December 23,1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
573 
of the corn could not be ground, and a great deal was mixed up with 
roughly ground Indian corn, and flavoured to induce the cattle to eat 
it. The crop of ordinary garden seeds was also far below its usual 
quality, and some of the favourite garden flowers were consequently 
very poor. Among the special features of the year may be mentioned 
the great quantity of certain insects. Aphides were in astonishing num¬ 
bers in the early part of the year. The Apple shoots before the leaves 
expanded were in almost every case covered with this green fly, and 
among wild plants the Guelder Rose was especially attacked by them. 
Wasps, again, have been in extraordinary numbers, and dreadful 
accounts of them have been sent to the various entomological periodi¬ 
cals ; their numbers appear to have exceeded all previous experience. 
The larvae of the Gooseberry moth and of the Gooseberry sawfly 
have also been extremely destructive ; and finally, as an undoubted 
result of the wet season of 1879, the larvae of the cranefly have been 
a perfect plague in some localities, and sheep ticks in others. The 
scarcity of small birds has been generally noticed ; some, no doubt, 
perished from the cold, but vast numbers had migrated. The enor¬ 
mous numbers of larks which hastened to the eastern counties on the 
outbreak of cold weather was astonishing. 
PEAR VAN MONS LEON LECLERC. 
In any reference to Pears that usually ripen in November, 
numerous and good as they are, this imposing variety must not be 
omitted. It is not only one of the most handsome of Pears, but is 
of excellent quality, and the tree is a good grower and bearer. It 
Fig. 103— Pear van mons lkon leclerc. 
makes one of the finest of wall trees, and is worthy of a good 
position ; it is also well suited for growing as an espalier, while it 
makes a good pyramid on the Pear stock. In sheltered places it 
succeeds as a standard, but to have fruit of the largest size the 
tree should be trained to a wall. The specimen figured was 
gathered from a diagonal cordon, The following is the descrip¬ 
tion of the variety :— 
Fruit large, sometimes very large, 4 or 5 inches long, and 2f to 
3 inches wide ; oblong-pyramidal, undulating and uneven in its 
outline. Skin green at first, but changing to dull yellow, covered 
with dots and tracings of russet. Eye open, with spreading 
segments, set in a shallow basin. Stalk 1 to 1^ inch long, curved, 
and inserted in a shallow cavity. Flesh yellowish white, buttery, 
and melting, very juicy, rich, and with a delicious sprightly 
vinous flavour. 
This Pear was raised by M. Leon Leclerc of Laval, formerly 
Deputy for the department of Maine, and named in honour of 
Dr. Van Mons. The tree first fruited in 1828. 
TYDiEAS. 
These plants are amongst the most beautiful that can adorn 
the stove, no matter at what season of the year they are produced. 
Even in summer they are delightful, and quite distinct from 
Achimenes. During autumn and winter they are invaluable, 
and will flower profusely throughout the dreariest and darkest 
months of the year. It is surprising that Tydseas are not grown 
more largely in the majority of gardens, when the easiness with 
which they are cultivated is taken into consideration compared 
with that of many plants not nearly so beautiful. They continue 
