THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March ], 1859. 
ill 
stalk. The bulge (widest pari) is situated at two-thirds the 
length of the fruit from the stalk. 
Shin rather coarse, grass-green at first, but assuming a yel¬ 
lowish tinge as it ripens, and sometimes becoming of a dull 
citron yellow, covered with rather large grey dots, and marked 
with considerable patches of cinnamon-coloured russet. 
Fye small, and very frequently deciduous, like that of Beurre 
d’Arembe.’g, situated in a pretty deep basin, which is somewhat 
angular. 
Stalk from an inch to an inch and a quarter long, slender, 
curved, and woody; attached to the fruit without depression, 
and tapering into the surface. 
Flesh with a yellowish tinge, with somewhat of the texture of 
Basse Colmar and Beurre de Ranee; very juicy,-quite rich and 
sugary, with a well-marked and very agreeable aroma. 
This most excellent pear, a seedling of Dr. Yan Mons, can¬ 
not fail, when sufficiently known, to become one of the leading 
winter varieties. We have been favoured by Mr. Rivers with 
the following sketch of its history :—- 
“ Some twenty-five or thirty years since, I received a batch of 
pear-grafts from the late At. Yan Mons. Many of these were the 
kinds then beginning to become popular—such as Passe Colmar, 
Beurre Diel, and others; but among them were several with 
labels attached with no names, but numbers on them,—referring, 
I suppose, to his private catalogue. These, in due season, bore 
fruit; but, the numbers not being thought of any 7 consequence, 
were lost,—the sorts being placed in the nursery catalogue here 
under numbers: thus—‘175,’ Inconnue (Yan Mons), ‘170,’ 
Icomme (Yan Mons), and so on ; for I hoped one day to identify 
them by comparing them with kinds received from Belgium 
under names. This, with the above Pear, I have never been able to 
do, although 1 have received hundreds of varieties of them. It 
may now, I think, have the article attached to it, and ’The Un¬ 
known,’ be its permanent name. It is of the Beurre Ranee race, 
and has the same dark-spotted shoots, but is much more rigid in 
its growth ; and, unlike that sort, it grows freely on the quince, 
without being double-worked. It is one of the hardiest varieties 
we have, and bears often too freely as a pyramid on the quince, 
so that the fruit requires severe thinning. For many years it has 
been very constant in ripening in February, and is generally re¬ 
markably juicy and melting, with a rich saccharine flavour. Some¬ 
times I have thought its flavour melon-like, particularly after 
warm seasons. In February, 1S58, it was very excellent, and is 
so now, so that a warm climate evidently suits it well.” 
SOWING AND PLANTING IN TURF. 
Tub mode of using turf for these purposes was first introduced 
by the late Air. Bissef t, Gardener, Alethow Castle, Perthshire; 
who, after several successful trials, sent a report of his method to 
the Horticultural Society, Edinburgh, which was by them highly 
appreciated : and being the exponent in this instance of the 
originator’s system, I shall briefly give an outline of the manner 
adopted by him in growing Peas, Ac. 
The turf should be cut from rich meadow-land (as tough as 
possible), seven inches wide, two deep, and as long ns convenient, 
for placing on slates or boards, so as they can be easily moved 
from place to place. Cut two drills in the turf, two inches wide 
and one deep. Sow the seed, and cover witli sifted soil. The 
turves must then be placed in a moderate temperature—say 50°— 
as near the glass as possible. When the Peas are six or eight inches 
high, gradually harden off; remove, and plant along a south 
border (taking care to shift the slates without breaking the turf), 
and protect from severe weather with spruce bows. By this 
method Peas can be gathered a fortnight earlier than by the usual 
way. Forty Frame or Charlton is the best for this purpose. 
With equal success annuals can be sown on turf for early 
summer sorts. The turf should be laid grass-side downwards in 
a frame, with a moderate heat. Alake the surface somewhat 
rough with the rake. Sow, and cover slightly with fine soil. As 
soon as the plants make their appearance, give a liberal amount of 
air; and for a week before planting out, let them be fully exposed. 
