s seedlings, as he 
