January  23,  1£02. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
91 
Pear,  Winter  Nelis. 
“  This  u’as  raised  early  in  the  last  century  by  M.  Jean  Charles 
Nelis,  of  Malines,  in  Helginin,  and  yas  introduced  to  this 
countiy  hi  1818  by  tlie  Horticultural  Society  of  London.”  (Vide 
“  The  Fruit  Manual.”)  It  is  groivn  in  many  gardens,  and  is  gene¬ 
rally  considered  a  sure,  good  cropper,  and  one  of  the  choicest 
varieties  in  tlie  matter  of  flavour.  We  take  the  liberty  to  quote 
the  description  given  in  four  leading  fruit  catalogues.  Finst, 
Messrs.  Geo.  Bunyard  and  Co.  say :  “  Fruit  small,  rich,  and 
melting  when  well  grown ;  succeeds  best  on  a  wall,  or  as  an 
espalier  or  pyramid  :  must  not  be  planted  in  cold  soils,  as  the 
tree  is  tender ;  quite  first  rate.  Quince  stock.  Nov. — Jan.” 
Messrs.  Clibrans.  Manchester,  report:  “Medium,  roundish,  fine¬ 
grained,  and  melting:  exceptionally  rich  flavour,  with  a  pleasant, 
refreshing  aroma  :  hardy  and  very  prolific  ;  makes  a  verj^  hand¬ 
some  small  pyramid.”  Me.ssrs.  Rivers  and  Son:  “The  Winter 
Nelis  is  one  of  the  most  delicious,  melting  winter  Pears,  i:)erhaps 
PEAR,  WINTER  NELIS. 
INTRODUCED  IN  1818  ;  ACCORDED  P.C.C.  BY  R.H.S.  ON  .IAN.  14TH,  1902. 
not  equalled  in  its  season  :  forms  a  very  pi-etty,  but  not  a  robust, 
pyramid,  and  a  most  fertile  little  bush  ;  requires  a  wall  in  cool 
climates.”  And  fourthlv,  Messrs.  J.  R.  Poarson  and  Sons,  of 
Chilwell  Nurseries,  Lowdham,  write  of  it  :  “  Small,  delicious  from 
a  wall,  and  will  fruit  in  the  open  on  Quince  stock  in  the  Mid¬ 
lands.  A  hardy,  good  cropper,  and  one  of  the  best  for  quality.” 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  opinion  is  unanimous  about  its 
being  a  fertile  variety  of  Pear,  and  one  of  the  highest  quality. 
It  is  now  a  good  time  to  secure  and  plant  a  number  of  trees,  and 
the  honour  of  a  First  Class  Certificate  from  the  Fruit  Committee 
at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s  meeting  on  the  14th  inst. 
has  at  least  drawn  special  attention  to  an  old  Pear  that  we  should 
not  now  like  to  be  without. 
- - 
Hyacinths  Diseased. 
Possibly  others  of  our  readers  besides  “  Chelwood,”  whose 
quei'y  is  answered  in  our  correspondence  columns  this  week,  have 
bulbs  that  are  diseased.  We  therefore  direct  attention  to  the 
means  of  combating,  or  arresting,  disease,  as  given  in  the  answer 
to  which  we  refer. 
1 
1 
1 
r  ^ 
K  WOKHfoiithe WEEK.. ' 
Fruit  Forcing. 
VINES :  EARLY  FORCED  IN  POTS.— Attention  must  be 
given  to  thinning  the  berries  as  soon  as  well  set,  and  although  it 
is  desirable  to  thin  them  somewhat  freely,  it  is  essential  that 
enough  be  left  to  form  comijact  bunches.  The  temperature 
should  be  maintained  at  Godeg  at  night,  falling  to  GOdeg  on  cold 
mornings,  Godeg  to  70deg  by  day,  admitting  air  at  75deg,  in¬ 
creasing  the  temperature  with  sun  heat  to  80deg  or  85deg,  closing 
the  house  at  80deg,  with  a  prospect  of  an  advance  to  85deg  or 
90deg,  at  the  same  time  damping  the  paths;  also,  sprinkle  all 
similar  surfaces  in  the  morning  and  in  the  evening,  when  sharp 
firing  is  had  recourse  to,  but  avoid  creating  a  steam.  Great  care 
is  necessary  in  ventilating,  admitting  a  little  air  at  a  time,  so  as 
not  to  reduce  the  temperature,  but  to  prevent  it  rising  suddenly 
to  an  unsafe  point.  Afford  copious  supplies  of  liquid  manure  a 
^  few  degrees  warmer  than  the  mean  temperature  of  the  structure. 
