280 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
during the past few months to have been associated with the originators of 
several new Floral Societies, some of which are now established in the densely- 
populated metropolis, and the feeling of these originators, the masonry of kind¬ 
ness displayed and maintained, should put to shame those who quarrel so loudly 
over these w dry bones.” 
Depend upon it, horticulture is, as Mr. Paul rightly puts it, “a Science ”—an 
elevating and a worthy science. It is, in fact, both a Science and an Art, and 
has come to-be such through an association of cultivated taste, elevated senti¬ 
ments, and an innate love—the truest of all promptings—of the really beautiful. 
The Royal Horticultural Society may aid this Science, may assist in diffusing a 
greater and increased love of this Art, and we must all hope that it is yet destined 
to take the lead in this matter ; but it can no more stay their onward march than 
it can “ shut the flood-gates of thought.” Unfortunately, however, it is capable 
of self-injury, of wounding and lacerating its own fair form, and bringing injury 
into its personal domain, in opposition to all that is apposite to its primary inten¬ 
tions and formation. Horticulture in 1875 needs not the prestige of titled names 
or of Royal Societies to insure its ultimate prosperity ; the former may be good 
for the latter, but in the earnest warfare to which I have pointed, horticulture 
needs no extraneous helps. Sorry indeed would be its future, were this the case. 
The past has given ample proof that to raise the order we must elevate the 
individual. No society can advance the legitimate wage-price, or teach individual 
members ; hence practical workers must aid and emulate each other, and they 
who lend their thoughts and abilities to this end are the true gardeners, and the 
best friends of gardening, f.e., horticulture. 
The wretched debt so frequently referred to will never permit the Royal 
Horticultural Society to assume its legitimate position, whilst it hangs like a mill¬ 
stone about its neck. Temporary help at 5 per cent, interest does but lay aside 
the load for a time, that it may become weightier in the future. If the Society 
is worth purchasing at such a price, then, even though a Council may not be 
justified in making the proposal or acting in the matter, cannot individual Fellows 
apply to all well-wishers of the cause for subscriptions sufficient to pay off this 
incubus. Thus only can the Society be assured of another fair start, or one 
holding out a hope of even moderate success.— William Earley, Valentines. 
PEAKS FOR THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND. 
HE two Pears named below —Beurre Navez * and Comte cle Lamy —have 
done so well with me in this and in former seasons, that I venture to 
recommend them for similar cultivation. They are both fine-looking fruit, 
and the quality, especially that of the former sort, is excellent. It ripens 
* Beurre Navez is described by Mr. Scott as follows:—“Roundish turbinate, bossed near the top; skin 
greenish-yellow, slightly dotted with grey, patched and clouded with brownish russet, and often tinged 
with rose on the sunny side; stalk long and bent, sometimes short and straight, inserted in a wide knobbed 
cavity; eye large, half-closed, and rather deeply set; flesh white, firm, half-melting, juicy, sugary, and 
acidulated, and with a delicate, musky perfume. The tree forma one of the handsomest pyramids possible, 
either on the pear or quince stock, and bears*abundantly. 
