220 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
which adheres to the palate notwithstanding its fine briskness; it is very 
deeply stained with red at the stone. 
This ripens about the 10th of August, and is the largest early Peach 
known. As an exhibition variety, it will be in high repute on account of its 
size and remarkably full flavour ; and for market purposes, its earliness, size, 
and the ease with which it bears carriage, will render it the most valuable 
Peach in cultivation. The tree is a very strong grower, remarkably vigorous 
and healthy, and bears immensely. It was raised from a very hardy Peach 
which Mr. Rivers procured in Brittany, called Peche Deniaux.—( Journal of 
Horticulture.') 
IN MEDIAS RES. 
Sauntering the other day through the pleasant grounds of the Royal 
Horticultural Society at South Kensington (a distinguished litterateur has re¬ 
cently suggested that these gardens should be set apart as a cemetery, seeing 
that they have to all appearance been designed for that purpose),—I was inter¬ 
cepted, and like the ancient mariner, held in somewhat unwilling audience by 
a fair correspondent, who pleaded with me to give her, through the pages of 
the Florist and Pomologist, a list of spring-flowering bulbs, such as Hya¬ 
cinths, Tulips, Crocuses, &c., of the cheap and easily accessible kinds, but 
which were to be at the same time 66 worthy of cultivation.” I suggested the 
catalogues of Messrs. Paul and Cutbush ; but this resource was instantly repu¬ 
diated. My vanity was flattered by being informed that I knew well which 
were the best of the cheaper varieties, and that I must do the bidding of the 
fair femme sole , who would “ take no denial.” I was also requested to add 
“ cultural hints,” in the simplest form in which they could be put. Thus to 
the task. 
Her talk of sad experience as a grower was but as an echo of what has 
reached me before. All was vexation of spirit, if not vanity, for there had 
been much pains taken, and but poor results. Many of the subjects she sought 
to cultivate had plainly been killed by kindness—a few, for want of the re¬ 
quisite knowledge. In reply to my remark, “ Of course you grow Crocuses ?” 
it was said, “Yes, but they have always been so unsatisfactory. I have hitherto 
had them in pots and boxes (out of doors); but what with the frost and the 
cold spring winds, they have never bloomed to please me, and when I have at¬ 
tempted to grow them in-doors I get all foliage and no flowers. Last spring 
those out-of-doors threw up their buds, but never expanded into flowers, the 
cold spring withered them up.” And so we parted; and as I walked away I 
found myself repeating the lines— 
“ Is the flow’ret’s sleep eternal, 
When its cup, 
Folded up, 
Waits the breezes vernal ?” 
And I thought it possible that my fair friend might yet see the “ folded cups ” 
of her Crocuses unwrap themselves under the genial influence of the “ breezes 
vernal ” and the warm spring sunshine, and disclose such beauty and freshness, 
as not only to crown her labours abundantly, but to awaken in her soul some¬ 
thing akin to the gentle humility of this lovely atom in the wondrous creation 
of the Great Father of all. 
For her yellow Crocuses she should select Cloth of Gold; for white, Queen 
Victoria and Mrs. Beecher Stowe; for striped, Sir Walter Scott and Duchess 
of Sutherland, a small but very beautiful heavily striped flower; and for 
purple or blue, David Rizzio and Ne Plus Ultra, this last having an edging of 
