414 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ NoTeml)er 6, 1884. 
exist but who enjoy a summer juicy Pear plucked from the tree and eaten 
beneath its shade ; there is no tear of the Pear tasting woolly then. Take 
the opposite season, when snow and rain and wind are driving and 
splashing and blowing against the window pane, but all is snug and cosy 
within, when in these temperance days Walnuts and wine are, perhaps, 
passed—for who cares save an omnivorous schoolboy for Walnuts without 
.he wine ?—then the dish of Pears is drawn to the side of the table, and the 
Bergamotte Esperen, or the Josephine de Malines, or, less in size but the 
quite as agreeable in flavour Knight’s Monarch, are discussed with relish. 
However the frost may bite outside, a Pear is relished inside. 
Put Pears must advance, too, for this reason—the Grape, the Peach, 
Nectarine, and Apricot have to quit our open walls to secure a good and 
well-tasting crop, and must be grown under glass, while the Pear and the 
Plum must take their places on the walls, and will there prosper and pay 
their owners, while grown in the open they only prosper and pay now and 
then. Such is our English climate, that even in the well-known Villa 
Fields in the parish of Bathwick, near Bath, the poor renters of different 
portions had not even this year a crop sufficient to pay their rent. All the 
trees them are Pears and Plums, the fruit of which, of course, have a 
ready sale in a fashionable watering place. But Pears on a wall are 
another thing altogether. 
In the fourth edition the number of Pears described is 584 ; in the fifth 
their number is 634, a gain of 50, many of them b-ing perry Pears. 
Query, Does anyone drink perry now except in Herefordshire 1 Surely 
this might be a universal beverage like cider. Both are better than common, 
cheap, unwholesome claret, in which, as someone somewhat plainh’- said, 
there may not be headache in a dozen, but there is a stomach-ache in a 
glass; and yet this wretched stuff is imported in vast quantities from 
France, while wholesome cider and perry, English-made, might be drunk, 
and refresh the tired and thirsty, and in moderation do no harm at all. 
Dr. Hogg begins the Pear division of his ’oook with “ an outline ” of a 
classification of this fruit—not a complete system at present, owing to 
the hindrances of bad season following bad season preventing his 
•obtaining specimens. This classification is a new feature of the work, 
and when completed there will be, as in Apples, “ judgment from the 
inside.” The Doctor’s ground of judging seems to be from length of 
base of stalk to the base of the eye, as contrasted with the lateral diameter, 
longer or shorter ; also measurement from cells to eye, or to base of stalk. 
'This classification seems to be beset with difficulties, as the structure 
of the same fruits varies. Varying Nature does not like to be bound 
by rule, I have said the number of Pears described is 634. I possess an 
oldish work called “ The Orchard,” bearing date 1839, in which the 
number of Pears described is only seventy. What an advance from 1839 
to 1884. Among the synonyms of the Amire Joannet I do not find its 
"Worcestershire market name, “ The Early Jennet.” There might, I 
think, have been a list of Pears called “ Market Pears,” as a guide to 
those who get their living by the sale of fruit, such, for instance, as the 
Autumn Bergamot, Aston Town, and others. I welcome as an improve¬ 
ment a list of “ The best perry Pears.” Our author rarely breaks into 
poetry or sentiment, but he poetically, and gallantly too, speaks of “ The 
side of the Belle Julie next the sun in its warm reddish brown glow, 
being like a hlusJi ”—a very pretty description indeed. I am from 
my experience in Wiltshire, alas ! utterly unable to endorse the praise 
given to Beurre d’Amanlis, which I can only describe as a handsome 
Pear without the least flavour, a very Turnip, though it improves slightly 
with time : but it is a favourite with gardeners—and why ? Because it 
wins prizes from its good shape and large size. Beurrd Bose, again, even 
if grown on a wall, is an utter failure here. I notice that Mr. Blackmore 
says of Beurrd Diel that it is “ A Pear of coarse texture and vastly over¬ 
rated.” With me it was a failure, so I cut it down. Of Beurrd Hardy I 
cannot write too highly—tree and fruit both beautiful. My own private 
note upon Beurrd Ranee runs thus :—” This Pear is useless, as it will not 
ripen as a rule.” In regard to the Black Worcester Pear I transcribe 
my note for what it is worth, “ The arms of the city of Worcester are 
an argent fesse between three Pears sable, from which arms the name of 
Black Worcester probably came.” 
