230 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ October, 
been brought forward many years ago. The question now arises as to its dis¬ 
tinctness from other varieties since introduced to cultivation. It has been 
suggested that it may prove to be the same as Reine Hortense, a well-known and 
much appreciated variety, which has time after time been raised from seed, and 
sent out as a new variety, and which enjoys no fewer than nineteen synonyms, 
including Merveille de Hollande, Belle Supreme, &c.—M. 
SHELTER FOR GARDENS. 
' HELTER is sought, with more or less intentness, by the birds of the air 
and the beasts of the field, all of whom love to retire to some covert or 
retreat as a refuge from the stormy wind and tempest. This being so, 
what shall be said of the neglect of shelter in our gardens, where we cul¬ 
tivate the plants of every clime,—the choicest fruits, flowers, and vegetables, all 
carefully improved through man’s agency, either by means of hybridization or of 
high cultivation, and all consequently more highly bred and more delicate than 
the wild animals and birds. Do not such subjects as these also require shelter ? 
Assuredly they do ; and I have seen this so frequently illustrated, that I would 
invite attention to the subject. Fruits under the influence of shelter will grow 
twice as large as they will do when exposed, and they are also much improved 
in flavour. This result is obtainable simply by affording them shelter,—and by 
this word I do not mean a glass structure or a garden-wall, but trees which will 
grow 40, 60, yea 100 ft. high, if you wish, and will protect the garden from the 
stormy blast, and sift the air,” as it were, before it reaches their more delicate 
brethren. By means of shelter such as this, placed at a proper distance, the 
Pear will swell to its full size, the Peach will become “ fat and lusty,” and full 
of saccharine juice, and the Apple will remain on the tree until it is properly 
matured, and will consequently keep much longer. Flowers, grateful for the pro¬ 
tection, will open more kindly, even in very early spring ; while vegetables may be 
brought more forward, and retained to a later period by the same influence, and 
they will also be much more juicy and “ comely in their kind.” 
It remains to inquire what are the best trees to be planted in order to 
effect these benefits. In my opinion, nothing is so good for this purpose as the 
Pine tribe, and among these, perhaps Pinus austriaca and P. Laricio are the best. 
There may, however, be persons who would think their sombre appearance a blot 
in the landscape. To relieve this, and lighten up the picture, a mixture of Elm, 
Beech, Sycamore, or Lime might be introduced. I have a great liking for the 
latter tree, which is beautiful in growth, fragrant in blossom, and always pleasing. 
In some cases, a good many of the Wild Cherry, or Gean, as it is called in Scotland, 
may be introduced with good effect, on account of its abundant white flowers 
in spring ; it is also useful as affording food to birds, and in autumn the 
foliage is second to none for its beauty in the landscape. 
I am so satisfied on this subject of shelter, that I believe we may manure and 
