126 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[June, 
other facilities for becoming acquainted with them that no effort should be 
spared to realise it. In many fruits, again, Pears especially, there are strongly 
marked differences of flavour ; and we shall never rest satisfied until we get at 
least a list of the best varieties of each kind of fruit, grouped according to their 
flavour, of which certain well-known kinds should be put forward as the types. 
Thus amongst Pears there is the honey-like flavour of the Seckel, the musky 
flavour of William’s Bon Chretien, the noyeau-like flavour of Beurre Duhaume, 
the rose-water flavour of Beurre Hardy, the anise-flavour of Amiral, the almond¬ 
like flavour of Amande d’Ete, and there are certainly other distinct flavours amongst 
the many sorts classed as sugary, vinous, perfumed, and aromatic. We should be 
obliged to any of our correspondents who may either have already noted down, or 
who will at the proper season make exact records on this point, if they would 
favour us with materials towards the compilation of such a list. It would be 
extremely useful, for in this way, those who prefer any particular flavour or 
flavours would be much assisted in making their selections of trees. 
One other matter should, we think, have attention in any future editions, . 
namely, the means of identifying the different kind of stocks upon which fruit- 
trees of various kinds are grown. For the Apple we know there are the French 
Paradise* the English Paradise, the Doucin, the crab, and others ; for the Pear, 
the seedling pear and the quince ; for Peaches, the almond and various plums ; 
for Cherries* the seedling cherry and the Mahaleb; but how little do cultivators 
in general know about the appearance and the influences of the several kinds of 
stocks used, all-important though the knowledge must be, as affecting both the 
permanence and the fertility of their trees. We are almost inclined to think that 
at least a portion of the plates would have been of more utility than they are in 
their present form, had they been devoted to the full illustration of the various 
fruit-tree stocks, so far as to afford the means of identifying them. A reference 
to accessible figures of standard fruits would also have taken little space, and 
been most useful to fruit-students. 
Though mentioning these as features which, if added, would certainly improve 
the Fruit Manual , and which we hope to see adopted hereafter, we nevertheless, 
in the meanwhile, thankfully accept the book as it is ; and we close it with the 
conviction that it is the best, indeed we might say the only authoritative modern 
publication on the subject to which it is devoted.—T. Moore, 
A FEW NOTES ON AURICULAS. 
HAVE missed the notes on this fine old flower that used to appear in the 
Florist from Mr. John Ball. No one was better able, from his large ex¬ 
perience, to write about them, either as regards culture or the best varieties 
to cultivate. There is one thing remarkable about this flower, and that is, 
that the old sorts grown nearly fifty years ago are still the best flowers, with but 
few exceptions. On comparing a list of the premier flowers exhibited this year 
at Manchester with another given in an old horticultural journal for the year 
