THE 
FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
ROSE H. P. MERVEILLE DE LYON. 
[Plite 601.] 
^j^pyONSIDERABLE attention was attracted 
to this new Rose, when exhibited in the 
k 
early part of 1883 ; it was admitted 
to be very beautiful, but some doubt as 
to its permanency or distinctness seems to 
have been entertained. These however passed 
off, and on better acquaintance the Rose 
secured its admirers, and also the award of a 
First-class Certificate. It was exhibited in 
blossom both by Messrs. W. Paul & Son, and 
by Mr. C. Turner, and the accompanying 
figure was made from flowers contributed by 
the latter. 
This variety, as Mr. Turner informs us, 
“ was introduced by M. Pernet pere of Lyons in 
the season 1882-3. It is supposed by English 
growers to be a sport from Baroness Rothschild, 
which it much resembles in habit, except that 
its growths are longer and not so stunted as in 
that variety. The flowers are nearly white, 
very large, moderately full, and considering 
all its points it is a grand addition to the 
section of light-coloured Roses adapted for 
exhibition. It is unfortunately like its parent. 
Baroness Rothschild, scentless or nearly so.” 
M. Pernet considers it the most beautiful of 
the Roses obtained up to the present time. 
However that may be, it is no doubt an ac¬ 
quisition, and for the sake of having so near 
an approach to a large full H.P. Rose with pure 
white flowers we may well, though not in¬ 
different to sweetness, somewhat abate our 
requirements in the matter of fragrance. 
Our figure, a very faithful representation, 
shows it to be a Rose that will obtain many 
admirers.* M. Pernet further states that it is 
vigorous in growth, with very strong thorns 
on the wood, and stout bright green foliage. 
The flowers, he says, are always solitary, 
but are freely renewed; they open web, and 
attain a diameter of four to five inches.— 
T. Moore. 
A CHAPTER ABOUT PEARS. 
f HE various Fruits we cultivate are all 
more or less influenced by the circum- 
stances of soil, climate, rainfall, lati¬ 
tude, &c., &c., even on the limited area 
of these islands ; and the more or the less in 
regard to fruit it is of consequence to know, 
especially by people who are about to plant. 
I have long felt that it is unfair to dogmatise 
on the subject of the relative merits of par¬ 
ticular kinds of fruit, having seen that the 
difference of a few miles will often produce 
results in the character of a fruit of a most 
opposite description. Perhaps no fruit is 
more powerfully influenced by local circum¬ 
stances than the Pear, and no fruit has 
caused more disappointment and trouble to 
gardeners. 
An exchange of information concerning 
Pears may be of some little use to people dis¬ 
posed to plant fruit trees for market pur¬ 
poses, and to whom mistakes in the selection 
of sorts would be disastrous ; and by way of 
inaugurating a series of contributions* from 
your pomological correspondents, I send you 
some instances of my own successes and 
failures. 
To those intent on raising new Pears I 
venture to suggest the desirability of securing 
fruit with the very valuable property of keep¬ 
ing after attaining ripeness. The story told 
me once by a nobleman illustrates the fugitive 
character in the ripeness of some of our best 
quality Pears. Lord S-, who was very 
fond of Pears, but was often just too soon or 
too late to catch the precise moment of perfect 
ripeness, desired his gardener to carefully 
note the ripening process of a particular Pear, 
and to let him know the very instant that 
took place, no matter at what hour. At four 
A.M. one morning his lordship was aroused 
• These we shall be most glad to receive, and inlling to 
publish.— Ed. 
