176 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Aujmk 26, 1586. 
in every way better class. Yet we have only to name such a 
thing and we are met on every hand with the complaint: “ They 
bring nothing ; do not pay the cost of carriage : it is not any 
use trying to compete with the foreigner ; the climate and 
labour is all in the favour of.France, or some other country; the 
shippers bring the produce as ballast, and the railway companies 
carry it from one end of the country to the other for next to 
nothing.” 
Of course there is something to be said on both sides. We 
have stated what we think tells against the grower outside his 
own efforts, and he must be told what militates most against his 
being able to compete with importers, and that is—1, Not taking 
advantage of the improved varieties, so as to supply the market 
with produce equal, if not surpassing, in appearance and quality 
that of importers. 2, The little or no attention given to fruit 
culture in tbe last decade, and in many instances not in the last 
three. Farm orchards are for most part an assemblage of old 
worn-out trees exhibiting no feature of interest, and certainly 
are a source of little if any profit It does not pay to have Crabs 
in place of Apples, nor to keep an old stunted or worn-out tree, 
affording nothing but worthless fruit or scarce worth taking to 
market, when by a slight outlay a good return would accrue. If 
the foreigner is to be kept from underselling the home producer, 
the latter must grow as good or better produce, selling at 
a price that would preclude the former from the market. 
There must be a fair adjustment of rates—no favour shown 
to anyone, and that it can and will be done I am confident of ; 
only that spirit of energy and perseverance which admits no 
denial can be roused so as to put forth its strength. When the 
orchardist gets rid of his dreams of realising high prices for 
fruit which, as compared with the best of garden produce, is 
little than Crab in size, and will take to the production of fruit, 
so as to sell it good and cheap, he will be a long way toward the 
goal of his aspirations—viz., being able to compete with foreign 
growers in the English market, but he must leave “Doubting 
Castle,’' dig himself out of the “ Slough of Despond ” by superior 
cultivation, and grow everything of the best and at the cheapest 
possible rate. To meet this want the late Mr. Thomas Rivers 
devoted a lifetime, and his efforts are bringing forth noble fruit 
through the continued able efforts in the same direction of the 
son, Mr. T. F. Rivers. In the raising of new and improved 
varieties of Pears and other fruits the presiding genius of Saw- 
bridgeworth is pre-eminent Enterprise and industrial energy 
can place home products so much higher in excellence as to need 
no protection against universal competition, and though it is 
said to be wise not to prophesy unless you know, I feel confident 
that by utilising the materials at his disposal and persisting in 
the efforts inaugurated by Mr. Rivers, very little need to be 
dreaded by the English orchardist. 
In early Pears St. Swithin (Rivers) must take first rank. In 
appearance it is not unlike Jargonelle, but not quite so large, 
yellowish green, slightly coloured on the sun side. The fruit is 
remarkably juicy, rich, and refreshing, a decided improvement 
on Citron des Carmes, both in size, quality, earliness, and bearing; 
indeed, it is a great bearer, the very best of early Pears. Mr. 
Rivers states in his catalogue that it was raised from the Ca'.e- 
basse Tougard. It seems to have a good constitution, and will 
no doubt succeed as a standard on the Pear, being very healthy 
and productive. 
Thosewhoclingtosma.il Pears can wish for nothing better 
than Doyenne d’Ete, which is a great cropper as a standard on 
the Pear stock. Citron des Carmes is also a good standard tree 
on the Pear stock They are, however, poor as compared with 
St. Swithin, and are only named as showing on which tack to set 
the sails St. Swithin ripens sometimes in July ; this year it 
was gathered on the 12th of August. 
Beacon (Rivers).—This is taking in appearance, being of 
good size and bright in colour, having a melting flesh, though 
somewhat firm, after the style of its parent Crosse Calebasse, 
and the flavour good. The tree is a good grower, healthy, and 
prolific. 
Jargonelle.—Well known and deservedly popular. Does well 
on the Pear as a standard, but in some soils is liable to canker, 
especially on a wet subsoil. As an early wall Pear it has no equal, 
except in Clapp’s Favourite. 
Clapp’s Favourite.—This I have grown over a dozen years. 
It is an American Pear of the very highest excellence. The fruit 
is large, shorter than Jargonelle, handsome in form and colour, 
and the flesh exceedingly juicy, melting, with an agreeable 
slightly musky flavour. These perfumed Pears—viz., Clapp’s 
Favourite, Williams’ Bon Chretien, Seckle, Thompson’s, and 
Knight’s Monarch are very much liked by some palates, just as 
the Bergamot is so esteemed by others. Clapp’s Favourite does 
well on the Pear, better than Jargonelle as a standard, and is 
prolific. Its season is with or only a few days later than J a- 
gonelle. 
