206 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, July 6, 1858. 
leaf resembling Keens', and an abundant bearer. It 
bad not, however, any flavour which could qualify it 
; for a dessert fruit, but it w r as considered that, if hardy 
and an abundant bearer, its firmness might render it 
useful for market, and its agreeable sub-acid would 
| make it suitable for preserving purposes. It is as 
! desirable to have a succession of good preserving kinds, 
as of good dessert varieties ; for, in large gardens, if a 
single variety is dependedupon for preserving purposes, 
the fruit may ripen at an inconvenient time, or be 
destroyed by heavy rains. It is, however, necessary, 
! that more be known of this variety before the Society 
| can pronounce decisively concerning it. 
No. 13, said to be raised from My ait's Eliza, and 
first fruited in 1857, and in season nearly as early as 
Keens' Seedling . The fruit very much resembled its 
parent in form and colour, had a delicate aroma, and in 
flavour seemed to be a combination of Eliza with 
Hautboy. It was considered desirable to request Mr. 
Myatt to give the Society future opportunities of dis¬ 
cussing the merits of this variety. 
The other varieties, -which were ripe, did not exhibit 
any properties worthy of notice ; but some very late un- ! 
ripe varieties, of which plants, in pots, were exhibited, 1 
gave promise, by their lateness, productiveness, and 
general habit, of being worthy of future consideration. 
Several lots of Apples were sent, but all too far 
j gone, excepting one variety from Dr. Davies, of Per- 
i shore, called the Eushoch Pear main, and described as a 
j good bearer and strong grower. The fruit is medium¬ 
sized, oblate, pale lemon colour, very much streaked 
and blotched with light browui russet. Although 
somewhat shrivelled (which appeared the result of pro¬ 
tracted keeping), the best specimens were tender and 
! juicy, with a nice delicate flavour, and slightly aro¬ 
matic when cut. The variety was considered worthy 
of bringing into notice. It is thus described hi Mr. 
Hogg’s British Pomology, page 176: — “Fruit, rather 
below medium size, two inches and a half wide, and the 
same in height; conical, even and handsomely formed, 
j Skin, of a fine deep yellow colour, almost entirely 
covered with cinnamon-coloured russet, with a brownish 
tinge on the side next the sun. Eye, large and open, 
I with broad, flat segments, which generally fall off as 
| the fruit ripens. Stalk, a quarter of an inch long, stout, 
; and inserted in a pretty deep cavity. Flesh, yellowish, 
j firm, crisp, and juicy, with a brisk sub-acid, and sugary 
flavour. An excellent dessert apple, of first-rate 
i quality ; it is in use from Christmas to April. It is 
' frequently met with in the Birmingham markets. This 
i variety was, according to Mr. Maund, raised by a 
blacksmith of the name of Charles Taylor, at Rushock, 
in Worcestershire, about the year 1821, and is somc- 
j times known by the name of Charles's Pearmain." A 
drawing of it is in “ Maund’s Fruitist,” 70. 
THE GARDENERS’ ROYAL BENEVOLENT i 
INSTITUTION. i 
The anniversary dinner of this Institution took place on 
Wednesday last, at the London Tavern, H. Pownall, Esq., 
presiding, in the absence of Lord John Russell, who was pre¬ 
vented attending in consequence of an invitation to dine with 
Her Majesty. The Chairman was supported by Sir Joseph 
j Paxton, Alderman Mcchi, Colonel Wood, II. G. Bohn, Esq., 
i Messrs. Cutbush, Veitch, Low, Lee, &c. 
The room was tastefully decorated with flowers, the princi¬ 
pal table being backed up with a magnificent display of 
Geraniums, contributed by Mr. Turner, of Slough. The 
gallery, at the end of the room, was filled with ladies, each in 
possession of a bouquet of choice flowers. 
lhe dinner having been done justice to, the Chairman pro¬ 
posed the health oi “ Her Majesty and in doing so adverted 
to the absence of Lord John Russell, which, however much 
they might regret, he was sure those assembled there were too 
loyal to murmur at. The “ Prince Consort, the Prince of 
Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family,” “The Army and 
Navy” (responded to by Colonel Wood) followed, and were 
drank with due honours. 
