834 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 3rd, 1903. 
tion is a. very old one, and has been discussed with more or less 
fervour at intervals for centuries. 
We are informed that Pears were planted in gardens and 
orchards, and that wild Pears grew in the woods and hedges. 
Even at this early period the varieties of Pears were very 
numerous, as in the case of Apples. Some ripened early, 
others were mid-season and latei or winter Pears ; some lasted 
good only for a short time, and others were good keepers. 
With regard to the flesh, some were sweet, melting, fat or 
gross, or hard and dry. 
The author seemed to indicate the necessity of using selec¬ 
tion much mere rigidly than the cultivators had been, in the 
habit of doing. That same cry has often been reiterated in 
our times. No doubt the reason why these fruits got so 
numerous in variety was that trees took a considerable number 
of years to reach a fruiting stage, after which the cultivator 
cannot see his way to destroy them. Everybody likewise has a 
greater or less favouritism for his own particular variety , 
hence the reason why varieties multiply very much, like some¬ 
body’s silver kettle-prize variety of Gooseberry. The author- 
in this case advises his readers to consider the taste more 
than the proportions of the fruits they cultivate. 
In 1597, Gerard said that he knew one curious in grafting 
and planting fruits who had in one piece of ground three-score 
sorts of Pears, but he thought that if so minded the cultivator 
could have doubled that number by adding all the bad varieties 
obtainable in the country. To describe these he said was to 
“ send an owl to* Athens, or to number those that were without 
number. Some of the leading growers in those days were 
Master Richard Pointer, Twickenham; Mr. Henry Banbury, 
Touthill Street, near Westminster ; Mr. Warner, Horsey Down, 
near London; and Mr. John Milieu, Old Street. The last- 
named was Gerard’s favourite nurseryman, judging from the 
number of times lie makes mention of him as his friend in con¬ 
nection with fruit growing. In this nursery Mr. Milieu grew 
the choicest fruits obtainable in the kingdom. The fine 
varieties of those days were described as tame or manured 
Pears in contradistinction to the wild Pears of the woods and 
hedges. Even in those days perry was made in quantity and 
considered an excellent and wholesome beverage. 
Pl um trees were largely cultivated in those days, and for the 
population possibly the cultures were relatively more extensive 
than at the present day. Wild kinds of Plums were known, as 
“• Slose, Bullies, and Snagges.” The Damsons and other 
warden Plums were grown everywhere in gardens and orchards, 
ripening in August. The fruits of these cultivated Plums 
varied from white to yellow, black, chestnut, and clear red, and 
were large or small, sweet and dry, the two latter terms being 
probably very nearly synonymous for our terms of cooking 
and dessert. To show that nothing is new under the sun, we 
may mention the fact that Sebestens were grown in Italy and 
brought to this country in a dry state. Gerard calls it the 
Assyrian Plum tree, and says that it was brought from Syria 
and Egypt to Italy. In those days, therefore, the Prunes were 
cultivated and dried in a foreign country, just as they are for 
the most part to-day. 
Cherries originating from the same number of species of 
trees were known in those days, as is the case to-day. Our 
forefathers three or four centuries ago had small Cherries or 
Mazars, which were common. These grew upon a large tree 
at the present day known as the Gean (Prunus Avium), and 
which still grows wild in the woods. The large Cherries were 
of a faint, red, or half red a.nd half white, and grew upon a 
small tree cultivated in gardens and orchards. It seems that 
the Gean of those days was synonymous with this large fruit¬ 
ing and sweet sort, but Gerard spent it Guyan. This name 
was said to be taken from a town or district of that name. 
The Mulberry was called by the poets of those days the 
wisest of all trees, because it put forth its leaves after the 
cold frosts were passed. Cultivators and writers; of modern 
times speak of the late-flowering Apples much in the same 
fashion, and recently the late-flowering varieties have been 
advocated as a safeguard in seasons such as the present, 
jFiu trees were described as plentiful in Spain and Italy, 
being seldom grown in this country, and required a warm 
place in the sun, sheltered from north and north-east winds. 
A quaint remark made by Dodoens was that “ dried Figs 
nourish better than green or new Figs.” The same thing 
might be said of Figs to'-day, judging from the very extensive 
use of dried Figs compared with fresh ones. We know that 
many people positively object to the use of fresh Figs, even 
when they can get them. The fact that fresh Figs are very 
perishable is, however, much against their use for market 
purposes, even if they could be readily and extensively grown 
in this country. 
Several varieties of Apricots were grown in Gerard’s garden 
and in that of other gentlemen throughout England. It seems 
that their cultivation occasioned no difficulty. In those days 
the name was; spelt Aprecocke, although an older quotation 
indicated that it hung in the balance whether the fruits should 
be popularly known as Fraecocia, or Armeniaca. The first 
of these two names comes from praecox, early, and the latter 
from the country of its origin—namely, Armenia. Peaches 
also succeeded, and were grown in numerous varieties, differing 
chiefly in the colour of the fruit. Certain kinds were also 
known as Nucipersica or Nectorins. 
Lilium auratum platyphyllum Shirley variety. 
(See Supplement.) 
Numerous varieties of Lilium auratum are in cultivation, 
some of which are of greater vigour than the type, and are 
likely to- maintain their position in gardens for a much longer 
period than the type, and to greater extent when cultivators 
learn how to grow their own Lilies successfully. 
The above variety under notice is very distinct in its w-ant of 
colour, rather than in additions to that of the type. The 
segments are very broad and white, with a faint or palest lemon 
band down the centre, on which the spots 1 are scarcely darker 
than the band itself. At a, short distance this variety might 
therefore be regarded as a white variety of the golden-rayed 
Lily of Japan. It was termed die Shirley variety, because it 
was first brought into prominence in the garden of the Rev. 
W. Wilks, at Shirley Vicarage, Surrey. 
Besides being paler than the ordinary L. a. platyphyllum, 
the most important feature about, the plant is its vigour and 
extraordinary constitution. Many varieties of this Japanese 
Lily die off, as a rule, in gardens after the bulbs have attained 
full size and bloomed. This variety, however, we understand, 
has been increased for many years past from one original bulb, 
so that it would sepm to be of stronger constitution and more 
suitable for garden culture than the type. 
Should this trait continue, we believe it will become one of 
the most common of garden Lilies, because cultivators are fond 
of this particular species, and will readily adopt any of the 
varieties that give satisfaction year after year, and flower to 
perfection without the hed being renewed by annual importa¬ 
tions. 
The leaves are also broader than in the type, so- that the 
Lily already has; more than one name. The flowers being large, 
someone has given, it the name of L. a. macranthum, and the 
other name is L. a, platyphyllum, which refers to the great, 
breadth of the leaves of this particular form. Our coloured 
plate was- prepared from a. specimen given us by Messrs. R. 
Wallace and Co., Kilnfield Gardens, Colchester, about the end 
of June last. It. represents; the variety grown by the Rev. W. 
Wilks;, and which passed into the hands of Messrs. Wallace. 
Horticultural Directory. —The Editor would remind nur¬ 
serymen, seedsmen, and more particularly head gardeners, that 
additions and corrections for the 1904 edition of the Horticul¬ 
tural Directory must be received at the office, 12, Mitre Court 
Chambers, Fleet Street, London, not later than October 5th. to 
ensure insertion. 
