November 30, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
496 
anon we hear oE some new amateur going largely in for Roses, as in the 
case of Mr. Tate of Leatherhead and Mr. Machin at Worksop, and we 
can only hope that many more of the same character may come forward, 
and that the Ruse amateurs of the future may be worthy successors of 
the Jowetts and Bakers, the Halls and Whitwells of former days.— 
D., Deal. 
PEARS IN 1893. 
The late summer and autumn fruits are nearly over, but it is no 
wonder after such a summer of agreeable sunshine. Take Pears for 
instance. With us Doyenn6 d’Et4, Beurr6 Giffard, and Jargonelle, three 
of the earliest, were all ripe in July. Williams’ Bon Chr§tien, usually a 
late August and September Pear, was on a south wall fit to gather the 
end of July, and fit to eat the first week in August ; but trees of it in 
the open, and on a wall with a north aspect, kept the supply on till the 
middle of September. This deservedly popular variety should be planted 
in this latter position, if there is space to spare. Louis Bonne of Jersey, 
Beurr4 Bose, and Marie Louise were good, and suitable for use a month 
before the usual time, so also was Duchesse d’Angouleme. 
I saw some fine French Duchesses in a fruiterer’s shop in August’ 
General Todleben, Forelle, Beurr4 Diel, Doyenn4 du Comice, and Brown 
Beurr4 were all good, but they are over now; and Glou Morceau is in 
use, when it has usually come in at Christmas time. The same may be 
said of Josephine de Malines, a splendid Pear when grown against south 
walls. Beurr4 Ranee is not ripe yet, and will prove serviceable. The 
free-bearing Nec Plus Meuris is not a very large Pear, but the quality is 
likely to be good this year. Many of them will be ripe in December, 
and possibly will last through January. There was no crop on Crasanne 
this year, when there is I have found it good for January. 
A large bush of Nec Plus Meuris this year produced 3 bushels of clean 
fruit. Bergamotte Esperen, the latest of all kinds with me, planted as 
an orchard standard produced nearly 4 bushels, half of which, if they 
finish in the fruit room, will be fit for dessert, the rest will be rather 
small. These two last kinds should be in every collection of Pears for a 
late supply, although it is not every year that we have so favourable for 
Pears. 
A free-bearing, medium-sized Pear for kitchen purposes I find in 
Bellissime d’Hiver, and will remain in use for a long time. The fruit 
comes very even and clean as an orchard tree, none very large, and no 
very small ones.— A. Harding. 
Though I have no complaint to register with regard to Apples, and 
I hope to have a sufficient supply as long as usual, in the case of Pears 
I am not so sanguine. Not that the fruit is keeping worse than usual, 
for unless in the case of those that have been pecked by birds it is 
keeping very well ; but the fruit is ripening so abnormally early that 
there is no likelihood of there being a supply to the usual time. For 
instance, our Marie Louise is now over, and in former years there was 
no difficulty in keeping it till Christmas. Winter Nelis, a variety 
which was wont to be in use during January and part of February, is 
now ripening, and I sent in the first dish on November 2l8t. Van 
Mons L4on Leclerc is quite ripe ; Easter Beurre and Beurr4 Ranee are 
softening. There is one redeeming feature however, and that is the 
splendid flavour most varieties developed. I do not remember Pears 
ever to have been so richly flavoured before, sorts that were only fit 
for stewing in most seasons being this year really well-flavoured.—B. 
Pears verstis Peaches, 
The article on Pears versus Peaches by “ 0.,” in the Journal of 
Horticulture, September 21st (page 259), has brought out some different 
opinions. It may interest readers to learn that I had occasion to buy 
Peaches the first week in September. There were a great number that 
could not be sold at any price owing to the glut. I paid from Is. to 3s. 
per dozen. They were of splendid colour and of good flavour. This was 
at Doncaster during the races ; a week previous they could be bought 
at any price. 
I had a good crop of Pitmaston Duchess Pear, which I gathered a 
week or two after, and sold them all in the trade to sell again at 
10s. per dozen. There was not a fruit under a pound weight ; the 
heaviest weighed over li lb. My employer was rather interested in 
them when growing, as he thought such large Pears would be useless to 
eat, but after tasting one he said it was one of the best flavoured Pears 
he had ever tasted. 
I was surprised when I read “ E. M.’s ” (page 373) remarks anent 
Beurre Diel being of no flavour. In Yorkshire it is perfect in flavour. 
We have some grand fruit of it this year. Clapp’s Favourite, which is 
condemned by some as having no flavour, is very good with us. It must 
be the soil, as we never water our trees. The past season has just 
suited the land, which is on the magnesian limestone. Durondeau, 
Winter Nelis, and Doyenn4 du Comice are now in perfect condition, 
but Thompson’s and Duchesse d’Angoul^me are no better than a 
Turnip.— Northerner. 
The Hessle Pear. 
Referring to the interesting note respecting this popular Pear 
from Mr. Lord (page 469), I draw attention to the fact that all round 
London in numerous old orchards it was evidently the one Pear for 
market growth and sale. Nearly all the old trees We still see standing 
about in the suburbs are of the Hessle, and young trees are still largely 
planted. The market men persist in calling the variety “Hazel,” but 
as the calling things by other than correct appellations is a very common 
feature in the market trade, it rather than otherwise supports Mr. Lord’s 
contention The tree is a very handsome grower, presenting in standard 
form the most perfect of pyramidal heads, the young growth wearing 
a drooping aspect. It is one of the hardiest of Pears, and should 
make an excellent secondary stock for double working. It is also an 
almost constant fruiter, and although the fruits are smallish and of 
very poor quality, yet because they can be gathered early, and are 
abundantly produced, seems to be profitable, and that is all the market 
grower troubles about.—A. D. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
November 28th. 
