204 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[September, 
tending to be done to keep things alive; but the Stonecrop will stand neglect 
for a month or two with impunity. Instead, then, of bungling with all sorts of 
plants in one’s patch of garden-ground, some kind of classification should surely 
be made. For example, in a shady corner and under the drip of trees where few 
flowering-plants could live, the fernery should be established. Again, in the bleak 
high ledge, the “ ’vantage coin ” of some old castle or artificial ruin, we have a 
choice spot for the Wallflower families :— 
“ There in thy bleak and earthless bed, 
Thou brav’st the tempest’s strife, 
And giv’st what else were cold and dead, 
A lingering glow of life.” 
Succulents used as bedding-plants are always an isolated class, as if they were 
out of place, and had descended from a higher level to adorn the parterre ; but 
when we see them on stone-work or rock-work—not on earth-work—their hue 
and quaint character show to great advantage, first, by being thus brought nearer 
to the eye of the observer, after the fashion by which we give the Eose an artifi¬ 
cial leg to get its beauty and fragrance nearer to the eye and nose ; and secondly, 
by their grotesque foliage giving an exotic character and richness when looked up 
to. A familiar example may be given in the common House-leek, which when 
grown as a Daisy is a mean looking object, but which is looked up to on a cottage 
roof with respect. Now, the stonecrop on stone-work is a power, for it hides 
the seams and patches of the work, and never rambles like many Alpines, ruining 
its more delicate neighbours. When used as the mortar of the buildings, the 
Stonecrop can play an important part in filling up chinks and crannies, as it never 
refuses to grow and spread, whether in sun or in shade, only let it rest upon a 
stone :— 
“ As snow upon the mountain’s crest 
Cbngs to the rock that gives it rest.” 
—Alex. Forsyth, Salford . 
THE CRACKING OF PEAR FRUITS. 
® HAT these delicious fruits have a tendency—at times, seemingly, a hereditary 
tendency—to crack, greatly to their deterioration, not only as regards their 
f appearance, but also as regards their keeping and eating qualities, is too 
well known. It seems to be a malady more or less brought on by certain soils 
and situations, as well as affecting certain sorts of Pears. The subject is one of no 
mean importance to the culturist, more especially to the market-grower. The 
malady is the more troublesome, because when once any particular trees become 
subject to its attacks, there seems to be no permanent remedy. It would be 
gratifying to know some means by which it would be possible to successfully 
attack or cope with it. The canker in Pears, or in similar kinds of fruit-trees, 
may be met and neutralised, or entirely destroyed; but we have here a graver 
evil, and one whose origin, ramifications, and extent are not so easily determinable. 
So intricate and subtle is the cause of this “ cracking,” that one part or por- 
