1883 .] 
WINTER PEACH APPLE.-ANNUAL CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
153 
willingly accorded to them as to Orchids, or 
to Ferns ? The “ reason why ” in this case, 
however, does not matter so very much after 
all, but that bulbs generally are neglected in 
our gardens goes, as I think, without the 
saying. 
Now is the best time to pot half-hardy 
and hardy bulbs of all kinds for flowering in 
the greenhouse, and of these I would especially 
recommend Narcissus Bulbocodium (Hooped 
Petticoat Daffodil), and its large lemon-yellow 
variety, N. citrinus. Then of true Daffodils 
N. maximus, N. obvallaris (Tenby Daffodil), 
N. Horsjielclii , N. princeps, and others are 
well worthy of pot-culture, for although they 
are quite hardy in the open air, they flower 
earlier in the greenhouse, and their blossoms 
are all the larger and fairer because defended 
from rude east winds and the rains of 
February and March. That Paper White 
Narcissus, and Blue Squills, “Snow Glory’’ 
(Chionodoxa), and Crocus, Roman and other 
Hyacinths, &c., will be grown in all good 
gardens is certain, but we wish amateurs and 
others to extend this list somewhat, and to 
grow bulbous flowers more generally than 
they do. The bulbs which every one grows 
for spring blooming are not more lovely, nor 
more easily managed than are the Nerines or 
Guernsey Lilies, the vivid scarlet Vallotas, and 
the lovely Belladonna Lilies of autumn, or the 
Gladioli and the Lilies and Irises of spring and 
early summer. There is no reason why the 
gardener who grows Hyacinths well should 
not grow Lachenalias and Freesias and the 
species of Zephyrantlies as well. 
Hard as it may be to leave the high-road, 
“ the beaten track,” we must never forget 
that there are some lovely by-ways of Bulb 
culture as yet unexplored. It is a marvel to 
me that a really comprehensive and well 
written “ Book of Bulbs” has never yet been 
prepared. But then I must not complain, for 
as a gentleman said to me the other day, we 
have no one work as yet compiled of the 
“Edible Fruits of the World,” or of the 
“Animals, Birds, and Fishes used as Food.” 
Perhaps, after all, we may have “ Bulb 
nurseries ” some day in England, and better 
still, let us hope that amateurs will arise with 
means and inclination to cultivate all the 
beautiful bulbous plants they can obtain. 
One way to bring about a more general 
cultivation of bulbs would be the offering 
of substantial prizes for collections of twelve 
or twenty-four species at our Horticultural 
meetings or Flower Shows ; and this much 
we may hope will ere long become a fact, 
rather than an hoped for inovation.—F. W. B. 
WINTER PEACH APPLE. 
[Plate 596.] 
TITHE samples of this valuable and hand- 
<j!f I some dessert Apple, which formed the 
originals of our figure, were kindly 
^ handed to us by Mr. A. Dean, of Bed- 
font, as illustrations of a really good variety 
which was not much known. This indeed 
appears to be the case, as we find but little 
information concerning it in accessible pomo- 
logical records. We can bear testimony to 
its good keeping properties, and also to its 
excellent quality and pleasant flavour, while 
the accompanying sketch from Mr. Macfar- 
lane’s pencil shows it to be a fruit of a hand¬ 
some and tempting appearance. 
The specimens which came into our hands 
may be thus described:— Fruit full medium 
size, roundish oblate, slightly ribbed at the 
apex around the eye, which is closed, and set 
in a hroadish shallow basin ; stalk short, 
stoutish, set in a small acute hollow. Skin 
yellowish green, speckled on the exposed side 
mostly towards the base with light red, -which 
here and there changes to light rosy-red in 
clouded patches. Flesh tender, juicy, and 
sugary, with a very pleasant and agreeable 
flavour. M. 0. Thomas, who calls it Peche 
- d'hiver, states that it is of premiere qualite, 
which quite coincides with our own observa¬ 
tions. It is, in fact, an excellent late dessert 
Apple in use during the latter part of the 
winter and in the early spring; and is well 
deserving of extended cultivation.—T. M. 
ANNUAL CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
[HE annual varieties of the Chrysanthemum 
are very showy and effective. They 
are suitable both for beds and mixed 
borders, and are extremely useful for cut 
flowers. They are of very easy culture, being 
hardy, and of robust, free growth, and they re¬ 
quire little attention after being sown in April, 
