26 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Fbbeuary, 
Wilmot, lias all tlie appearance of a huge Marie Louise, with the same buttery 
texture of flesh, and greatly resembles the Pitmaston Duchesse. 
Among Strawberries, Laxton^s Pioneer is a fine hardy variety, and earlier than 
Keens’ Seedling; PauVs Waltham Cross is an excellent mid-season sort; and Dr. 
Eoden introduces a host, many of them of considerable merit, such as Alpha^ 
Bonnie Bass,, Hundredfold, and a variety with prettily variegated foliage called 
Variegated Enchantress. Of G-ooseberries, the Early Orleans is the earliest of 
all, the fruits greenish-white, and of excellent quality. The best new Melons 
are Gilbert’s A. F. Barron and Hero of Bath. 
One of the triumphs of the past season is the fruiting of the Hiospyr'os 
Kalci in the gardens of Sir William Hutt, Isle of Wight; this is an introduction 
from Japan of a few years ago ; the fruits are of the size and colour of Oranges, 
the flesh juicy, with the taste of Apricot. As an ornamental fruit-tree, in favoured 
localities this is a great addition, but it is of doubtful value as a dessert fruit in 
the general climate of England. 
New Vegetables are at all times rare, although new names are abundant; we 
owe quite as much to the careful selection and saving of pure seed for the im¬ 
provement of our vegetables as we do to hybridisation or introduction. Amongst 
Peas, there are not many actual novelties to record. The most notable is Turners 
Hr. Maclean, a dwarf blue wrinkled marrow, having very large pods, and an 
enormous cropper ; this will prove a very useful main-crop Pea. From Scotland 
we hear of Alienas Champion, a good selection of the Champion of England type. 
Kidney Beans and Broad Beans present us with nothing new. Messrs. Carter 
and Co. bring forward a new and distinct Lettuce, named American Gathering, 
or Curled, which has the leaves peculiarly curled and crisped, and forms little or 
no heart. In Broccoli we have Buttons'* Late Queen and VeitcBs Self-Protecting 
Autumn, both stated to be very excellent; and in addition, Pottle’s Callage 
Broccoli, which is capable of a two-fold use, first as a Cabbage, and then as a 
Broccoli; it is of excellent quality, and is said to be very hardy. Dean’s Early, 
Snoivlall is the earliest of all Cauliflowers; it is of the Erfurt character, but 
distinct, the plants dwarf, the heads small, solid, white, changing as they open 
to a purplish shade. 
Amongst Potatos, the past season has demonstrated the curious fact that the 
new American varieties rapidly degenerate after impcrtation. Newly imported seed 
produces wonderful crops, but each successive season they become more and more 
inferior, both in quality and productiveness. Of this class. Snowflake has during the 
past season, appeared to the best advantage. Carter’s Breadfruit is very nearly 
allied to Bresee’s Prolific, and of Eureka it may be said that no worse Potato 
need be required. Of English varieties. Prince Arthur, from Messrs. Jackson, 
Kidderminster, is a promising one of the Victoria type ; Grayson’s Talle King 
is a good form of the Regent class ; Porter’s Excelsior is of the Early Hands- 
worth class, and like that variety, of poor quality. Mr. Fenn has a number of 
superb seedlings that promise fair to eclipse all his former sorts in reputation, 
