COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
3 
I April 3. 
| 
services should be asked. If, indeed, professional occu¬ 
pations render loss of time loss of money also, it 
cannot be deemed unreasonable that recompence on 
this account should be called for. The worst economy 
that can be practised in these cases, is the parsimony 
that selects incompetent persons on the ground of 
reducing the expenditure. 
There are, of course, many other points, to which the 
attention of Poultry Societies, or, rather, their Commit¬ 
tees, should be carefully given, but these our necessary 
limitations preclude our at present referring to. For¬ 
tunately, however, as example is better than precept, 
the Birmingham Society has given us so good a 
practical application both of what should be done, and 
of what should not be done, that a mere enumeration 
of the principal heads for consideration will be useful, 
if the enquirer turns to the proceedings of Biugley Hall 
for a further elucidation of his doubts. 
It is intended to have a Poultry Show at Paris, in 
conjunction with the Universal Exhibition. We hear 
that the cost of carriage of all Poultry through France 
to the Show and back will be defrayed, and that the 
prize list will be most liberal. 
PEARS FOR SMALL GARDENS. 
Having named a few really useful Apples and Plums, 
; I will now point to a few really useful Pears; just ob¬ 
serving by the way, that the apparent meagreness of 
these lists must be accounted for by the intention 
with which I set out, namely, to present the unpractised 
amongst our readers with the names of a few on which 
they can rely ; it will, therefore, I hope, be well under¬ 
stood that my lists have not the pretension of furnish¬ 
ing a selection for gardens of much extent. It is, 
indeed, particularly necessary that those whose needs 
are small, and with whom space is a most important 
object, should be placed in a position which will enable 
them to plant their half a score of trees with confidence. 
Pears, I need scarcely urge, are general favourites. 
Surely, there is barely one member of society that does 
not occasionally enjoy a rich, mellow, and melting Pear: 
let U9 say a first-rate Jargonelle, in August; a good 
Aston Town, in October; or a fat Marie Louise, of 
j nearly a pound weight, in the middle of November. 
But Pears, above all fruits, are cultivated in such a 
■ variety of ways, that the most experienced fruit-grower, 
when called upon to give a solution, naturally feels 
I puzzled in approaching the case. Now, this does not 
arise from ignorance of kinds, or their adaptabilities, 
; but from a consciousness of the fact, that whatever may 
be the merits of certain kinds, the odds are much 
against their receiving that kind of treatment which 
they require. Not every one possesses an aspect adapted 
to kinds highly to be recommended ; and, moreover, the 
difference between south and north, or a matter of some 
half-a-dozen degrees of latitudo, is so great, that the very 
Pear we recommend as an ordinary standard in our 
southern counties, requires the treatment of a Peach in 
the more northern parts of Britain. 
Such, then, are the difficulties which beset this case; 
| and whilst I feel bound to point to them, I must, at the 
i samo time, observe, that after all the recommendations 
which practical men give, much must ever depend on 
the ingenuity of the readers in making due allowance 
for the position. 
First, then, the old Jargonelle; this needs no descrip¬ 
tion ; a standard up to the Midland Counties; but best 
on a wall further north ; August and September. Beurre 
d’Amanlis; a most prolific and good Pear; no garden, 
however small, but should contain a bush of this ; I 
scarcely know its superior, as combining profit and 
quality, in September and October; habits as to hardi¬ 
hood much as the Jargonelle. Delice d'Hardenpont ; 
those who want a very handsome fruit, to look well and 
eat well, should plant one of these on an east or west 
wall; an October Pear. Louise Bonne of Jersey; let us at 
once say that this is indispensable, and that every 
garden in the kingdom must have one, at least; ripe 
from the middle of October to the middle of November. 
Marie Louise; invaluable as to quality, but a shy 
setter; those who have little room will do well to sub¬ 
stitute the Louise Bonne, although by no means equal to 
it in the higher Pear qualities. We find the Marie 
Ijouise set best on an east aspect; on table trellisses, 
however, and protected by Spruce boughs, we have had 
excellent crops. Ilucliesse d’Angouleme is a good No¬ 
vember Pear, and a free bearer; would do for the gable 
end of a building. Thompson's is a first-rate Pear; 
does, we believe, as a standard in our southern counties, 
but here best on an east wall; ripe in November. 
Williams’ Bon Chretienne; a hardy, standard Pear, 
adapted to the common orchard; ripe in October; pos¬ 
sessing a most delightful aroma ; this Pear should be 
gathered when little more than three parts ripe, say in 
the early part* of September, it then becomes melting. 
Van Mon Leon le Clerc; this is a highly esteemed Pear, 
of immense size, and tolerably hardy, a fair bearer 
also ; ripe through November and into December. 
Althorpe Grassanne, an excellent bearer, and will do 
well on rough espaliers any where south of Durham. 
It does not always attain a melting condition, but when 
it does, it is almost unequalled in melting qualities. 
Should be gathered before ripe. In use through No¬ 
vember. Beurre Diel, an enormous bearer, and on a 
wall, and well exposed to the sun, of a noble appearance. 
Not always melting, but a famous stop-gap when Pears 
are scarce. It has never missed a crop with us for 
twenty years. Winter Neilis; the best Pear in this 
country, but requires a wall of some kind in all parts. 
About the Metropolis, an east or west wall In the 
north of England and Scotland, a south wall. A good 
bearer, and in use through December. Beurre Ranee ; 
this is accounted the best late Pear we have at present. 
I must, however, confess that I have not been able to 
obtain it melting from east or west walls. Probably it 
mi£ht be better from an ordinary standard ; but this we 
i have not proved. Ne Plus Meuris is a great bearer, 
| and late, but few seem to like it; its appearance certainly 
will not recommend it. 
I liope these suggestions may still prove of service 
to any one planting this spring ; if not, they will 
be found a safe guide for autumn work. I am well 
aware that these Pears have been recommended again 
and again, but we must remember, that some parties are 
inattentive to such things until they come to plant, 
and then they have not the time or the means of re¬ 
ferring to back publications. As to stocks, I should 
recommend all those which do not ripen securely to be 
on Quince stocks, for very small gardens ; for overgrown 
Pears are a nuisance, when coupled with barrenness. 
But let no one imagine they can stick in Pears on the 
Quince any where, and anyhow; they love a generous 
soil, and one slightly adhesive; above all things, one 
that is never dry and loose. I would encourage them, 
moreover, where the least shyness appeared, with surface- 
dressings occasionally, and take every means to induce 
