September  26, 1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
299 
- The  American  Pear  Crop. — The  Pear  crop  of  Georgia  this 
year  is  the  largest  on  record.  It  is  estimated  by  those  who  are  in  a 
position  to  know  and  to  judge  correctly  that  it  will  exceed  300,000 
barrels.  The  bulk  of  the  Pears  are  Le  Conte.  A  small  proportion  are 
of  the  Kleffer  and  Bartlett  varieties.  If  300,000  barrels  were  placed  end 
to  end  they  would  form  a  line  150  miles  long,  reaching  through  the 
whole  length  of  the  territory  where  the  Pear  is  cultivated  on  the 
Savannah,  Florida,  and  Western  Kailway.  This  number  of  300,000 
barrels  is  equal  to  800,000  bushels,  and  would  weigh  upwards  of  30,000 
tons. — (“  Kural  World.”) 
-  The  Existence  of  Edible  Fungi. — Edible  fungi  are 
found  in  such  large  quantities  in  some  of  the  Russian  forests  as  to 
constitute  a  considerable  part  of  the  diet  of  the  peasants  at  certain 
seasons  of  the  year,  and  to  form  an  important  article  of  commerce.  At 
■some  places,  such  as  Vilkovishki,  the  inhabitants  derive  their  means  of 
subsistence  chiefly  from  the  sale  of  Mushrooms ;  Kargopol  sends 
annually  to  St.  Petersburg  about  180,000  lbs.  The  utilisation  of  the 
supplies  of  fungi  is  receiving  increased  attention  in  Russia,  and  a  short 
time  since  M.  Nadson  gave  in  the  St.  Petersburg  Botanical  Gardens  a 
very  interesting  lecture  on  fungi,  with  special  reference  to  the  differences 
between  the  edible  and  poisonous  kinds,  and  of  the  latter  he  described 
the  species  popularly  known  as  the  Pale  Pogank  as  the  most  injurious. 
In  Siberia  the  Samoyeds,  Ostiaks,  and  Kamtchadales  have  long  been 
familiar  with  the  intoxicating  properties  of  the  species  known  as 
Mukhomer,  from  which  they  make  an  infusion  that  has  much  the  same 
efiect  upon  the  system  as  opium. 
-  Harton  Cemetery. — South  Shields  during  the  last  few  years 
has  come  rapidly  to  the  front  as  a  seaside  resort.  It  has  a  splendid  pier 
and  a  fine  stretch  of  seashore  and  two  beautiful  marine  parks,  which 
draw  forth  expressions  of  admiration  from  its  visitors  ;  but  the  prettiest 
spot  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  one  that  receives  perhaps  the  least 
-attention,  is  the  cemetery  at  Harton.  It  is  more  like  a  private  park 
than  a  public  burial  ground.  The  cemetery  is  approached  by  a  hand¬ 
some  avenue  of  trees,  which  terminates  with  a  stone  archway,  on  the 
right  of  which  stands  a  neat  little  villa,  the  residence  of  the  Superin¬ 
tendent,  Mr.  Bernard  Cowan,  F.R.H.S.,  who  has  laid  out  the  grounds 
with  such  skill  and  taste,  and  who  spares  no  time  or  trouble  in  adding 
to  the  beauty  of  the  place.  The  carpet  bedding  in  front  of  the  house  is 
a  picture  ;  and  the  main  avenue  south  is  laid  with  very  fine  beds  of 
crimson  Pelargoniums  and  blue  Lobelia  ;  while  the  pretty  borders  of 
Carnations  and  Chrysanthemums  cannot  but  be  admired.  In  front  there 
are  also  splendid  beds  of  East  Lothian  Stocks  of  this  year’s  growth,  which 
emit  a  pleasing  aroma  ;  and  the  various  plots  are  artistically  laid  out 
with  a  choice  collection  of  alpine  plants.  Mr.  Cowan,  who  has  had 
-charge  of  the  cemetery  during  the  five  years  of  its  existence,  has  proved 
himself  a  master  in  the  art  of  horticulture,  and  Harton  must  be  seen  to 
be  appreciated. — (“Newcastle  Chronicle.’*) 
-  American  Frogres’. — The  tract  selected  for  the  new  Botanic 
Garden  in  New  York  comprises  250  acres  of  the  most  desirable  section 
of  Bronx  Park,  near  the  old  Lorillard  mansion.  Included  within  the 
tract  is  a  beautiful  grove  of  Hemlock  Spruce,  which  was  not  only  the 
pride  of  the  original  owners,  but  remains  to-day  one  of  the  chief  attrac¬ 
tions  of  the  park.  Provision  for  its  preservation  is  therefore  made. 
