354 THE FLORIST. 
are:required ; the length of, timethey will,continue in bloom, 
added: to their suitability for making up tazzas and baskets m 
the drawing-room, point them ‘out as being invaluable to the 
gardener and plant furnisher ata season when plants with 
good warm lasting colours are much wanted. °° ~ vee 
REMARKS ON THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE ON 
, THE PHAR. 
THAT the fruit of the Pear is greatly improved in quality when grown 
in. certain, localities, in comparison with others, 1s.a fact not altogether 
new: to pomologists; butas far as my knowledge.of the subject extends, 
no reliable. investigation of the question has yet taken place, and we 
have therefore no correct data as to the extent of the improvement, 
whether it is owing solely to climatic influences, or partly to climate and 
partly, to soil, is, unknown, and consequently no rule can be laid down 
by which to shape our treatment, so as to realise the rich and melting 
qualities which characterise the Pear when grown in. the perfection it is 
capable of reaching in a suitable climate. By way then of, introducing) 
the subject to your fruit-growing readers, I.send you my own observa-. 
tions on this question. | [1 dnb 
When paying my annual visit. to France, which I contrive shalltake , 
place in/the Pear, season, 7.e., from the, beginning’ of October to the’ 
middle.of .November,. I, have almost: invariably found the Pears to be 
better in.quality,as I. travel. westward, from Paris towards Bretagne,| 
Poiteau, and: Normandy. . 1, have frequently tried the, same, kind of, 
fruit.at: Paris, Angers, Nantes, Rennes, St..Brieux,.and also more’ to, 
the north, in L’Eure and Normandy, and, the, opinion I have arrived.at: 
is, that the Pears.of, Lower Brittany. and the valley.of.the Loire, and) 
even the west coast of Normandy, are superior'to, those, of Paris, and’; 
better,still than those,of Belgium ; and I think I may eyen:go further; ) 
and say that the improvement progressed westward, so far.as, my-recol-); 
lection of tasting fruit from day to day, while travelling enabled, me -to 
form an opinion; on this, however, I do not intend to speak. positively, ag. 
the difference in culture. must, have, influenced more -or.less. what I. 
partook of ;, but my. liking for fruit generally, and Pears in particular, 
induced me to try all-I could obtain in.every town, L.visited, and when! 
in Paris,a fruiterer in)the Palais Royale, to whom, L.named the subject,’ 
gave it. meas his opinion. that Pears from, the, west, of France were / 
superior to:those of Paris and.Belgium, and even of, the south. Fol- | 
lowing up this idea; I have taken some, pains to investigate the quality: 
of Pears grown in Britain. | ‘To,commence, I need scarcely point to the 
Chaumontelle and. some.other kinds'.of Pears grown. in the Channel. 
Islands, as the superiority of Jersey Chaumontelles is well known. to 
every fruiterer and fruit-eater,;, indeed,,I do, not. myself, recollect ever 
eating a: perfectly| melting Chaumontelle Pear, grown in England; and 
yet they are not uncommonly \fruited on walls, and tended with all the | 
