380 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 22, 1859. 
some of the plans mentioned above must be put in re¬ 
quisition ; but even then the result will not be so favour¬ 
able as when sun and dry weather do the work. 
J. Robson. 
FRTJITS and FRUIT TREES or GREAT BRITAIN. 
(Continued from page 366.) 
No’. XVI.— Beerhe Crairgeau Pear. 
This is a Pear which, though a desirable one for its beauty in 
large collections, is not possessed of those qualities of richness of 
flavour and high merit to recommend it for cultivation where 
space is an object. It is one of those that possess fair, passable 
qualities, bnt whose principle use is as ornaments in the dessert. 
Were it a late pear, and as good in March or April as it is in 
November, it might rank among the most valuable; but, coming 
into use, as it does, in November, it has then to contend, at a 
great disadvantage, with others that are infinitely superior to it; 
its flesh being generally breaking, or at best only half-melting, 
and coarse-grained; though we have found it melting. 
Fruit fragrant; pyriform and curved; varying from four 
inches long and two inches and three quarters wide, to five 
inches and a half long and three inches and a quarter wide; it is 
quite round at the apex, and tapers gradually towards the stalk. 
Skin smooth and shining, of a fine lemon colour, very thickly 
dotted all over with large russety dots, and here and there large 
patches of very thin and delicate smooth russet, particularly 
round the stalk ; on tire side exposed to the sun there is a glow 
of orange red, or, as it is sometimes called, an aurora glow, which 
gives the fruit a very beautiful appearance. 
Fye small and open, with long, reflexed leafy segments, which 
are deciduous, and set in a shallow depression. 
Stalk from a quarter to half an inch long, stout, and rather 
fleshy, and having occasionally a raised swelling on one side of it. 
Flesh coarse-grained, half-melting, frequently crisp and break¬ 
ing, and rarely melting; always juicy. Juice watery, sweet, 
occasionally piquant and vinous, and always with an agreeable 
aroma, which is sometimes powerful. 
Ripens about the end of October, and continues in use through¬ 
out November. The tree is not a rank grower, and is, therefore, 
well adapted for a pyramid, or for bush culture; but more par¬ 
ticularly for the latter, on account of the great si/s of the fruit. 
This variety is evidently a seedling fromBenrre do Capiaumont, 
to which it. bears a very close resemblance, and of which it is a 
colossal form. Jt was raised from seed about the year 1835 or 
1836 by M. Clairgeau, of Nantes. 
NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 
IIardenbergia Cowptoviana. Brnth. Nat. ord., Legv 
minosece. Native of New Holland.—A greenhouse climber of 
moderate growth. Branches somewhat slender, angular, and 
green when young. Leaves alternate, trifoliate, upon long, stout 
petioles, which are grooved on the upper side, and based by a 
couple of ovate-acute stipules. Leaflets on short petiolules, tire 
two lateral ones with a single stipule each, and the terminal one 
with a pair, ovate, somewhat attenuated towards the point, and 
furnished with a slightly deflexed muero. Racemes long, many- 
flowered. Flowers in pairs. Calyx two-lipped, upper lip entire; 
lower lip divided into three acute subulate teeth. Standard large, 
orbicular, reflexed, spreading, and keeled at the back; purple, 
with, near the base, two green, white-margined spots. Wings 
obovate. Keel very short, acute, curved. 
A very handsome greenhouse plant, which may be cultivated 
with equal success in pots, or planted out in the greenhouse or 
conservatory border, and tied to the rafters. A compost of about 
two parts good fibry loam, and one of peat, or partially decom¬ 
posed leaf soil, with sufficient sharp sand to render the whole 
porous. Blooms in the winter and early spring months. Pro¬ 
pagates by cuttings in early summer by the usual method adopted 
for greenhouse plants. 
Acacia spectabilis. A. Cunn. Nat. ord., Leguminosea. 
Native of New South Wales.—Habit dwarf, moderately compact. 
Branches drooping, smooth; green, striped with red. Leaves 
bipinnate, with numerous oblong ellqjtical leaflets, the two ter¬ 
minal of each division nearly orbicular ; all glaucous. Racemes 
long, lax. Heads of flowers large, upon spreading pedicels; 
bright orange yellow. 
An elegant and not over-robust growing kind, very suitable for 
general cultivation. It flowers from January till March, and 
ripens seeds in sufficient quantify for propagation. 
Monotoca bluptica. B. Br. Nat. ord., Fpacridacece. 
Native of New Holland.—Habit shrubby, erect, freely branching. 
Branches slender, copiously covered with the small leaves. Leaves 
alternate, sessile, lanceolate or elliptical, acute, coriaceous, des¬ 
titute of a midrib, and having the veins diverging from the base 
to the apex. Inflorescence in short axillary racemes, mostly near 
the points of the young branches. Florets small, white, each 
based by an elliptical green bract; and closely imbricated upon the 
calyx is an involucre of three bracts, the same in texture as the 
calyx. Calyx five-parted, membranaceous ; greenish. Corolla 
small, tubular, slightly ventricous, with a limb of live reflexed 
segments, the inner sides of which are clothed with short white 
hairs. Stamens five, arising from the corolla, and alternating 
with its segments. Pistil short, simple. 
This handsome little greenhouse plant will afford no gratifica¬ 
tion to the taste of the florist who delights only in the flaunting 
display of Tom Thumb, cross-bred Calceolarias, and such-like pets 
of the flower garden ; but it is a lit tle gem of a good kind, treating 
us in winter with its lively white blossoms; and ladies, I am sure, 
would never tire ot it in bouquets. Peat two parts, loam one 
part, and plenty of sand, are the best compost for it; and it must 
have very perfect drainage, as it is very impatient of stagnant 
moisture at the roots. Propagates by cutting in early summer, 
just when the young growth is a little hardened. 
Hibbertia Cbnninghamii. Ait. Nat. ord., JDilleniacece. 
Native of New Holland.—Habit shrubby, twining, branching. 
Branches slender, zigzag in outline, smooth. Leaves alternate, 
long, linear, cordate, and stem-clasping at the base ; acuminate at 
the apex ; margins reflexed. Flowers axillary and solitary, on 
slender ipeduncles. Calyx of five, ovate unequal, imbricated, 
reddish-green leaves, ultimately reflexed. Petals five, obovate, un¬ 
dulated ; bright yellow. Stamens in two or three series, the outer 
abortive, filiform, very short; the inner larger, fertile. Anthers 
oblong. Germen ovate, smooth, one-eelled, with four or five ovules. 
Pistils five. Style incurved, spreading. Stigma obtuse, capitate. 
A useful species of Hibbertia ; for, though the flowers are 
fugaccous, there is a long succession, and they are always profuse. 
A compost of loam, two parts fibrous peat, or partially decayed 
leaves, and plenty of sand, is the best. Cuttings root with some 
difficulty in a cool propagating-liouse. Blooms in June and July. 
—S. G. W. 