Dr. Hogg does not reprint in this edition Loudon’s mistake in regard 
do the term Wardens being given to Pears because of their property of 
keeping, but gives an interesting account of the meaning of Wardens 
under that title, part of which I had the great pleasure of supplying 
him ; but as Shakespeare turned copper into gold, so he has added much 
that is valuable to my note. I fear that intending growers of Chau- 
montel must be warned that it very rarely can be ripened in Englami ; 
the best English-grown I have ever tasted were from Kent. I am 
pleased to see that Mr. Blackmore says of Doyenne du Comice, “ This is 
tr my mind the best of all Pears,” agreeing with Dr, Smee, who calls it 
“ A Pear exquisitely delicious.” 
We pass on from Durondeau with its splendid colour to T. A. KnighJs 
seedling Dunmore, named after a place in Stirlingshire. Dr. Hogg 
speaks of the Jargonelle being the Pear of the city of Perth ; so also does 
the pretty market Pear beloved of children, the Lammas or Huntingdon, 
stick to that county, and is taken in bushels to the neighbouring markets. 
Louise Bonne of Jersey is the perfection of a Pear, but is alas ! somewhat 
delicate, and must have a wall, where it is sure to reward its possessor. 
I think that the time of ripening of Madame Treyve is incorrect, and 
that instead of the beginning of September it is not ripe until October 
is well in. Of Marie Louise it must alas ! be written that it blossoms 
veiy badly, withstands the frosts of spring, and then is rarely a crop ; so 
its possessors after a few years unwillingly cut it down. As to Knight’s 
best Pear, Monarch, if its fruit is left for a long time on the tree, and if 
grown in a sheltered condition, as the fruit blows off easily, it is a Pear 
of wonderful fine flavour. I must also speak a word in favour of the 
old stewing Pear, Uvedale’s St. Germain, which I find better in all ways, 
and very much more prolific than Catillac. Dr. Uvedale, says Mr. 
Thorne in his “ Environs of London,” lived at Enfield Palace, Enfield, in 
ICGO, and was master of a grammar school there, and was devoted to the 
study of botany ; his garden was greatly celebrated, and his connection 
with the Palace is even now preserved by the great Cedar which he 
planted and is believed to be the very oldest in the country, and of which 
the people of Enfield are justly proud. Another old Pear deserves a 
word of commendation—it is little potato-like looking Winter Nelis ; let 
none despise its common look, but prove it by tasting. I have once in 
my life saved its being cut down because of its ill looks ; beauty is only 
skin deep, and shape and size not everything in Pears. 
I must now conclude my review of this charming book, which is 
well arranged, clearly written, and eminently instructive. If a gentle¬ 
man wants to know something of fruits let him study this book, and he 
will soon know much. If a young gardener wishes to be well informed 
on the subject of pomology let him study its pages diligently ; while 
those who know much of the science will gladly have this work by them 
for reference. This edition of the “ Fruit Manual ” is just up to the 
present time. Like an instantaneous photograph, it has caught its subject 
as it is, and fixed it for our benefit. I can only wish and hope that Dr. 
Hogg may be spared to give us future elitions in future years.— 
Wiltshire Rector. 
GUMMING ROSES. 
