I 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 1, 1857. 
EPIDENDKTTM COBIIFOLITTM. 
KEEPING PEAKS. 
litres has been written and said respecting 
the best plans of keeping Pears. We have, 
tried most of them, but with little success. As 
with Apples, much, of course, depends on their 
time of ripening, and the condition of the 
fruit; and both vary according to the seasons. 
For instance, last summer was very warm, 
which not only favoured the growth of our fine 
sorts of Pears as regards size, but also caused 
them to arrive sooner at maturity, though pre¬ 
served with the greatest care. Perhaps the 
very hot weather had some influence on both 
Apples and Pears, by causing them to lose their 
acidity during their growth, without which 
they soon turn mealy , and often worthless, a 
fact not easy to explain. The mildness of the 
weather, on the other hand, may have hastened 
their decay after they were stored up. 
It is a matter of regret, that some of our best 
sorts of autumn Pears ripen about one time, 
such as Napoleon , Marie Louise , Bonne Louise 
of Jersey , Seckle , and several others of less 
note. These seldom last through November, 
or, at least, to the middle of the next month, 
on whatever plan they are kept. About the 
end of October, with a view of retarding the 
decay of the sorts named, we tried the fol¬ 
lowing plans, some of which may be considered 
novel. 1st. On a shelf in the fruit room. 
2nd. Packed with paper in closed jars. 3rd. Buried a 
foot deep in dry sand. 4th. In a cold vinery, exposed 
to the sun and air. 5th. About half immersed in a pan of 
cold water. 6th. On damp turf covered with a broken hand¬ 
glass. 7th. In an open box protected from rain, on the 
top of the fruit room. 8th. On the lead gutters on the top 
of the same, exposed to the weather and drip of tiles. It 
may seem strange that the Pears on the top of the house 
kept as well as those in the inside of it on the dry shelf, 
especially those in the box, and nearly equal to those in the 
closed jars. We may here note, that this last plan is considered 
the best for keeping Pears. But it often happens that some of 
them rot; and the moist vapour from these tends to decay the 
rest, by which more harm is done than if the jars had been 
open to let the bad air escape. We should also mention, that 
when we hear of Pears being kept until spring in closed jars, 
they are kinds better suited for keeping than those we are 
considering. Those buried in sand were all rotten, except two 
Napoleons; and we have nothing good to say respecting those 
in cold water, but mean to try it again. Those on damp turf 
Epidendrum coriifolium. 
kept as well as those in the dry vinery, the only difference 
being, that some of the former began to rot in spots outside, 
while the latter decayed at heart. Some Marie Louise Pears 
which were free from mildew spots kept longer on the damp 
turf, than those equally sound did by any of the other plans. 
Our plan of trying to keep Pears by exposing them to the 
weather may seem strange; but how often do we find sound 
Apples and Pears amongst damp leaves and grass, long after 
the same kinds w r hich were carefully stored up are gone! But, 
of course, we do not advise such a plan in a general way, and 
not at all in severe weather. We may observe, that the largest 
or finest Pears often decay first; also, that the plan of keep¬ 
ing them that is most in accordance with the operations of 
nature must bo the most effectual. What is it that keeps 
fruit back from ripening ? Evidently the absence of warm 
weather. Then, keeping gathered fruit cool must be the surest 
method of preventing its going to decay. And those ac¬ 
quainted with the nature of fruit, know that the quality of 
Pears is greatly increased by keeping them a day or two in a 
warm place, before they are ready for dessert.— J. Wighton. 
A natxye of Central America, presented to 
the Society by Cf. IT. Skinner, Esq. 
This singular plant is, in all its parts, of a 
tough, thick, leathery texture; and is generally 
glazed, as it were, with a shining exudation. 
The narrow, stiff leaves are blunt, about six 
inches long, concave, with a sharp midrib. 
The spike, which is terminal, and about four 
inches long, consists of hard amplexicaul keeled 
bracts pressed close to the flowers, and forming 
a kind of cone before they expand.! The flowers 
are pale green, very firm and leathery, with a 
broad roundish convex lip, having an elevated 
callosity along the middle. The lateral sepals, 
which are particularly thick, have a serated 
keel at the back. 
It is a species of no beauty, nearly related to 
JEp. rigidum; but its leaves are much longer and 
narrower, and the flowers three or four times as 
large, and extremely coriaceous. It flowers in 
March or April in the stove .—{Horticultural 
Society's Journal.) 
