122 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Fetiuftry 15,1894. 
experience that I can hardly speak of its hardiness with us in the 
south-west of Scotland. It is a beautiful little plant with rosy or 
rose red flowers on stems only 2 to 5 inches long, and with narrow 
leaves. It comes from the mountains of Corsica, and should stand 
our winters. 
In the sub-genus Ruminia is placed L. hyemale, which I have 
had for two years, but have not yet flowered. It has during that 
time been exposed to some severe weather, and up till now appears 
to be quite hardy. Not having seen this in flower I am not 
in a position to speak with confidence of its merits. Mr. Baker 
describes the leaves as, “ 2—4, narrow linear, contemporary with 
the flowers, finally a foot long,” and the flowers as usually solitary 
with the perianth-limb one-third to half inch long. The habitat of 
this species is the “coast rocks at Nice, Mentone, and Villafranca.’’ 
The flowers do not appear until about April. 
With reference to the cultivation of the Snowflakes no difficulty 
need be apprehended in growing L. sestivum, L. pulchellum, and 
L. vernum, and its varieties. They are, however, much more 
impatient of disturbance than the Snowdrops and slower of increasei 
and frequently fail to flower for a year or two after removal* 
L. trichophyllum with its variety grandiflorum should have 
very light sandy soil, as also ought L. autumnale, L. roseum* 
and L. hyemale. 
Very much interesting matter regarding the Leucoiums has 
been left untouched, but a word or two upon the future of these 
beautiful and chaste flowers may be of some service. There is 
little doubt that systematic selection of seedlings, and equally 
systematic hybridisation, would yield most valuable results, and 
bring the Snowflakes into a position they have never as yet 
attained. We can hardly expect to obtain the results achieved 
with the Daffodils, but there is, I think, a possibility of surpassing 
the progress made with the Snowdrops. Profitable in a pecuniary 
sense the work would hardly be to the raisers, but our gardens 
would be greatly enriched and a valuable addition made to the 
wealth of beauty in our British flower gardens. I have made a 
beginning of raising seedling Snowflakes, but it will be some years 
before their flowers will appear, and I cannot expect in growing 
so many plants of various kinds as I do to gain anything like 
what would fall to the fortune of one confining himself to a few 
flowers, and making the proverbial “ hobby ” of them. No one 
will ever regret embarking on the cultivation of the Snowflakes, 
and those who can add new forms or improved varieties to our 
present ones will deserve the gratitude of lovers of flowers.— 
S. Arnott. 
THE BEST PEARS. 
Considering the large number of varieties of Pears at present in 
cultivation, it is a remarkable fact that there are comparatively few 
kinds really worth growing. A Pear to prove worthy of garden 
culture should have the flesh fine grained and melting, with a rich 
and luscious flavour. As types I will select Doyenne du Comice, 
Marie Louise, and Winter Nelis. Pears which are either coarse 
grained with an insipid aroma are not worth the room they 
occupy. 
It is rather difficult to understand why there are so many 
of this latter class of fruit grown ; possibly because the trees 
are both good growers and free bearers, the fruits also being 
attractive looking. These are qualifications some persons may 
consider as to be of sufficient passport for their being entered 
into cultivation, but it must be considered that the Pear should 
take a high position as a dessert, and surely a fruit to attain 
this must be of such a nature that it will be partaken of freely. 
It has been a surprise to me that these indifferent varieties 
are often recommended for growing on soils which are described 
as of not the best for the culture of the Pear. According to 
my experience and observations, a Pear which will not come 
of good quality on the best of soils, and under the most favour¬ 
able conditions of both culture and climate in Britain, will 
certainly not do so under less favourable circumstances. The 
benefit of only cultivating the best varieties is therefore clearly 
obvious. 
Climate, I am aware, often makes all the difference as to the 
position the trees should be grown in, for, whilst in favourable 
districts several of the best varieties may be cultivated in the open 
with a fair measure of success, in others they require the best 
protection that warm walls can bestow on them. The planting 
must therefore not be carried out in a haphazard manner. Again, 
the early, and the majority of the September and October Pears, 
are of much better quality if they are cultivated in the open. 
