356 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 21. 1886. 
most prominent dishes in the show. No doubt others of 
value are omitted, but perhaps it would not be easy to choose 
an equal number of first class culinary Apples similarly 
imposing in appearance and good in quality with those named 
excluded from the selection; and judged, therefore, by that 
test, those briefly described may be regarded as worthy of 
cultivation. 
It is not necessary to refer in detail and with equal pre¬ 
cision to the desserc varieties; but as an indication of the 
size of well-grown examples three familiar binds may be 
adduced—namely, Cox’s Orange Pippin, fruits 3J inches 
wide and 2f inches deep ; Eibston Pippin, 3^ inches wide 
and 3f inches deep; and King of the Pippins, 3 inches wide 
and 2f inches deep. Growers who do not exhibit, yet have 
fruits equalling or exceeding these dimensions, may conclude 
that they are good; but do not let anyone think that a ques¬ 
tion of half an inch in the height and diameter of an Apple 
is of small moment on the question of size, for it is of great 
moment, making all the difference between a medium and 
full-sized fruit, or between winning a third prize instead of 
a first in competition. 
A crumb of comfort is derivable from a comparison of the 
Canadian Apples with our home grown produce. The trans¬ 
atlantic specimens were clearer in the skins and brighter as 
a rule in colouring; but as regards size, freshness, and 
general good appearance the English fruit as a whole was 
markedly superior. With the exception of Kentish Fill- 
basket from Nova Scotia, and Emperor Alexander from 
Montreal, there was nothing strikingly meritorious; and, 
broadly speaking the market value of the English fruit 
decidedly exceeded that of the Canadian produce. It is 
evident that with a judicious selection of varieties and good 
culture English markets can be supplied with home grown 
Apples as good as those that can be brought from elsewhere, 
and it ought to be soon enough to avail ourselves of the pro¬ 
duce of orchards 3000 miles away when the frosts of spring 
nip the blossoms in our own, and prevent a golden harvest. 
Now turn to Pears, of which many splendid dishes were 
staged at the Show in question. A few of the finer will be 
noticed, and the size of the fruits indicated in the same in¬ 
formal manner as with the Apples. The finest Pear in the 
Exhibition was Pitmaston Duchess, the largest being 5 inches 
long and 3£ inches wide, but the majority were half an inch 
shorter, and large enough then, as they would weigh nearly 
or quite a pound each. This is a noble Pear, and the tree 
grows and bears well as pyramids in the open, espaliers and 
on walls. It ripens in October and early November, and is 
very juicy, with a delicate acid taste that is refreshing to 
some palates. Louise Bonne, 4£ inches long and 3 inches 
wide, beautifully coloured, and well known as one of the best 
varieties. Durondeau, 4^ inches long and 3 inches wide, 
bright and handsome fruit, and the quality generally very 
good, but somewhat variable according to soils and seasons ; 
a fine late autumn Pear. Marie Louise d’Uccle, fruit 4^ 
inches long and 31, inches wide (very fine); a valuable hardy 
good bearing Pear of excellent quality. It bears no re¬ 
semblance to the old favourite Marie Louise, but is not less 
worthy of cultivation. British Queen, unusually large, 
5 inches long and 3^ inches wide. The fruit when in its 
best form is of high quality, but occasionally decays at the 
core sooner than is pleasant to the owner. This and the 
preceding are October and November Pears, the time of 
lipening being as influenced by soils, seasons, and districts. 
