322 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. r October 7 , isso. 
cultivators on the varieties that were referred to in the dis¬ 
cussion. 
First, as to the earliest or summer Pears that ripen in July 
or early August according to seasons and districts. There are 
hut few of these, only the following being named :—Amire 
Joannet or Harvest Pear, Petit Muscat or Small Cluster Pear, 
Doyenne d’Ete or Summer Doyenne, and the Green Chisel. 
Of these the Petit Muscat and Green Chisel were only men¬ 
tioned once each by two cultivators, and the weight of evidence 
was overwhelmingly in favour of Doyenne d’Ete and the Harvest 
Pear, the former for growing as pyramids on the Quince for 
affording early dessert fruit, the latter as standards on the 
Pear for yielding larger quantities of juicy Pears for ordinary 
family use and market purposes. These Pears, especially the 
former, soon go “ sleepy," and it is seldom more than from one 
to three trees are required. They are useful and should be 
planted in the open, as wall space can be better employed by 
other varieties. 
Succeeding the above, the following late summer and early 
autumn Pears were named :—Jargonelle, Williams’ Bon Chre¬ 
tien, Citron des Carmes, Clapp’s Favourite, Beurre Giffard, 
Beurre de l’Assomption, Ambrosia, Early Bergamot, Desiree 
Cornelis, Madame Treyve, and Souvenir du Congres. 
Jargonelle and Williams' Bon Chretien were regarded as 
indispensable, as they were found to succeed in all soils where 
Pears will grow, and in all districts. Both of them bear early 
on the Quince, but make finer and fruitful trees on the Pear 
stock. They are adapted for the north aspect of walls in 
the south and midlands, and for standards and espaliers almost 
anywhere except in the extreme north and very cold localities, 
where they require the shelter of walls ; indeed, a tree of each 
is worthy of a good aspect on a wall in any garden where space 
can be found for the production of early and fine fruit. It 
may be said that of all the Pears mentioned in the discussion 
none met such wide and general approval as Williams' Bon 
Chretien. It was elicited that a Mr. Stair (not Wheeler as 
was generally supposed), a schoolmaster at Aldermaston in 
Berkshire, was the raiser of this popular Pear, which is known 
in the locality as “ Stair’s Pear.” 
Citron des Carmes was described by many as a useful Pear, 
especially as a standard for orchards, but in some very strong 
soils and cold districts the fruit often cracked more or less 
seriously. It is, no doubt, a serviceable Pear for the purpose 
indicated, but possesses neither the good appearance nor high 
quality of some other varieties ; still a tree or two should be 
included in most collections. 
Clapp’s Favourite was very highly spoken of by Mr. Abbey, 
who described it as much more tempting than Jargonelle, pos¬ 
sessing all its qualities with the addition of a musky aroma, 
the tree being grown on a Pear stock, and favoured with a 
south-west aspect in a high and exposed site in Yorkshire. This 
is undoubtedly a very excellent Pear, and will in all probability 
become more extensively cultivated as its merits become better 
known. 
Ambrosia is considered by Mr. Lumsden of Bloxholm, a 
gardener of great experience and sound judgment, as the “best 
autumn Pear." Grown as an espalier in a walled garden in 
Lincolnshire the fruit ripens before Williams’ Bon Chretien. 
It is a great bearer and of excellent musky flavour. It is a 
round medium-sized fruit of delicious quality, but does not 
keep long after it is gathered. An espalier pyramid or a 
standard may well be groAvn where space can be afforded. 
Beurre Giffard did not meet with anything like unanimous 
approval; while it Avas favourably spoken of by some cul¬ 
tivators as a good groAver, free bearer, and of acceptable 
quality, by others its aromatic flavour Avas not liked, “ Wilt¬ 
shire Rector" for instance, an undoubtedly good judge of 
Pears, neA 7 er being able to eat more than half a fruit at a time 
of this variety. It was further elicited that it has another 
drawback — namely, early, very early floAvering, and the 
blossoms, except in favourable seasons and localities, being 
liable to injury or destruction by frost. It is quite distinct in 
flavour, and those who like highly perfumed Pears should 
groAV this variety. 
