1871. ] 
SPARMANNIA AFRIOANA. 
77 
27. Doyenne du Comice. —Large, handsome, and of the very finest quality, 
delicate, buttery, and rich. In use during November. It is only a moderate 
bearer ; succeeds best on the Quince. Open pyramid. 
28. Glou Morceau. —A standard variety, large, and of the finest quality. 
Season November. Succeeds best on a wall. 
.29. Winter Nelis. —A thoroughly good little pear, every fruit of equally 
good quality, sweet, juicy, and rich. Season November and December. Free 
but weakly growing, and rather a poor bearer. 
30. Beurre Rance. —A standard variety. The fruits large and of fine 
quality. The season from November sometimes up to February. Succeeds well 
on a wall or low pyramid. 
31. Ne Plus Meuris. —A good, late, useful pear. In use during December 
generally, but ripens very irregularly. It succeeds well as an open pyramid or 
common standard. 
32. Josephine de Marines. —This is decidedly our best late Pear ; its 
quality is very superior, and to be depended on. In season January and February. 
The fruits are but of medium size, and the tree is only a moderate bearer. 
33. Easter Beurre. —In some seasons this Pear is very fine, so that it can 
hardly be dispensed with. In others it is of very poor quality. In season during 
February, but sometimes ripening in December, or even earlier. 
34. Bergamotte d’Esperen. —A very good late variety, well worthy of 
cultivation. A great bearer. 
The foregoing list, with that at p. 243,1870, includes all the most desirable of 
the Pears cultivated at Chiswick. It might be extended ad libitum , and made 
to include many sorts, whose qualities are perhaps nearly equal to the foregoing, 
and which might even, in some localities, prove better than some mentioned in 
this list. It includes, however, all the finer and better varieties, and is sufficiently 
extensive to meet every requirement.—A. F. Barron, Chiswick. 
SPAKMANNIA AFRICANA. 
HIS is not a new plant, for it was introduced from the Cape of Good Hope 
in the year 1790, by Andrew Sparmann, a Swede. The first time it came 
under my notice it was growing on the back wall of a conservatory, where 
it made shoot3 in one season about 10 ft. long, each shoot bearing a cluster 
of flowers. At that time, and under those conditions, I considered it almost 
useless, from its rough straggling habit of growth ; but by giving it the following 
treatment, it will be found to well repay the cultivator for his trouble. 
In spring, select half-ripened shoots, which will readily strike root in a 
moderate hot-bed in any light soil. When rooted, pot them off singly into small 
pots, and keep them close for a few days. If large plants are wanted, shift them 
on as the pots get full of roots, and keep the shoots well pinched back. The 
principle to keep in view is to get the wood thoroughly ripened, and to stunt it as 
