1874, ] 
FRANCISCEA EXIMIA. 
229 
DESSEET CHEEEIES. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
jN the accompanying plate, we give illustrations of two fine varieties of Dessert 
Cherries, which are not so widely known as their merits deserve. The 
Frogmore Late Bigarreau (fig. 1.) is represented from specimens obligingly 
communicated by Mr. Jones, from the Royal Gardens. It is a seedling 
raised at Frogmore by the late Mr. T. Ingram, and like the Early Frogmore 
Bigarreau, figured on a former occasion, is a fruit of great excellence. Mr. 
Powell, in a note dated July 9, writes :—We find it a very useful variet}^ It 
is not yet-ripe, and will hang a long time on the tree without cracking,—a great 
fault in the old variety.” The fruit is large, bluntly heart-shaped, with a slight 
suture. Skin pale waxy-yellow, covered with bright red on the sunny side. 
Stalk two to two and a half inches long. Flesh tender.and juicy. Quality quite 
first-rate. • ’ 
The Joc-o-soT (fig. 2) was obligingly communicated by Messrs. Rivers and 
Son, of Sawbridgeworth, during thOj past summer. It is a very rich-looking, 
luscious fruit, and the quality is equal to its appearance. The fruit is full-sized, 
bluntly heart-shaped, compressed at the sides, and indented at the apex. The 
stalk is about an inch and a half long, or according to Hogg, two inches. The 
skin is shiny, and very dark purple,, almost black. The rich, sweet flesh is dark- 
coloured, very tender and juicy. The variety is in season about the middle of 
July. The Joc-o-sot, according to Dr. Hogg’s classification, belongs to the group 
of Black Geans.—T. M. 
FEANOISCEA EXIMIA. 
® HIS Franciscea is a valuable plant for decorative purposes, as it may be had 
in bloom at any time from January till May, and though it is not odoriferous, 
f yet its pretty mauve-coloured flowers and elliptic foliage give it a very 
pleasing character. As it will withstand the temperature of an ordinary 
conservatory for any length of time, it cannot properly be considered a stove- 
plant, but when it is required to be had in bloom early, it must be subjected to 
a stove temperature to bring it into flower. 
To grow this'fine Franciscea to perfection, pot it in a compost of 
two-thirds fibry peat, and one-third of loam ; add sufficient sand to make 
the whole porous. The peat should be broken up into small lumps, and 
the loam rubbed moderately fine between the hands ; it will consequently be 
necessary that the soil used should be in a proper state as to moisture, in order 
that it may be worked without clinging to the hands. In potting, fill about one- 
sixth of the depth of the pot with broken crocks for drainage, and place a layer 
of fibry peat over the crocks, to prevent this drainage from becoming choked. 
Pot moderately firm. To form specimens, the plants should be started into 
growth in February, in a temperature of from 00° to 05°, syringing them over- 
