270 
THE cottage GARDENEE. 
January 13. 
are all in favour of such increase. We have already 
given lists of those superior varieties which are to he 
preferred for standards, and otlier lists will follow of 
those kinds which are to he selected for wall-culture. 
Let us add, that on walls they are a much more certain 
crop than either Peaches, Nectarines, or Apricots, whilst 
they fetch prices quite as remunerative. Instead of 
struggling against adverse circumstances, and wasting 
labour and years in the endeavour to steal a scanty crop 
now and then of those natives of warmer climes, in spite 
of our ungenial seasons, we advise all those who covet 
either a more certain or a better compensating crop, to 
devote their walls to the best varieties of French Pears. 
It is more than strange that neither here, nor in any 
other country than France and Belgium, has a careful 
culture and a firm pursuit of the improvement of this 
delicious fruit been attempted ; for it is a fruit native of 
every district of Europe, and has been cultivated from 
a period very remote. 
The Hebrevvs l;new it only in its wild state [Agns), 
but Homer places it among the fruits of the garden of 
Alcinous;— 
“ The branch here benfls beneath the weighty pear, 
And verdant olives flourish round (he year. 
The balmy spirit of the western p:ale. 
Eternal breathes on fruits untaught to fail : 
Each dropping pear a following pear supplies, 
On apples, ppples, figs on figs arise: 
The same mild season gives the blooms to blow, 
The buds to harden, and the fruits to grow.” 
Beyond the fact of the ancient Greeks having this fruit 
in cultivation we kuow nothing; but when we descend 
a little lower in the order of time, we find among the 
early Bomaus not only a very accurate knowledge of its 
cultivation, hut that they had many varieties, distin- 
guislied by names which told of their quality, their place 
of birth, or their first owners. Thus Cato, who lived 
half a ceutury before the birth of our Saviour, enume¬ 
rates, as the most excellent of Pears, the Voleman, 
Anicianan, and Sementivan; at the same time charac¬ 
terising the time when winter had quite departed, as 
being “ wlien the Pear begins to blossom.” 
Columella, Pliny, and otliers, are still more copious 
in their lists of Pe.ars; and some modern fruitists have 
. endeavoured to identify these with varieties at present 
known to orchardists. Without expressing any assent 
to these identifications, yet we think they are not with¬ 
out interest; and we would not have the man for our 
friend who does not care to know that he is partaking 
of fruit descended from trees of whicli Pliny, Cicero, 
Varro, Columella, and Virgil, may have enjoyed the 
produce. 
To aid our readers in the enjoyment of this pleasant 
possibility, we will trace out some particulars which 
Dalecamp and otliers have suggested upon tliis subject. 
Columella says: “We must he careful to plant our 
orchards with the most excellent and fniitful Pears. 
They are tliese Crusimnina. This was so called from 
Crustuminum. in Hetruria, where it was most cultivated. 
Pliny says it was of most grateful flavour; and Serviiis 
says it was small and partly red. Supposed to be our 
Petit Blanquet, or Little Blanket. 
Regia, or Royal. Pliny says its stalk was so short 
that it grew close to the branch, was oblong in form and 
green in colour. Dalecainp considers it to he the Gar- \ 
maignole. j 
Signina. So named from Signia, in Italy. Pliny says j 
it was by some, from its appearance, called Testacea, or 
Brick-coloured. Dalecamp thinks it is the Cat Boar 
[Poire Chat). 
Superha. It is small, says Pliny, hut it is the earliest. 
Hardouiu aud Dalecamp agree that, it is our Little 
Muscat. 
Ordeacea, or Barley Pear; because, says Pliny, it was 
ripe in barley harvest. It is thought to he our St.John’s 
Pear, or Amire Juannet. \ 
Favoniana. Pliny says it was red, arrd a little larger j 
than the Superha. Dalecamp and Hardouin think it is 
our Great Muscat. 
Lateritana. Probably from its brick-red colour; is 
supposed to be the Poire Prevost, or Provost Pear. 
Dolahelliana, was named after a Roman citizen, aud 
distinguished for its excessively long stalk. Dalecamp 
thinks it is our Musette d'automne (Autumn Musette), or 
Pastorale. 
Venerea, or Venus Pear. So called, says Pliny, from 
the beauty of its colours. Dalecamp says it is the Poire 
Acciole. 
Onychina, the Onyx Pear, from its purple tints. Dale¬ 
camp thinlcs it is the Guisse Madame, or Jargonelle, of 
our gardens. 
We might extend this catalogue twofold, hut, after 
remarking that though the Romans paid such attention 
to the Pear, it is entirely neglected by the degenerate 
race now occupying the territory of the Seven Hills, we 
will next pass on to the consideration ,of what has been 
done to improve this fruit in more modern times. 
No hnilding could well be more suitable, in every 
respect, for a large poultry exhibition, than Bingley 
Hall, Birtniugham ; and if we now hazard the opinion 
that the arrangements, in some few points, might still 
be susceptible of improvement, it is only from the fact 
that occupying, as that show undoubtedly does, the post 
of honour, and being consequently the model for imi¬ 
tation, all should be as near perfection as may be. 
Where light is, as there, admitted by skylights, a 
great loss of effect will ever ho caused by having two 
tiers of pens one above another. This was evident at 
the last exhibition, where the Game fowls and Ham- 
hurghs, elevated aloft in the central avenues, had greatly 
the advantage over their more august neighbours below. 
True, tliere was no help for it, and the committee, with 
upwards of 1300 pens to provide for, made the most of 
the room allotted them; but in the smaller county ex- 
hibitions tliis may he kept profitably in mind; and, 
wherever it is practicable, single rows of pens will 
always he found to do most justice to the birds, he they 
of what race they may. In the double row it inevitably 
happens, where both are at all visible, that the first is 
lower, and tho second higher, than they should he. 
