52 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
Pyramidal Pear trees on Quince stocks in pots make a very healthy but 
not a vigorous growth, so that they are easily kept in order by summer 
pinching, and they soon form the most symmetrical and beautiful of fruit 
trees. Owing to the early blossoming of Pear trees under glass, the season 
of growth in the fruit is much prolonged, hence its increase in size; but 
its ripening period is not hastened. This is the case with Pears from the 
warmer parts of France. They have a longer period to grow in than 
English Pears in the open air under ordinary circumstances ; but, as a rule, 
they do not ripen earlier, or, as in the case of the Easter Beurre, not so early, 
for this kind of Pear is often in fine order in France till the end of April. 
I ought not to omit stating, that the roof of the Pear-tree house may 
be devoted to the growth of Grapes, as the Pear trees will be in their 
summer quarters before the Vines have made much progress, so as to shade 
them injuriously. The Pear-tree house may thus be a means of double 
profit. From what I have seen of my Hamburgh Grapes trained under 
the roof of my house, 100 feet by 24 feet, in which the Pear trees were till 
June, I am sure they would pay—indeed, I am quite convinced that a 
house of this size would give a liberal income to a clever man. T. R. 
BEDDING LOBELIAS OF 1866 . 
)F the Bedding Lobelias of 1866 I am able to speak in somewhat con¬ 
fident terms, having had them last summer in a good state to be reported 
f ? on. For depth of colour nothing beats Indigo Blue (E. G. Hender- 
son & Son), colour deep indigo blue, with a conspicuous white centre • 
apparently a seedling from speciosa, but not growing so diffuse. The 
colour also stands well; but the season has been so far in favour of this, as 
there have been but few hot sunny days. Pumila elegans (E. G. Henderson 
and Son), is a very compact-growing dwarf kind, blooming profusely; in colour 
a bright blue, but having only a very small white centre. The want of a 
light centre to show up the blue colour gives it a somewhat dull appearance, 
even when fully in bloom. The habit is excellent, and it also stands well. 
It was awarded a first-class certificate by the Floral Committee at one of its 
meetings during the past summer. Attraction (Carter & Co.), is an excellent 
free-blooming variety for bedding purposes ; it has the character of Pax- 
toniana, the centre of the flower being a large blotch of white, which is 
edged with azure blue. It is of a very desirable habit, and forms a conspi¬ 
cuous feature in the flower garden. None of the new flowers of the present 
year, in the same way of colour, can at all rival this variety for general 
usefulness. Blue King (Carter & Co.), is almost a self, the flowers being of 
a deep azure blue colour, with a small white centre ; but, like pumila 
elegans, it wants more white to give life to it. The habit is good, and it 