When being planted, the turf can be cut into different sizes 
without injury to the plants. 
Bedding plants, at this season of the year, may also be planted 
in turf with advantage; such as Verbenas, Lobelias, Petunias, 
Cuplucas, Konigas, and others of similar growth. Turf pre¬ 
pared as recommended for Peas will suit this purpose well. In 
the drills pet the plants a few inches apart out of their cutting- 
pots ; and fill up with a mixture of loam, leaf mould, and sand; 
and place in heat until they make fresh roots. 
I do not mean to affirm that turf is better than pots for bedding 
plants ; but where there is a scarcity of the latter, the former can 
be used as an excellent substitute. —A Young Subscribes. 
TIIE TASMANIAN HIVE. 
A “ Devonshire Bee-keeper” is, no doubt, right, touching 
the superiority of wood to zinc for the partition of my hive : 
indeed, I must confess that I have never employed the latter; 
but, if I did so, I should obviate the evil eft'ects of which he 
speaks, by filling up the vacant chambers to the right or left of 
the “ partition ” with tow or wool, or some other non-conduct¬ 
ing material. 
Also, I am bound to confess, that all my own hives of this 
description were without hinges, and that I used to slide the top 
boards in the way described. Nevertheless, I think the hinges 
would not be found to destroy life in the hands of a skilful 
manager ; yet I question if I should ever use them. 
With regard to the dimensions of the hive, I would say, let 
every one suit his own fancy, or the requirements of his apiary. 
I am, however, as strenuous an advocate as ever I was for the 
use of large hives, peopled with strong swarms. Small hives and 
small swarms ought never to bo ; therefore, I would not di¬ 
minish the central chamber.—B. A W. 
FRUITS ADAPTED TO THE VARIOUS 
LOCALITIES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
(Continued from page 328.) 
GOOSEBERRIES. 
Those varieties marked L.r. are of very large size, and are known 
as “Lancashire Prize Gooseberries.” For the whole of these 
descriptions I am indebted to the Horticultural Society’s Cata¬ 
logue, as I have had no opportunity of personally examining this 
portion of the fruits of Great Britain. 
Abraham Newland (Jackson’s), l.p.— Large and ob¬ 
long. Skin white and hairy. Highly flavoured and 
excellent. Bush erect. 
Amber (Yellow Amber; Smooth Amber). — Medium 
sized, roundish. Skin smooth, greenish yellow. Of good 
flavour, but not first-rate. Bush a good bearer j spread- 
ing. 
Aston. See Red Warrington. 
Aston Seedling. See Red Warrington. 
A tear (Brundrett’s), l.p. —Large, oblong. Skin red- r 
hairy. Of good flavour, but not first-rate. Bush erect. 
Beauty of England (Hamlet’s), l.p. —Large and ob¬ 
long. Skin red, hairy. Of good flavour. Bush spreading. 
Belmont’s Green. See Green Walnut. 
Bonny Lass (Capper’s), L.P.- —Large, oblong. Skin 
white and hairy. Of second-rate quality. Bush spreading. 
Bright Venus (Taylor’s), l.p. —Medium sized, obo- 
vate. Skin slightly hairy, white, and covered with a 
bloom when it hangs long. Sugary, rich, and excellent, 
and hangs till it shrivels. Bush rather erect, and a good 
bearer. 
British Prince. See Prince Regent (Boardman’s). 
Champagne, Red (Dr. Davies’ Upright; Countess of 
Errol). —Rather small and oblong, tapering a little to¬ 
wards the stalk. Skin rather thick, light red, and hairy.. 
Early. One of the richest flavoured of all the gooseber¬ 
ries ; vinous, and very sweet. Bush very erect, and an 
excellent bearer. This is frequently, and in Scotland' 
particularly, called “ the Ironmonger.” 
Cheshire Lass (Saunders’), l.p.— Large and oblong. 
Skin very thin, downy, and white. Flavour rich and 
sweet. Bush erect, and a good bearer. Excellent for 
tarts, on account of its early attaining a size for that 
purpose. 