The meeting on this occasion was a comparatively small one, and but 
few exhibits were forthcoming. Some Orchids were staged, whilst 
Zonal Pelargoniums and Chrysanthemums made a fair display. Fruit 
was only moderately represented. 
Fruit Committee. —Present; Philip Crowley, Esq. (in the chair). 
Rev. W. Wilks, Dr. Hogg, T. F. Rivers, H. J. Pearson, Harrison Weir, 
J. Cheal, G. Goldsmith, G. Bunyard, W. Warren, A. Dean, A. H. Pearson, 
F. Q. Lane, H. Balderson, J. Hudson, G. Wythes, A. J. Laing, 
G. T. Miles, and J. Wright. 
The duties of the Committee were the reverse of heavy, but interest¬ 
ing and well-grown specimens were submitted for examination. The 
English Fruit Growing Company, Hereford, sent a dish of very fine 
Apples, named Byford Beauty. The fruit was quite as large as 
Warner’s King, yet distinct from it, being firmer and heavier. They 
were said to have been borne by an orchard tree, described as an 
excellent grower and free bearer. Mr. J. Watkins, Pomona Nurseries, 
Hereford, also despatched fruits, but they had not arrived. This is not 
a new Apple, but is grown in the neighbourhood of Hereford, and there 
esteemed. An award of merit was voted unanimously. 
At a meeting in September an award of merit was granted to 
Messrs. W. Brown & Sons, The Nurseries, Wells, for Bartlett's Glory 
Ai^ple, the fruits of good size and attractively coloured. They were 
taken to Chiswick for testing their keeping, but on being examined now 
were found to be partially decayed, and consequently no advance was 
made on the September award. Mr. Bunyard sent fruits of Christmas 
Pearmain, a good sized conical fruit with a tender flesh and pleasant 
flavour, but over-ripe; also highly coloured medium sized fruits of 
Foster’s Scarlet Prolific of the Cellini type ; and Messrs. J. Peed & Sons 
sent a dish of Ouseley’s King of the Valley Apple, being in appearance 
intermediate between Queen Caroline and Golden Noble. No awards 
were made for the varieties mentioned. Mr. T. Arnall, Brookside, 
Headington Hill, Oxford, sent remarkably large specimens of Uvedale’s 
St. Germain Pears. Twelve of the fruits grown by Mr. Arnall weighed 
27 lbs. 6 ozs., the heaviest Pear being 3 lbs. 8 ozs. in weight. Eleven 
out of the twelve fruits were placed on the table, and a bronze Banksian 
medal was unanimously recommended. 
The Liverpool Horticultural Company sent bunches of the Ham¬ 
burgh Colman Grape. The variety originated with Mr. E. H. Woodhall, 
St. Michael’s, Scarborough, and was said to ripen a month earlier than 
Gros Colman and flourish in cool vineries. The best bunches exhibited 
were produced from a Vine inarched on another variety (not named) 
at Allerton, Liverpool; but the Grapes were described as the most 
tasteless ever tasted by the Committee. Some berries from the original 
stock were better, but their appearance, through injury in transit, the 
reverse of tempting, and no award could be made. 
A large and well-grown cluster of Bananas (Musa Cavendish!) was 
sent by Mr. J. Quarterman, gardener to C. E. Smith, Esq., Silvermere, 
Cobham, and a cultural commendation promptly awarded. Messrs. 
Chantrier Freres, Mortefontaine, France, sent fruits of the Persimmon, 
Diospyros Kaki, but they were not in good condition, and it is very 
rare indeed, if ever, that Persimmons are placed before the Committee 
in satisfactory condition. 
Mr. G. Goldsmith, gardener to Sir E. G. Loder, Bart., Leonardslee, 
Horsham, exhibited a very fine collection of thirty dishes of Apples and 
twelve of Pears, all of first-class exhibition quality. The Pears were 
fine and the Apples beautifully coloured, Barnack Beauty was perhaps 
never seen in richer crimson garb. It would have gladdened the eyes of 
Mr. Richard Gilbert, who, we think, “ discovered ” this variety in the 
neighbourhood of Stamford. A silver Knightian medal was unanimously 
recommended for this most creditable collection of fruit. 
Floral Committee. —Present: W. Marshall, Esq. (in the chair) ; 
Messrs. R. Owen, Chas. F. Druery, H. Herbst, R. Dean, G. Stevens, 
C. F. Bause, C. J. Salter, Geo. Gordon, J. D. Pawle, C. Jeffries, Jas. 
Walker, C. E. Shea, T. Baines, C. Noble, H. Cannell, and Peter Barr. 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Bush Hill Park Nurseries, Enfield, staged a 
collection of Cyclamens, the plants in which were sturdy and finely 
flowered. Greenhouse plants were also staged by the same firm (silver 
Banksian medal). Messrs. Henry Cannell & Sons, Swanley, arranged a 
collection of Zonal Pelargoniums, conspicuous alike for the perfect 
contour of pips and large size of the trusses. Amongst the most promi¬ 
nent were Etoile de Lyon, Launcelot, Lucrece, Madame de Bondeville, 
King of the Purples, W. P. Wright, and Albion. Chrysanthemums were 
also" staged by Messrs. Cannell. The blooms were of fine shape and 
substance. Robt. Flowerday, C. Westland, Judge Hoit (award of merit, 
see below). Golden Wedding, Mrs. C. Harman Payne, Golden Ga'e 
(award of merit, see below), Mdlle. Th4rese Rey, Robert Owen, and 
Madame Ad. Girard were the most noticeable (silver Banteian medal). 