The  first  advance  towards  this  object  was  made  when  the  Torrey 
Botanical  Society  of  Columbia  College  was  formed.  In  1891  an  Act 
was  passed  authorising  the  project,  but  it  was  inoperative  owing  to  the 
violation  of  some  constitutional  provision — the  failure,  it  was  said 
yesterday,  to  include  in  the  bill  an  authorisation  of  the  city  to  issue 
bonds  while  appropriating  the  needed  money.  This  defect  was  over¬ 
come  by  the  enactment  of  chapter  3  of  the  laws  of  1891.  The  success 
of  the  project  was  assured  on  June  18th  last,  when,  at  a  meeting  held 
in  the  office  of  President  Seth  Low,  of  Columbia  College,  the  assurance 
was  given  that  the  necessary  250,000  dols.  to  be  secured  from  private 
sources  had  been  subscribed.  The  site  of  the  new  home  of  botany  is 
beautifully  adapted  to  the  growth  and  cultivation  of  fiowers.  In 
addition  to  the  grove  of  Hemlock,  which  includes  the  entire  west  bank 
of  the  river  within  the  tract,  there  is  much  protective  wood.  The 
Bronx  furnishes  abundant  water,  the  soil  is  fertile,  and  there  is  both 
low  and  high-lying  land.  The  plot  of  250  acres  includes  one-half  of 
the  entire  length  of  the  gorge  of  the  river,  which  has  been  so  often 
admired  and  sketched  by  artists.  The  natural  scenery  is  delightful, 
and  the  garden  will  be  worthy  of  its  magnificent  scenic  setting.  The 
citizens  of  New  York  will  before  long  be  able  to  point  with  gratification 
to  a  superb  exhibition,  not  only  of  our  own  flora,  but  also  of  the 
variegated  and  fragrant  plants  of  other  climes. 
-  An  Enormous  Tree. — A  Karri  tree,  blown  down  recently  in 
Western  Australia,  measured  174  feet  from  the  roots  to  the  first  branch, 
where  it  was  14  feet  in  circumference.  Mr.  J.  E.  Brown,  a  forestry 
expert,  once  cut  down  a  Karri  tree  160  feet  high,  which  he  estimated 
to  be  only  thirty-five  years  old. 
-  The  Beech  Lawn  Collection  op  Orchids. — Mr.  W.  R. 
Lee  having  decided  to  relinquish  their  cultivation,  the  celebrated  Beech 
Lawn  collection  of  established  Orchids  is  being  dispersed  by  auction, 
and  Messrs.  Protheroe  &  Morris  commenced  the  sale  on  Tuesday  at 
Beech  Lawn,  Audenshaw,  near  Manchester,  when  some  good  prices  were 
realised.  Cattleya  labiata  alba,  two  pseudo-bulbs,  went  for  £68  5s.  ; 
Cattleya  speciosissima  Sanderre,  six  pseudo-bulbs,  sold  for  £78  15s.  ; 
and  Cypripedium  Winifred  Hollington,  three  growths,  fetched  £73  10s. 
Altogether  the  first  day’s  sale  realised  £1280. 
-  Horticulture  in  America. —  The  Western  New  York 
Horticultural  Society  won  the  200-dol.  premium  offered  by  the  State 
Agricultural  Society  for  the  best  exhibition  of  fruits.  This  premium  is 
offered  to  associations  and  does  not  interfere  with  other  premiums  offered 
for  private  and  professional  competition.  Without  doubt  the  Western 
New  York  Society  can  win  this  premium  every  year  so  long  as  it  is 
offered,  as  its  membership  includes  the  leading  fruit  growers  of  the 
section  where  fruit  thrives  best. — (“  American  Cultivator.”) 
