1ST7.] 
MUTILATED FLOWERS OF CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 
13 
WILLISON^S QUEEN VICTOEIA PEAR. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
^^^AMPLES of this excellent autumn Pear were sent to us in September, 1875, 
by the late Mr. W. Willison, of Whitby, who was well known as a florist 
and rose-grower. Along with the fruit came the following particulars of 
its history :—“ My Queen Victoria Pear was raised about twenty years 
ago, but whether from Marie Louise or Jargonelle I am not sure. I think it was 
from the latter, as it ripens nearly at the same time, and is of about the same 
size. This season the fruit is rather small. Like the Jargonelle, it does not keep 
long, and consequently it requires to be caught at the right stage ’of ripeness. 
Some of our best pomologists pronounce it the best early Pear they have tasted, 
and describe it as having a peachy flavour. The seedling tree has exhibited no 
sign of canker, and is very prolific.” 
Our plate gives an excellent representation of the appearance of this Pear, 
which reached us about the middle of September, and was then in condition for 
eating. The following memoranda -were made at the time :—Fruity about 
medium size, 7 in. round at the thickest part, and 4 in. on the longest side from 
the centre of the eye to the base of the stalk; ovate, with the sides slightly 
hollowed. Stalky about in. long, set on very obliquely. Fi/e, large, with bold 
spreading segments, set in a very slight depression. Skin greenish, or pale 
brownish-tinted yellow-green, the exposed side with a thin coating of pale but 
bright russet-brown, just sufficient to give a warm tinge to the colouring. Flesh 
very juicy and sugary, having a strong pear flavour, blended with a smatch of 
that of noyeau. The flavour is most pronounced when the fruit is eaten without 
paring it.—T. Moore. 
MUTILATED FLOWERS OF CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES. 
Z.” writes :—“ I have not seen any reference in your papers on the 
Carnation and Picotee to the subject of ‘mutilated’ flowers, or 
what constitutes a ‘ mutilated ’ flower. The first rule of the 
schedule of prizes of the National Carnation and Picotee Society 
for the past year says, ‘ Any flower, or stand comprising a mutilated flower, will 
be disqualified.’ Late on the day of exhibition I saw several flowers from 
which the upper points of the calyx had been cut—from which, indeed, the whole 
of the incurved points had been removed : was not this a mutilation, and should 
not such flowers have been disqualified ?” 
Yes, undoubtedly a mutilation, and as undoubtedly should have been dis¬ 
qualified. But did our correspondent find any flowers so treated amongst the 
winning blooms ? If he did, I can only plead, as a set-off, the impossibility of 
making the full examination required in the time at the command of the judges. 
Late on the day of the exhibition my attention was called to this fault, which, 
as Talleyrand is reported to have said, was worse than a crime, ’twas a blunder,” 
