42 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
spikes, issuing from amongst the deep green foliage in profusion, and in every 
stage of expansion, are then most effective— u a forest of Roman candles, con¬ 
stant in their glow,” as an admiring pyrotechnist remarked on beholding a bed 
of these fiery-hued plants in full flower. 
Those who may be possessed of a large massive plant of the old hardy Yucca 
gloriosa , or Adam’s Needle, which has attained to an age when from one or more 
of its many branches a bloom-spike may be looked for in autumn, should, if 
practicable, form a bed around it, in such a manner that the Yucca may become 
a sightly centre, around which to plant a couple of rows of the Tritoma , with an 
outer edging of Salvia argentea , or, sown so as to bloom late, either purple 
Stocks or purplish Asters—then should the Yucca push up its bold spikes of 
white pendulous flowers, the Tritomas, enhanced in brightness by the contrast, 
will form a most telling bed away into the late autumn—until, in fact, a 
merciless frost robs the garden of the last of its summer flowers. 
To ensure a good stock of this useful plant, some time during this month or 
next will be found an advantageous one in which to propagate it, if the weather 
is such that the ground be not frost-bound. Take up carefully all old stools which 
can be spared ; divide them into as many parts as can well be made without depriv¬ 
ing any of a fair supply of roots, and put each separately into a pot of conveni¬ 
ent size according to its need, bearing in mind that the larger the divisions, so 
much the stronger will be the plant in the spring. When potted, place the pots, 
on a very slight bottom-heat in a cool airy pit or house ; or if no bottom heat can 
be afforded, place them on a cool floor away from dry flues, pipes, &c., and water 
very freely. Here they will slowly make fresh rootlets, and establish themselves 
well for turning out in the spring. When a few fresh roots have been made 
remove them into a cold pit or frame, plunging the pots above the rims into 
cocoa-nut refuse, or cinder ashes, and water them less frequently. Here they 
will be kept safe from frosts so as to ensure an increased stock in spring, and 
will be ready to turn out into the open borders into a deep, rich, loamy, and 
rather moist soil during the first week of May. Those stools which are left 
to winter out should have the long leaves well twisted round over the hearts, and 
moderate-sized mounds of cocoa-nut refuse or cinder ashes should be placed closely 
around the crown. An essential feature in their successful culture is to afford 
an abundant supply of root moisture during the growing season.— William 
Earley, Valentines , Ilford. 
AUTUMN JOSEPHINE PEAR. 
HIS fine Pear, which is an English seedling from the Josephine des Malines, 
rivals its parent, which is probably our very best late pear, in all its 
excellencies ; and differs chiefly in ripening its fruit in the autumn. It 
is considered by the authorities in these matters to be quite an acquisition, 
glean the following information concerning it from Hogg's Gardeners' 
Year-Book , to which we are also indebted for the figure :— 