-  Australian  Timber. — During  recent  years  attempts  have 
been  made  to  popularise  the  use  of  Australian  wood  in  this  country, 
whether  for  paving  or  upholstering  purposes.  Gradually  the  Eucalyptus 
and  other  large  timber  trees  have  become  popularly  known,  if  not 
as  popularly  used.  To-day  our  vehicular  traffic  is  carried  on  over 
roads  constructed  of  wood  from  the  Antipodes,  and  promise  is  not  wanting 
that  New  Zealand  and  Australian  timbers  will  soon  obtain  higher  rank. 
The  Manchester  Ship  Canal  Company  are  endeavouring  to  make  a 
market  here  for  the  wood  noticed  ;  they  have  brought,  and  continue  to 
bring,  to  Manchester  what  may  be  looked  upon  as  pioneer  cargoes  for 
that  section  of  the  industrial  world.  The  venture,  it  is  stated,  has  so 
far  been  successful,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that,  when  the  capacity  of 
the  Eucalyptus  is  better  known,  it  will  enter  in  successful  competition 
with  most  kinds  of  timber  now  on  the  market. 
-  Pentstemon  campanulatus.  —  This  beautiful  Mexican 
species  is  rarely  seen  in  our  gardens,  perhaps  because  it  is  not  quite 
hardy.  The  plant  is  as  easily  raised  from  seed  as  any  of  our  common 
garaen  annuals.  If  the  seeds  are  sown  in  March  the  plants  will 
begin  to  bloom  in  July.  Mr.  Cameron,  of  the  Harvard  Botanic  Garden, 
notes,  in  an  American  journal,  the  fact  that  many  of  our  tender  native 
species  of  Pentstemon  make  a  better  display  in  late  summer  and  fall  by 
raising  them  annually  from  seed.  The  flowers  of  P.  campanulatus  vary 
in  colour  ;  some  of  the  plants  have  flowers  of  a  pink  shade,  while  others 
have  dark  purple  and  violet  flowers.  The  specimen  before  us  has  a 
tubular  or  campanulate  corolla  of  a  red  maroon  colour,  and  the  petals 
are  whitish  on  the  inside.  The  flowers  are  produced  in  long  showy 
raceme-like  panicles,  which  are  9  to  15  inches  long.  The  plants  are 
3  feet  high,  and  the  stems  are  thickly  covered  with  dark  green,  ovate, 
lanceolate,  serrated  leaves.  It  grows  best  in  a  light  rich  soil  and  in  a 
position  where  it  is  not  shaded. 
-  Ipomcea  Leari. — Among  the  tropical  Morning  Glories,  this 
is,  perhaps,  the  best  and  most  floriferous.  The  flowers  are  fully  4  inches 
acrofs,  produced  in  great  profusion  throughout  the  summer  and  autumn 
months.  They  are  intensely  blue,  slightly  purple  in  the  throat  ;  the 
colour  is  a  most  pleasing  one,  and  the  lasting  quality  of  the  flowers  is 
considerable.  The  inflorescence,  a  compound  fascicle,  produces  from 
twelve  to  thirty  almost  stalkless  flowers  in  succession,  and  the  axillary 
peduncles  are  8  to  10  inches  long.  The  cordate  leaves  are  occasionally 
imperfectly  three  lobed,  but  mostly  entire,  6  inches  long  on  slender, 
equally  long  petioles.  The  twining  stem  is  very  slender  and  somewhat 
hairy.  This  species  can  be  propagated  by  means  of  cuttings  very  easily 
in  this  country,  says  the  “  Garden  and  Forest.”  Rich  fibrous  soil  is 
most  satisfactory,  but  comparatively  small  pots  are  sufficient  even  for 
large  and  floriferous  specimens.  A  northern  or  western  position,  in 
diffused  sunlight,  is  preferable  to  any  other,  as  the  flowers  in  such  a 
position  will  last  till  late  in  the  afternoon.  Ordinary  summer  tempera¬ 
ture  is  quite  sufficient,  and  the  plant  is  well  adapted  to  outdoor  use  on 
trellises,  on  walls  or  verandahs,  where  its  hundreds  of  flowers  will  make 
a  gorgeous  and  effective  display.  Plants  used  during  the  summer  for 
such  purposes  may  be  cut  back  before  the  fall  frosts  commence,  and 
should  be  stored  in  a  somewhat  dry  state  until  the  following  season  in  a 
cool  greenhouse  or  a  light  and  frost-free  cellar. 
