FEBRUARY. 
35 
This was the second time I had had a store of Pears upon ice, covered about 
2 feet deep with leaves; and in both cases they were nearly as hard and sound 
as when gathered. After the stores were kept a while in a hothouse, there seemed 
little difference in their quality from that of tlie crop to which they belonged; 
and by this plan of keeping them I was enabled to exhibit sixty different kinds of 
Pears at INorwich Horticultural Show on the 23rd of November. Amongst them 
were—Beurre Bachelier, Soldat d’Esperen, Beurre Superfin, Beurre Delices, and 
some other French kinds, which were excellent in quality—while in bad seasons 
they were the reverse. This shows that the fault depends principally upon the 
seasons. There are some kinds, however, which are seldom bad, such as Thomp¬ 
son’s and Broom Park. I may notice, that on Christmas day, I had some sound 
Marie Louise and Winter Nelis Pears, which hung upon the trees until the 1st of 
December, and also good specimens of Belle et Bonne that were kept in ice as 
noticed above. I have grown this Pear both upon a wall and espalier, and have 
also seen good crops of it on dwarf standards ; it is a great bearer, but in general 
is deficient in quality. I had it some years back from Jersey, under the name of 
Merveille d’Ete, but the time of its ripening does not accord with the name; the 
true one, however, Belle ct Bonne, is given under an excellent description and 
figure of it, in the Florist and Pomologist for 1864. I hope that what I have 
said will not be compared by any one to the story of the Highlander, whose Plums 
took two seasons to ripen. 
J. Wighton. 
OUR CONTEMPORARIES. 
Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l’Europe. No. 172.—This stands first 
in the rank of illustrated horticultural publications for the fidelity and beauty with 
which the figures of plants and flowers are executed. For many years past, during 
the period that M. Yan Houtte was perfecting the process by which these plates 
are produced, this work appeared like angels’ visits, few and far between; and we 
were apt occasionally to forget that the work was still in existence by the long 
intervals that intervened between the appearance of the parts. Now, however, 
that the arrangements have been completed, it comes upon us with a rush; and 
since the 25th of November last we have received three parts, each containing seven 
richly-executed representations of ornamental plants. The part just received, and 
which was issued on the 10th instant, contains plates of the following :— 
Gymnostacliium Verschaffeltii. —This is a plant very similar to that introduced 
by Mr. James Yeitch under the name of Pranthemum rubro-venium, so similar 
indeed that M. Yan Houtte at first considered them identical. He has since dis¬ 
covered, however, that the leaves of the former are larger, longer, and more robust, 
and those of the latter more round in their form. The figure is beautifully exe¬ 
cuted, and exhibits to perfection the beautiful venation of the leaves. 
Dendrobium nodatum. —A pretty Orchid from Moulmein sent to Messrs. Low 
and Co., of the Clapton Nursery, by Mr. Parish. The sepals and petals are of a 
sulphur or citron yellow colour, and the projecting lip has a deep blood-coloured 
spot at the base of the side lobes, and the very large middle lobe is deep orange, 
with a white margin and apex. This is the Dendrobium Aphrodite of the Gardeners 
Chronicle, 1863, p. 6. 
JSranthemum sanguinolentum. —Another of those lovely-foliaged plants, with 
crimson venation, to which the chromolith process of M. Yan Houtte does such 
ample justice. It was introduced by Mr. Yeitch from Madagascar, and may be 
grown in a greenhouse. Its shoots being successively pinched at the points, this 
species, which branches freely, will be one of the most useful as a decorative plant. 
Codonopsis gracilis. —This is a native of India, and has not yet been introduced 
into Europe. The figure is taken from Hooker and Thomson’s “ Illustrations of 
Himalayan Plants,” and represents a beautiful campanulaceous twining or trailing 
plant, with funnel-shaped flowers about 1-1- inch long, and of a beautiful light blue 
colour. 
Pyrus jloribunda. —This is not the Pyrus floribunda of Lindley (Bot. Reg. 
t. 1006) which belongs to the Aronia section of the genus, but a totally distinct 
