February 16, 1882.] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
135 
1 have sometimes covered the surface of a bed with turves some 
2 or 3 inches thick turned upside down, and into these turves the 
plants were dibbled a few inches apart. At planting-out time 
a sharp knife was run between the rows, leaving each plant with 
a firm ball of turf. At the present time there are some loamy 
fields outside our garden where the moles are throwing up fine 
yellow mounds, and these are being wheeled in and mixed with 
old Musbjoun bed material for the reception of our young vege 
tables.—A Kitchen Gardener. 
PEAR NOUVEAU POITEAU. 
Although not one of the most symmetrical and handsome of 
Pears, yet the variety now figured is one of the largest, and not 
unfrequently one of the best of its season—late autumn. It is 
not by any means largely grown, possibly because when seen on 
the exhibition table it is not so attractive as some others. When, 
however, the fruit is in good condition it is usually “ much better 
than it looks,” which is more than can be said of many fruits. 
The tree grows and bears freely, but this Pear is better adapted 
to the south than the north, and in all cold districts it deserves 
the aid of a wall. The following is the description and origin of 
Nouveau Poiteau— 
Fruit very large ; obtuse-obovate or pyramidal. Skin greenish 
yellow or pale yellow, mottled and streaked with pale brown 
russet. Eye closed, placed in a slight depression. Stalk 1 to 
inch long, obliquely inserted in a small cavity. Flesh fine¬ 
grained, buttery, melting, and very juicy, rich, sugary, and highly 
perfumed. A first-rate Pear ; ripe during November, but keeps 
only a short time. It is a seedling of Van Mons, which first fruited 
in iS!3, and was named in honour of M. Poiteau of Paris, Director 
of the Royal Gardens, and who was an eminent pomologist. 
EXPERIMENTS WITH PLANT LABELS. 
In that interesting little book, “ Notes and Thoughts on Gardens 
and Woodlands,” by the late Miss Hope of Wardie, at page 1C3 
are these words, “ A cheap tally that will not decay or be lost 
has yet to be invented.” Most hardy-plant growers will agree 
with this. Having occasion to use some thousands of labels in 
my field and wood garden, and not having found one which 
answered all requirements, I suggested to the Secretary of the 
