8 
THE FLOEIST AND P0M0L0GI3T. 
L January, 
In fruits, if novelty is less decided and less frequent, it is generally more lasting 
than is the case amongst flowers. 
Coming now to Vegetables—the least attractive portion of garden produce, 
yet the most useful—we find still something added, although we look less for 
novelty here than in either fruits or flowers, the improvements being mainly 
effected by selection. The most important addition will be Laxton's William 
the First Pea , an early hybrid blue wrinkled variety. There are also Paxton s 
Quality and Quantity , two very fine wrinkled sorts, with Macleans Best of All, 
and Eastes' Kentish Invicta. In Broccoli we have the addition of Cooling's 
Matchless , a splendid late spring variety, and Veitch's Autumn Giant Cauliflower, 
which furnishes a fine late autumn suppty. In Beets we have the new Red 
Egyptian ,—turnip-rooted ; and we get an excellent Parsley in Carter's Covent 
Garden Garnishing. In Onions we have a fine addition in the New White 
Italian Tripoli , which has very large, very solid pure white bulbs. In Tomatos 
there are Heppers Giant and Trophy, two very large sorts greatly resembling 
each other. Among Kales we have Melville's Hybrid Imperial Scotch Greens , a 
hybrid perpetual, having excellent close hearts. Of Cucumbers there are 
many, Heather side Rival , a black-spined sort, being the best. We must also 
notice Temple’s new Chinese Cucumber, u Sooly-qua” a huge thing growing to 
the length of 7ft. or 8ft., and 12 in. in circumference, said to be eaten when boiled 
by the Chinese, and as much relished as roast pig ! In Potatos there are many 
claimants, but none calling for special notice. Thus, as regards both Fruits and 
Vegetables, we have, during 1870, been marching onward.—B. 
SOPHORA JAPONICA PENDULA. 
|UR portrait of this beautiful tree is borrowed from the catalogue of Mr. 
Anthony Waterer, of Knap Hill, a name and locality familiar to growers 
and lovers of American plants. The figure forms one of a series of 
^ several beautifully executed plates, prepared by Messrs. Letts and Co., 
from photographs of specimen trees in the Knap Hill Nursery, and used to 
illustrate this admirable catalogue, which is by far the most tasteful, and 
most useful trade list we have as yet met with. To praise the beauty of the 
tree here pourtrayed is superfluous; the portrait speaks for itself, and being 
exactly copied from a photograph it tells no false tales. 
Sophora japonica was sent, by Father d’lncarville, in 1747, from China to 
Paris, whence it was distributed by Bernard De Jussieu. It is a handsome, fast¬ 
growing, deciduous tree, and yields a fine, hard, ornamental wood. Loudon notes 
one remarkable property of its foliage, namely, that in the very hottest and driest 
seasons it does not turn yellow or drop off as does that of most other pinnate¬ 
leaved Leguminous trees, its deep-rooting habit being the probable cause of this 
retention of verdure,—a property which is shared by the pendulous variety which 
forms our present subject. 