At our last Show a case of gumming Roses was discovered, and after 
the exhibitor had prevaricated and then confessed, he was unanimously 
disqualified. Afterwards, at his earnest solicitation, it was resolved to 
obtain an opinion from the National Rose Society, and to reconsider the 
resolution of disqualification if necessary. In order that this position shall 
appear quite clear, the concluding paragraph of the case sent by us is 
given :—“ The Committee of the National Rose Society are therefore asked 
their opinion upon the practice of gumming, and to give it their official 
approval or condemnation.” To our utter astonishment, after waiting 
some months, we received from the Hon. Secretary a “ decision ” that the 
exhibitor was not disqualified and that the medals had been sent to him. 
To this treatment the Committee decidedly object, and have protested their 
discontent. Until this time we had thought the National Society repre¬ 
sented the English rosarians, but this extraordinary action led us to doubt 
whether it was really a representative body. We therefore addressed a 
letter to about thirty of the leading Rose-growers in England, and are not 
a little pleaded to find that they strongly condemn the practice and award 
disqualification as the punishment, exactly as we did and exactly as the 
National Rose Society didn’t. As this is by no means an unimportant 
question, perhaps you will find room for a few of the opinions we have 
received. 
Messrs. Cranston & Co., Hereford—“ Gumming Roses for exhibition is 
decidedly illegal, and would not be tolerated by our National Rose 
Society. Any person found guilty of such a dishonourable practice 
should be excluded from exhibiting at any future shows.” 
Mr. Bruce Findlay, Royal Botanic Gardens, Manchester—“I have to 
say that I consider such a proceeding altogether unsound, and if we found 
out any person guilty of such a practice he would not be allowed to 
exhibit again at our exhibitions, and I should be inclined to label him a 
trickster.” 
Mr. George Baker, Holmfels—“ I most unhesitatingly say that in my 
judgment the application of gum to the centre of Roses intended to be 
staged for exhibition is neither legitimate nor fair to other exhibitors.” 
Mr. Joseph Hinton, Warminster—“ I believe it to be illegitimate, 
dishonourable, and unfair to other exhibitors; nay, I go further, I 
consider it obtaining, or striving to obtain, money under false pretences. 
It is absolutely indefensible, and should receive well-deserved punish¬ 
ment.” 
Mr. T. B. Hall, Wirral Rose Society—“ In my opinion any case ef 
gumming the centre of a Rose should certainly disqualify any exhibitor, 
and I hope the National Rose Society will pass a resolution to this 
effect.” 
Mr. Benjamin R. Cant, Colchester—“ If I were a judge and discovered 
that any Rose blooms exhibited were gummed, I should most certainly 
disqualify the stand, and I expressed that view at a meeting of the 
National Rose Society held recently in London.” 
“ Mr. William Barron, Derby and Nottingham—“ Any attempt to 
deceive judges by doctoring flowers for exhibition ought at once to 
disqualify any such exhibitor. ‘ Honesty is the best policy ’ ” 
“ Messrs. Richard Smith & Co., Worcester—“ The practice referred to 
is a most reprehensible one, and is regarded by all the lead'ng societies 
as sufficient to disqualify the offender from ever exhibiting again at any 
future hows.” 
Mr. E. R. Whitwell, Barton Hall, near Darlington—“ I have no hesita¬ 
tion in saying that I consider such a practice neither honourable nor fair 
to other exhibitors, and I think it should disqualify a stand.” 
Mr. R. H. Vertegans, Birmingham—‘‘It is a most reprehensible prac¬ 
tice, and should be discountenanced by all committees of such exhibitions. 
Of course it would disqualify an exhibitor from exhibiting at any of our 
great Rose shows ; therefore your Committee would be perfectly justified 
in disqualifying any exhibitor who cairies on such a practice.” 
Mr. Julius Sladden, Badsey, Evesjjam—‘‘I consider the practice of 
gumming the centres of Roses anything b::t legitimate, and a 1 ox con¬ 
taining any flowers so treated should in my opii ion be disqualified. Com - 