The Chairman, previous to giving the toast of the evening, 
paid a feeling tribute to the memory of one who had departed 
from amongst them, and who, in his time, had done so much 
for the advancement of the science of gardening—the late la¬ 
mented Duke of Devonshire. In proposing “ Success to the 
Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution,”—“He trusted that, 
in the absence of Lord J. Russell, whose place he felt himself 
inadequate to fill, those gentlemen assembled round him would 
feel it more than ever their duty, to come forth liberally 
towards the funds of the Institution, so that he might go away 
with the pleasing conviction, that those funds had not suffered 
from his feeble advocacy. Through the beneficial influence of 
an Institution like this, those who had worked hard with hand 
and head, to produce luxuries of which they seldom partook, 
were enabled, when, through misfortune, poverty overtook 
them, to receive some alleviation of their sufferings.” 
Alderman Mechi then proposed the health, of “ The Chair¬ 
man,” to which H. Pownall, Esq., duly responded, in turn 
proposing “ The Vice-Presidents.” 
Sir Joseph Paxton, in reply, said, “ He believed that gar¬ 
deners were the most neglected servants in any nobleman’s or 
gentleman’s establishment. There were, of course, some bright 
and honourable exceptions, but it was a melancholy reflexion, 
that the vast majority of those who were the means of pro¬ 
ducing so many luxuries, received wages so low, as scarcely 
to enable them to obtain the necessaries of life, much less to 
provide for the time when old age and misfortune overtook 
them.” After adverting to the progress in the art of gardening 
during the last twenty years, he expressed his firm conviction, 
that “ agriculture was 100 years behind horticulture.” In con¬ 
clusion, lie proposed the “ Health of the worthy Treasurers ” 
(responded to by Mr. R. Wrench), and trusted the company 
assembled would liberally respond to the call which would be 
made upon them. 
The “ Health of their esteemed Secretary, Mr. Cutler,” 
through whose untiring zeal and energy the Institution was 
in its present condition, followed, and was suitably acknow¬ 
ledged. “ H. G. Bohn, Esq., and success to Horticulture 
and Literature ; ” “ Alderman Mechi, and Success to Agricul¬ 
ture,” in replying to winch, the worthy Alderman expressed 
his concurrence in the remark which fell from Sir Joseph Pax¬ 
ton, respecting the backwardness of agriculture in comparison 
with horticulture. “But, if horticulture had made great pro¬ 
gress during the last few years, so had agriculture ; and he 
trusted the day was not far distant, when that which caused 
Father Thames to be in such ill odour now might be applied 
to its proper use, the fertilising of the land. He, himself, was 
firmly persuaded that there was room for the profitable invest¬ 
ment of one hundred millions of money, for the improvement 
of agriculture in this country.” 
“The Trustees and the Committee,” to which Mr. Lee re¬ 
plied ; and last, though not least, “ The Ladies,” to whom a 
touching appeal was made by the Chairman, calling upon them 
to use their all-powerful influence in securing contributions 
and annual subscribers. 
The amount collected exceeded £300. 
Mr. Ilarker acted as toastmaster. The musical arrange¬ 
ments, under the direction of Mr. T. Knowles, gave entire 
satisfaction. 
THE MINIATURE GREENHOUSE. 
“ Is there a book that will tell me how to grow those tiny 
Cacti, and other plants, I see in the shops in Regent’s Street ? 
If not, will you kindly inform me in your next number how 
to manage them S. N. A. E. W. 
A correspondent has sent the above queries, and, thinking 
many of the readers of The Cottage Gaedexek are desirous 
of some information how to manage these interesting lilipu- 
tian plants, as w r ell as our correspondent, I shall endeavour 
in this paper to give a few hints how to cultivate them suc¬ 
cessfully. Certainly, they are tiny little fellows, and deserve, 
in some degree, the term that has been given to them, namely, 
Baby-garden Plants. From what I can learn, the original 
