December 15, 1881.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
537 
period of protracted drought; and not only are Strawberries fruit¬ 
ing in the open, but Apples, Pears, and Plums are blossoming now 
at the expense of next year’s crop. Asparagus mulched down 
for the winter is throwing up good heads. Carrots sown in 
August have come a good crop, and early Potatoes left in the 
ground have made shoots 2 or 3 inches above the soil. Wall¬ 
flowers, Polyanthus. Primroses, Auriculas, Violets, with Phlox 
Drummondi and Stocks, are in full bloom. Autumn-sown 
Lettuces, and even spring Broccoli, are coming in, and Parsnips 
in the ground are running to seed. 
Such are a few of the eccentricities of the seasons in 1881 ; but 
perhaps the worst feature is that the well-ripened wood of Boses 
and other shrubs are making young growth, in some cases an inch 
in length, almost down to the bottom buds ; and I fear that in case 
of ordinary sharp weather succeeding, this can mean nothing less 
than total destruction in many cases, ami it behoves all gardeners 
to be prepared for the worst.—T. Laxton, Bedford. 
BEURRE BACHELIER PEAR. 
The Pear, a typical example of which is represented in the 
annexed engraving, possesses in favourable soils a combination 
of good properties. The tree grows well without being gross, 
and bears freely. On the Pear stock it makes a fine wall tree, 
and on the Quince a fruitful cordon and productive pyramid. It 
is, moreover, a very hardy Pear, and we have seen it produce 
Fig. 84.—Beurrk bachelier. 
excellent [fruit on espaliers in northern districts, while in the 
south we have gathered grand specimens. The quality of the 
fruit varies considerably with soils and seasons, as also does the 
period of ripening. In good condition it is juicy, buttery, and 
richly flavoured, and decidedly ranks as a first-rate Pear both for 
the home, dessert, and exhibition purposes. The fruit is usually 
in use in December, but this year we had specimens fully ripe a 
month before we expected them. The abnormally high mean 
temperature of November has no doubt accelerated the ripening 
of this and other Pears, though other causes moic or less obscure 
may have contributed to their precocity. The following is the 
description of this useful and excellent Pear—Fruit large and 
obovate, somewhat irregular in its outline. Skin greenish yellow 
strewed with russety dots. Eye small and closed, set in a shallow 
basin. Stalk short. Flesh buttery and melting, rich, juicy, 
sugary, and aromatic. 
Vapourisers.— In answer to “A Lover of Horticulture” allow 
me to say that my gardeners use a pair of bellows, at the end of which 
is a brass ball containing the liquid you want to inject on the pla nts 
The spray is very fine, and the bellows can be worked in any positi on 
My gardeners are very much pleased with them ; they are cal led 
Soufilet Injecteur Pillon. I obtained mine in Paris at Allez Frere’s, 
a well-known shop.—J. Freeman. 
PROTECTING ROSES. 
« D., Beal," is more fortunate than me. He writes to warn us 
not to be too anxious to protect our Roses ; rather “ unprotect,” 
he says, by putting the fork under them, and so bringing the sap 
down to inquire what is the matter with the roots. Twelve months 
ago I wrote to the Journal giving similar advice, and saying, 
moreover, that the season being so mild, any “ cossetting ” would 
increase the destruction should very severe weather ensue. But, 
unfortunately for me, before my notes were printed a frost of 26° 
had made itself felt. We all remember the very sudden and 
extreme change at the end of last year. 
But when “ D., Deal,” says that as many Teas are as hardy as 