Fondante de Cuerne, 4^ inches long and 3 inches wide (very 
fine), a large and good early autumn Pear not commonly 
grown. Triomphe de Vienne, 4^ inches long and 3£ wide, 
an imposing fruit, rich, sugary, and melting; a compara¬ 
tively new Pear not in general cultivation, but worthy of a 
trial in all large collections. Beurre Diel, not extra large ; 
fruit 4 J inches loDg and 3| inches wide; a well known large 
and prolific Pear, of excellent quality when its aroma is 
developed, otherwise not superior. It is greatly improved 
by finishing the fruit in a temperature of 80° or 90°, 
and the same remark applies to many, if not most, other 
Pears that are not quite so good as is. desired. Beurre 
d’Amanlis, 4 inches long by 3^ inches wide ; a hardy free 
growing and good bearing autumn Pear, but not always 
of the first quality, yet usually satisfactory, and extensively 
grown. Doyenne Boussoch, 3£ inches long and the same m 
diameter, one of the handsomest Pears grown, very refreshing 
and enjoyable when “ caught right; ” but its best properties 
quickly depart, and decay spreads rapidly. Mareohal de Cour, 
44 inches long and 3 inches wide ; a splendid Pear both in 
appearance and quality, and should have a place in even 
small collections; usually ripe in November. Beurre Bose, 
4 inches long and 3 inches wide, sharply tapering to the 
stalk; an attractive and excellent Pear, and tree a tree 
bearer. Doyenne du Comice, 4J inches long and 3^ inches 
wide; a splendid Psar of superior quality, ranking amongst 
the finest and best in cultivation, usually in nss during 
November. Beurre Superfin, 3£ inches long and 3 inches 
wide, a fine looking and most delicious Pear, and the tree 
healthy and fertile ; all growers should plant it if not already 
in their gardens. Marie Louise, 44 inches long and 2J 
inches wide, fine, and a well known variety, growing best on 
the Pear stock. Glou Mor^eau, 34 inches long and 3J inches 
wide, quite one of the best of midwinter Pears, and the 
tree tree hardy and a great bearer, good as an orchard 
standard in favourable positions. Fondante d Automne, 
3 inches long and 24 inches wide, an attractive ana inost 
delicious Pear, and the tree a free bearer as a bush, standard, 
or against a wall, should be included in all^ orders when 
purchasing trees, if not already in possession. Beurre 
Bance, 44 inches long and 34 inches wide, fine ; a very late 
Pear of superior quality, but does not always ripen well in 
northern districts, but when it succeeds it is valued. 
Those are a fow of the “ fine ” Pears that attracted atten¬ 
tion in the conservatory of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
and all of them, except Triomphe de Vienne, are familiar to 
the writer in a growing state. There are many smaller 
Pears that are not less worthy of culture, but all varieties 
cannot be brought under review at once. The measurements 
given are actual, exclusive of stalk; they are above the 
average of the varieties as usually grown, but it is well to 
see what is accomplished by good management, as culti¬ 
vators generally then know what they have to do to excel 
in the production of the most useful of culinary and most 
esteemed of dessert fruits—Apples and Pears.— Experientia 
DOCET. 
SPRING BEDDING. 
The taste for flowers in every form has so much increased of 
late that the old-fashioned plan of allowing the flower beds to 
remain empty after the removal of the summer occupants is being 
discontinued, as the beds can be made to look well in the spring 
with very small outlay. As the season for removing the summer 
bedding plants to their winter quarters is now at hand, refilling the 
beds with the spring plants should be commenced. It is an advan¬ 
tage to plant early, particularly where the soil is heavy, as if we 
have much rain and frost before the planting is completed the soil 
loses its warmth, and the roots of the plants do not take kindly to 
their fresh quarters. I propose to offer a few notes on the plants 
which I have found suitable for spring flowering in the beds, and 
the best methods of preparing them, with a few notes as to their 
arrangement in the beds. _ , 
Wallflowers. —On account of the ease with which they can be 
provided, their adaptability to almost any situation, and their 
delicious perfume places them at the head of the list. Veitchs 
Dwarf Dark is the best variety I have tried. It is dwarf and com¬ 
pact in habit of growth, which is a consideration of no small 
importance when it is used for massing in a bed or border. The 
flower spikes are stout ; the flowers, too, are large, of a rich dark 
glossy colour, and its perfume is very pleasing. Harbinger grows 
too tall, the spikes of bloom are not so self-supporting, after the 
lower flowers fade the spikes elongate too much, which renders 
them weak, while the colour is not so rich as the former variety. 
Belvoir Castle is the best yellow I have seen. It is dwarf, but 
branches freely, producing a number of bright yellow spikes of 
bloom, which are very fragrant. A great advantage is gained by 