Even if walls were at disposal I would not plant these varieties 
against them, but rather devote the space to those which require 
such protection, and as the later varieties have mainly the character¬ 
istic of not going off quickly, the fruits could be disposed of if 
there are more than required for use. This article is not written 
with any pretence to commercial enterprise, but rather in securing 
a succession of fruit for a private table. 
In cultivating Pears with this end in view the list of varieties 
must not be too limited, not that I recommend large collections, 
but selections. To keep up a succession I should not care to limit 
myself to less than eighteen varieties, or even two dozen, and this 
number forms the major part of the best Pears in cultivation. 
Even amongst these would be found Pears to suit all palates, and 
it is astonishing the marked difference there is between people as to 
their likes and dislikes of particular fruits. Some have a par¬ 
tiality for musky flavoured Pears, such as Williams’ Bon Chrfitien, 
and Thompson’s, whilst others are more partial to the vinous 
flavoured. Of this section, Marie Louise, Doyenne du Comice, 
Winter Nelis, and Beurre Superfin are examples ; but of their 
peculiarities I will speak hereafter. 
As previously hinted some of the best September and October 
Pears are of better quality when cultivated in the open, and in 
more favourable districts those which come to perfection throughout 
November may also be so grown with advantage. I know it 
is sometimes recommended that the earlier Pears should be 
grown against walls which have a cool aspect, but this is not 
conducive to high quality. Far better is it to cultivate them in 
the open where they are exposed to the full influence of sun, 
the quality being all the better accordingly. These varieties will 
include Clapp’s Favourite, Williams’ Bon Chretien, Triomphe 
do Vienne, Beurre d’Amanlis, Louise Bonne of Jersey, and 
Comte de Lamy. In the more favourable district, and on warm 
soils, this list could be extended to Fondante d’Automne, Beurre 
Superfin, Beurre Hardy, Emile d’Heyst, Marie Louise, Thomp 
son’s, Doyenne du Comice, and Pitmaston Duchesse. In less 
favourable localities these latter, taking one season with another, 
would be better if cultivated against a wall with a west cr 
south-west aspect. 
With reference to the winter and later varieties, the best results 
are obtained by growing them against walls with full south aspect. 
In the more favoured Pear districts excellent results are obtained 
if the trees are given the benefit of a western aspect; but, as a 
general rule, their highest merits are best obtained from a south 
wall. These include Marie Benoist, Beurre d’Aremberg, Nouvelle 
Fulvie, Josephine de Malines, Glou Mor 9 eau, Winter Nelis, Ber- 
gamotte Esperen, Passe Crassane, and Olivier des Serres. The 
above selection may not include all the best varieties, as I could 
extend it, but, as before remarked, it certainly contains the major 
part.— A. Young. 
OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS. 
Ever and anon Fashion, that Goddess to whom few are bold 
enough to refuse tribute, invades the peaceful art of gardening, 
and selects some particular class of plants that are, for the time 
being, to bask in the smiles of her favour. The Tulip mania of 
earlier days was a prominent example in which these innocent 
plants were made the object of speculation and gambling to such 
an extent that some particular roots, sold and re-sold for fabulous 
sums, were kept unplanted, and did not even afford the gratification 
that one bulb, valued at several thousand florins, did to a British 
sailor in Amsterdam, who picked up the Onion as he thought off a 
merchant's counter, and ate it as a relish to his bread and cheese. 
Coming down to our own times, Orchids, Flora’s aristocracy, have 
had a large share of attention, and will probably escape the severe 
reaction which a period of excitement entails, and which too often 
places the object on a pedestal to relegate it, on the turn of the 
tide, into obscurity. 
Fashion has now set her seal on hardy flowers, and if she must 
intrude in our domain, no wi^er choice could she have made, for 
these are the flowers for all sorts and conditions of men, from 
prince to peasant. Many of these are new friends to our borders, 
which we heartily welcome, others are old friends so improved 
that we hardly recognise them, and many of the original types 
