Decemrer 18, 
OOUNTliy GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
193 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
D 
M 
D 
W 
DECEMBER 18—24, 1855. 
Weather near Lon 
Barometer. Thermo. 
DON IN 1853. 
"'-‘•••Si" 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R.&3. 
Moen’s 
Age. 
Clock 
af. Sun. 1 
18 ' 
Tn 
Eiigis humgralis. 
29 . 464 — 29.002 
39—29 
N. 
14 
4 a 8 
49 a 3 
! 56 
9 
3 
18 : 
19 
\V 
Ember Week. 
29730 — 29.701 
44—33 
W. 
36 
5 
so 
3 20 
10 
0 
49 
20 
Th 
Sun’s declination, 23° 27's. | 
29 . 955 — 29.466 
44—24 
N. 
08 
5 
50 
4 44 
11 
2 
ly 
2! 
F 
St. Tho.mas. j 
30 . 125 - 29.953 
51—39 
S.W. 
12 
6 
51 
6 8 
12 
1 
49 1 
22 
s 
Enpis ferrupinca. 
29.882—29.828 
54 — 28 
s.w. 
06 
7 
51 
7 28 
13 
1 
19 
23 
Son 
4 .Sunday in Advent. | 
29 . 895 — 29.778 
47—26 
S.W. 
05 
7 
52 
rises. 
© 
0 
46 
24 
iM 
Chaffinches flock. J 
29 . 879 - 29 . 76.8 
52—40 
s.w. 
06 
7 
52 
4 a 28 
15 
0 
19 
Metkorology of tuf, WEEK.—AtChiswick, from observations during the last twenty-eight years, the average highest and lowesttem. 
peratures of these days are 44.3°, and 33.8°, respectively. The greatest heat, 57°, occurred on the 23rd, in 1839 ; and the lowest cold 12° 
on the 19 th, in 1840. During the period 108 days were fine, and on 88 rain fell. ’ ’ 
Now that the Planting of Fruit-tuees is proceeding, 
and all who are engaged in rearing orchards and plant¬ 
ing gardens are making the most of this favourable 
I season, we would tender a few words of advice as to one 
I particular connected with the operation which is much 
too frequently neglected. When such a work is set 
about, great care is manifested in the selection of the 
varieties: authorities are consulted, and the most expe- 
; rienced nurserymen are appealed to, to secure such a 
collection of varieties as may, in future years, furnish a 
source of pleasure and of profit to the planters. The 
soil is chosen with all duo regard to situation, 
drainage, and necessary preparation; and the work of 
planting is completed by the careful insertion of judi¬ 
ciously-selected and correctly-named fruit-trees. In the 
selection great importance has been attached to the 
nomenclature. It is a subject to which some nurserymen 
very properly give the greatest attention; but how fre¬ 
quently it happens, that no sooner are the trees in the 
ground, and the owner feels that they are in a fair way 
of well-doing, that the names are forgotten, and the 
label by which each was distinguished is left to bleach, 
and shrivel, and decay. Years pass on, and the trees 
come into full bearing; but their nomenclature and their 
value are alike unknown. 
We have been induced to make tliese remarks from a 
circumstance that came to our knowledge within the 
last week. A large parcel of Pears was purchased in 
, Covent Garden Market, at a price which would have 
1 been considered low for fruit of a nondescript and 
! inferior description. Had the grower known the name 
; and value of the variety, his would have been the 
gain: but the purchaser, who knew what the fruit was, 
immediately recognised them as excellent specimens of 
Nelis d'lliver, for which he could, when ripe, with¬ 
out any difficulty find customers at 3s. and is. a-dozen. 
[ Some three or four years ago we strongly urged an 
extensive cultivation of fruit-trees of the best varieties, 
and particularly of those which came into use after the au¬ 
tumn sorts were passed; and we took some pains to advise 
our readers of the names of such as would command a 
, high price in our principal markets; among these was this 
j very Nelis d'Hiver ; but if any of those who acted on 
‘ our advice have made plantations of the varieties which 
we then recommended, and have since lost iheir names, 
theirs will be the loss when they send their produce to 
market. We would, therefore, strongly urge all fruit 
growers to be careful of the nomenclature of the varie¬ 
ties they grow. It is a subject attended with very little 
trouble. A wooden label, with a number notched upon 
it; a strip of zinc, with the name w'ritten upon it; a 
piece of lead, with a number stamped upon it, and the 
name entered in a book with a corresponding number; 
any one of these modes may suffice for half a life-time to 
satisfy curiosity or to furnish information; and however 
small the collection may be, it will always be found a 
source of interest, rather to know or be able to tell, whnt 
description oLfruit one is growing. That there is an in¬ 
terest to be found in knowing the names of fruits we have 
ample evidence, from the numerous applications which 
at this season of the year are daily made to us on the 
subject; and it is, therefore, on that account that w'e now 
advise planters to seize the present opportunity of se¬ 
curing that which, if once lost, may cost them much 
trouble to regain. 
The Meeting of the Entomological Society was held 
on the 3rd of December, with John Curtis, Esq., 
F.L.S., &c., the President, in the chair. 
We were happy to perceive that a considerable 
number of new members were ballotted for and elected. 
There was also a considerable list of donations to the 
library, which the Society is desirous of making as 
complete as possible. 
The chief donations on the present occasion were from 
the Entomological Society of Stettin, Professor Leuck- 
bart, the Society of Arts, &c. 
An article on the British Ink Gall, by an anonymous 
correspondent, was read, containing an account of the 
great injury caused by this new pest in young Oak 
plantations. 
A description was communicated, by Mr. Newman, of 
a curious species of Thrips, collected in India by 
Captain Hamilton. 
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a fine pair of the 
I'rochilium scoliafonne, a species new to this country, 
which had been captured during the past summer by 
Mr. Ashworth, at Bryn Hyfryd, near Llangollen. The 
species is of large size, and is distinguished by two 
yellow belts across the abdomen, and has a tuft of red 
and black scales at the tail. The male lias the aniennie 
entirely black, but those of the female have a broad 
white baud near the tip. 
Mr. Curtis read notes, accompanied by beautiful draw, 
iugs of the following insects, Hygrotus bisulcattis, a 
No CCCT.XXVII. VoL. XV. 
