50 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
r March, 
by tlie last week in October, and lasts till the middle of November, the 
second following in close succession. Like all the Brassica tribe, the Cape 
Broccolis require a good deep rich soil. If very severe weather sets in they 
can be lifted carefully, partly divested of their leaves, and packed closely 
together in a cold frame, where they can be protected—thus prolonging the 
cutting right into mid-winter. 
Grange’s is also a most useful autumn Broccoli or Cauliflower, but 
somewhat difficult to procure true. 
Wrotham Park , Barnet. John Edlington. 
THE CULTURE OF PEAR TREES IN POTS.—II. 
« T was, I think, about the year 1845 that the late Dr. Lindley said in a 
half-triumphant manner—we had had several consecutive fruitful 
f seasons—“ Who will now say that England is not a good fruit 
country ?” Alas, for the short-lived triumph ! In 1858 I find in my 
journal the following melancholy entry, “ Summer cold and un¬ 
favourable ; no Pears, no Plums, no Cherries, no Apples; this being the 
seventh consecutive year of failure in the crop of fruit in the south of 
England.” In 1854 again no fruit; then came 1855 with abundance, 
followed since then by more or less favourable years. 1806 and 1867 must 
be placed among the years of scarcity; and owing to the failure of these 
seasons, my attention was more closely drawn to my Pear trees in pots, 
which, owing to their having been under glass while in bloom, and thus 
escaping the spring frosts, bore abundantly. 
It is the economical method of stowage of Pear trees in pots in orchard- 
houses, or in common glass-roofed sheds, that gives value to this species of 
culture. A sx>an-roofed house with boarded sides and ends, and shutters 
on hinges, 2 feet wide, opening downwards in each side for ventilation, is a 
cheap structure. Its sides should be 6 feet high, and its centre from 18 to 
15 feet in height. A house of this description may be strongly built, with 
oak posts to support the side plates, and its roof supported inside by 2-inch 
gas pipes, at a small cost. As far as I can recollect, from what has been 
done here, a house of the above height, 100 feet long, and 24 feet wfide, 
ought not to cost more than from £130 to £140, for it must be recollected 
there is no glass used but for the roof. A house of these dimensions will 
allow of the stowage of two thousand Pear trees in 11-inch pots, having a 
border in the centre, two side borders, and two narrow paths to give facility 
to attend to the trees. In round numbers, the area of the house being 
2400 feet, 2000 feet will be taken up with two thousand 11-inch pots, 
leaving a margin of 400 feet for the paths. It is true that smaller houses 
may be built; but from experience in the culture of pyramidal Pear trees 