Beurre de l’Assomption avas described by those Avho have 
groAvn it as a Pear of first-rate quality and handsome in 
appearance. It is the largest of all the early Pears, but to 
have it exceptionally fine it should be grown in a good position 
against a Avail, of which it is worthy. It grows Avell on both 
the Pear and Quince stocks, on the latter making a good 
pyramid, in which form, and in a good position, fruit of the 
highest quality is produced, but not nearly of such fine 
appearance as that produced by a wall tree. It may here be 
mentioned that many, probably the majority, of early Pears 
are of better quality when grown in the open than against 
Avails, which suggests that wall space should as much as 
possible be devoted to later A 7 arieties, or to a tree or two of 
such of the earlies which are desired to yield fruit as early as 
possible and of the first size and appearance. 
Souvenir du Congres, like the preceding, has not been 
extensively fruited. All Avho have groAvn it describe it as a 
Arnry large and handsome Pear and of excellent quality, yet in 
the latter respect not quite equalling its prototype Williams’ 
Bon Chretien. It is not spoken of as a free bearer, but, 
on the contrary, is stated by some cultivators to be rather shy. 
It is a very imposing fruit, fine for exhibition, and makes a 
handsome and good dish. To have fine fruit the tree must 
haA 7 e the assistance of a wall. The general opinion, so far as 
it has found expression, of this Pear is that it is larger, later, 
but not better than Williams' Bon Chretien. 
Desiree Cornelis, although it does not appear to be largely 
groAvn, has been accorded the high approval that it merits as a 
delicious summer dessert Pear. The tree is a good grower and 
bearer, and makes a handsome pyramid on the Quince. Growm 
against a Avail the fruit is larger but not better, and there is no 
doubt whateA r er that this Pear would succeed well as a standard 
in favourable districts, and in some form or other it is certainly 
well worthy of cultivation. 
Madame Treyve does not appear to be so extensively groAvn 
as its merits deserve. Those Avho haA 7 e had experience with it 
speak in high approval of its quality, and it is undoubtedly a 
very fine Pear of the first quality. In most localities it 
requires the aid of a wall, Avhich it well deserves, to produce 
fruit in fine condition. This is a Pear that those who do not 
possess it may safely add to their collections. 
As successional varieties to those aboArn mentioned the fol¬ 
lowing Pears have been submitted for consideration, and most 
of them have been figured and incidentally alluded to by 
correspondents :—Summer Beurre d’Aremberg, Hessle, Suffolk 
Thorn, Beurre Superfin, Beurre Hardy, Comte de Lamy, Emile 
d’Heyst, Doyenne du Comice, Flemish Beaut} 7 , Bonne d’Ezee 
(syn. Brockworth Park), Fondante d'Automne, Louise Bonne 
of Jersey, Marechal de Cour, Marie Louise, Marie Louise 
d’Uccle, and Pitmaston Duchess ; and further particulars from 
various districts of these or any other Pears ripening during 
October and November Avould be opportune and instructive. 
THE GLADIOLUS. 
RIPENING the corms—disease—culture. 
I find the present time of year the most critical in the man¬ 
agement of this noble plant, the ripening or non-ripening of 
the corms having a great effect not only on the succeeding 
season’s flowering but on the health of the plants. A few re¬ 
marks on how I treat these may therefore be useful. We have 
all heard of the Gladiolus disease, and some of us have had 
practical experience of it, how the young plants turn yellow and 
sickly, and in most cases dwindle away and die before the 
summer is far advanced. Notwithstanding the very bad seasons 
we have lately experienced I have not seen the disease for at least 
three years, and, strange as it may appear, it was a bad season 
that led me to the means of successfully treating the disease. One 
of these bad seasons which set in a few years back gave us at 
lifting time a lot of small unripened corms ; these were well 
attended to the following year, and instead of alloAving them to 
ripen, the whole stock was lifted with balls of soil attached, some 
being placed in pots and others planted in inside borders. I have 
ever since lifted the corms and ripened them off indoors and with 
the most satisfactory results. This year the plants are in robust 
health, and have been flowering since the end of July. 
Though this has been an extra fine season the young corms 
received a checks through the severe drought, and are only now 
making up for time previously lost. Though some of the stock is 
ripening in the ground I shall lift most of them and ripen them 
