4 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[January, 
the trees grow on late in the season, the wood rarely gets matured even in fine 
seasons, and never in bad ones, and the consequence is, that the first severe frost 
after an unfavourable season kills the tree to the ground.—M. Saul, Stourton. 
A FEW HINTS TO FEUIT-RAISERS. 
HE extensive and varied collections of Fruits of different kinds that we possess- 
in our gardens, already gives us a very satisfactory and sufficient choice,. 
f as far as quality is concerned; but there is yet ample scope for those who 
can afford to devote themselves to the agreeable task of improving, by the- 
arts of cultivation and hybridization, the fruits we justly prize. And although 
the productive power, as regards the development of varieties from seed, of every 
tree and plant seems illimitable, yet possessing already, as we do, so many good 
apples, pears, plums, strawberries, &c., we have less reason to seek to amplify the 
already extended lists of these fruits, than to secure properties and peculiarities 
that are confined to a comparatively few individuals in each section. 
What would be a great boon, and what it is most desirable we should seek ta 
obtain in cultivated fruits, is the increase of those kinds of which a few examples 
exist as guides and types of what we may hope to attain. For example, amongst 
all the fruits we grow, we have one or more that possesses, with a prolific habits 
a constitutional strength and vigour so happily united with its character of pro*- 
ductiveness, that while the great majority of sorts of fruits are exhausted by heavy- 
crops, and require a year’s rest to restore their fruiting powers, these fortunately- 
constituted trees continue to produce crops year after year. Denyers Victoria 
Plum is a ready example of a tree possessing great and unfailing fruiting powers 
as a wall fruit. I have never known an instance of failure in this variety, and it- 
seems equally at home in any aspect. Herefordshire Pearmain Aiyile^ or a pear- 
main resembling it, has for fifteen years proved, like the plum above named^ 
unfailingly productive; and this year, which has proved a bad one for apples 
generally, my favourite produced its usual crop. Frogmore Prolific is another 
apple that has never yet failed ; and I think Mr. Powell, of Frogmore, confirmed 
the favourable opinion I expressed of this apple, from its habit of giving an annual 
crop, by telling me that his experience coincided with my own. He also cited 
Posemary Pusset, Scarlet Pusset, and Pomona^ as being reliable as annual croppers. 
I am unable to instance a Pear that may be cited as an example of the habit of 
fruitfulness possessed by the apples named above. I have never known Beurre de 
Pance to fail entirely ; but the Pear that never fails has, I opine, yet to be obtained. 
I think the May Duke may be instanced amongst Cherries ; and Keens' Seedling 
may illustrate a prolific habit in Strawberries. These suggestive remarks will, 
perhaps, be understood from the few examples I have given. 
There is one property common to a few varieties of Pears which, if possessed 
by any new kinds, would make them doubly valuable. It is one of the recom¬ 
mendations of the old Crcessane that it remains sound and fit for use after attaining 