I have not had Beurre Giffard once good in thirty years, 
always going at the core. Beurre de l’Assomption is no good 
whatever with me outdoors, though a fine fruit when grown in an 
orchard house. These Pears must need a special soil and 
climate. 
Williams’ Bon Chretien.—With these in the market by the 
middle of August the English grower has little chance. Never 
fear but we shall have an early Williams’; only create a demand 
by getting out of the trash that spoil the hppes of raisers by 
their clinging to obsolete notions. Williams’ is the very best of 
the September Pears, good alike from a wall or standard. I got 
Gs. per bushel last year for standard fruit, and had 10 bushels off 
a tree, and it covered only a rod of ground. It is the small fry, 
the Green Chisel, Hessles, and similar rubbish that do not pay; 
they are a quarter century behind the times 
Madame Treyve.—This comes in about the same time as 
Hessle. it is much finer; fruit green in a deep loam, but has 
some colour where there is lime; large, melting, and in every 
respect excellent, crops well as a standard, and keeps some little 
time. 
Beurre Superfin.—A finer quality fruit could not be wished, 
and it does fairly well in the south as a standard, on the Pear, 
but In the north I did not find it good as a standard, being much 
pitted. It is a capital sort, especially on siliceous or calcareous 
soils. 
Beurre d’Amanlis.—Large and excellent, and is best_ treated 
as an espalier, upright or oblique cordon on account of its large 
fruit. It, however, makes a fine standard on the Pear. For 
dwarfs it should be on the Quince. 
Souvenir du Congres.—This as a standard does very well, 
but the fruit being lai'ge (they sell well) is liable to be blown off 
by the winds ; but in sheltered places is first rate- It is imposing 
in appearance and is as good in quality, being melting, juicy,and 
pleasing aroma. These are the sort to grow on low walls, espa- 
liei - s, and double worked on the Quince. Fruit 16 to 30 ozs. 
fetch the biggest prices in the market. It does well on the Pear 
either as a standard or a wall tree. The fruit attains a bright 
crimson glow on calcareous soils. It is not unlike Williams’, 
but is more sprightly in flavour, melting, and juicy, with a musky 
aroma. 
These are what 1 advise for general cu’ture in early Pears— 
viz., St. Swithin, Beacon, Clapp’s Favourite, Williams’ Bon 
Chretien, and Madame Treyve as standards. For walls or 
fences Jargonelle, Beurre d’Amanlis, Beurre Superfin, and 
Souvenir du Congres. They give a supply up to October. As a 
very early Pear Doyenne d’Ete is worth a place, giving really 
handsome fruit from a wall, and gathered fresh from the tree 
not over ripe is good in quality. Double grafted on the Quince 
the fruit is finer than on the Pear.— Utilitarian. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
(Continued from page 133.) 
CUPS AND TUBES. 
Cups and tubes are represented by fig. 25. It is impossible to 
stage a box of cut blooms avithout them. There is a great variety 
to choose from, some being made of wood similar in shape to egg 
cups. These are objectionable in appearance and do not last as 
long as those made in the manner I will describe. Those made of 
wood are not of the right shape in the tube, which is not hollowed 
out in a slanting direction sufficiently. Some growers use tubes 
and cups made of tin. These are cheaper than when zinc is used, 
but as they are liable to rust zinc is far better in the end. 
The tubes should be made in two sizes as shown in the annexed 
engraving. The stems of each being the same width, either of 
them fits into the cup which holds the water. The largest size, as 
shown in the engraving, is suitable for blooms of the larger varieties 
of both Japanese and Incurved flowers, particularly the drooping 
varieties of the former section, which are much improved in appear¬ 
ance by having the petals supported at a proper height from the 
board, which, in the case of Meg Merrilies for instance, cannot be 
done when one sized tube is used for all varieties, and that of the 
orthodox size, which is 2 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep in the 
flange ; therefore every grower should provide himself with a few 
of these larger tubes, which should be 3y inches in diameter and 
lj inch deep in the flange. The stem should be 2f inches long, 
and fit into the cup, as shown, in a telescopic manner. 
The cup represented is a great improvement upon the older 
straight plain pattern. As is shown, it is fitted with a piece of 
brass 1| inch long and half an inch wide at the bottom, narrowing 
off a little at the upper end : this being soldered on to the top just 