EARLY  FORCED,  PLANTED-OUT  VINES.— Give  attention 
to  tying  the  shoots  and  stopping  the  laterals.  The  shoots  may 
be  stopped  two  or  three  joints  beyond  the  fruit.  Where  the 
space  is  restricted  they  may  be  pinched  to  one  joint,  or  even  at 
the  bunch.  The  axillary  growths  may  be  stopped  at  the  first 
leaf,  and  to  one  joint  afterwards,  as  fresh  growth  is  made.  If 
this  is  likely  to  interfere  with  the  principal  leaves,  the  laterals 
may  be  rubbed  off,  except  from  the  two  lowest  leaves,  those  on 
level  with  and  above  the  fruit  being  stopped  to  one  joint.  It  is 
of  the  utmo.st  importance  that  the  principal  foliage  be  fqUy 
exposed  to  light  and  air,  overcrowding  being  highly  prejudicial ; 
at  the  same  time,  very  close  stopping  is  not  to  be  recommended 
where  there  is  room  for  extension,  as  an  increase  of  foliage 
promotes  root  action,  therefore  preserve  all  foliage  consistent 
with  full  exposure  to  light.  If  there  are  no  evaporation  troughs 
in  the  houses,  the  floors  and  borders  may  be  sprinkled  with  neat 
stable  or  cow  house  drainings,  diluted  with  five  times  the  bulk 
of  water,  three  gallons  of  the  liquid  thus  diluted  sufficing  for 
sprinkling  a  .square  rod  of  paths  or  borders. 
Houses  in  which  Vines  are  in  bloom  should  have  a  .steady 
night  temperature  of  Godeg  maintained,  70deg  to  75deg  by  day, 
and  80deg  to  85de"  or  more,  from  sun  heat.  Black  Muscat  and 
even  Madresfield  Court,  also  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  and  other 
varieties  liable  to  set  indifferently,  may  be  assi.sted  by  topping 
the  bunches  every  day,  or,  more  certainly,  by  applying  ripe 
pollen,  drawing  a  brush  lightly  over  the  bunches.  A  constant 
circulation  of  dry  warm  air  is  conducive  to  a  good  set,  and  it  is 
advi.sable  not  to  kop  the  growth  closely  during  the  setting  period. 
If  any  varieties  are  deficient  of  pollen,  it  may  be  taken  from  those 
affording  it  freely,  as  Black  Hamburghs,  collecting  it  in  a  sheet 
of  paper,  and  then  loading  a  brush  with  it,  pass  it  on  the  bunches 
of  the  shy  setters. 
VINES  STARTED  AT  THE  NEW  YEAR.— Continue  to 
syringe  the  rods  twice  a  day  until  the  bunches  are  formed,  when 
that  is  best  discontinued,  but  maintaining  plenty  of  atmospheric- 
moisture  by  damping  the  paths  and  borders  three  times  a  day. 
Increase  the  temperature  to  55deg  at  night,  and  GOdeg  to  GSdeg 
by  day,  with  an  advance  from  sun  heat  to  75deg,  and  ventilation 
in  accordance  with  the  state  of  the  weather.  It  is  desirable  to 
keep  up  a  su^iply  of  ammonia  in  all  houses  by  turning  over  the 
fermenting  materials  and  adding  fre.sh  droppings,  or,  if  this  be 
objected  to,  the  house  may  be  sprinkled  with  liquid  manure,  the 
evaporation  troughs  being  kept  filled  with  the  same. 
HOUSES  OF  LATE  GRAPES. — These  may  now  be  removed 
to  a  dry  room,  where  they  will  keep  quite  as  well  as  if  left  on  the 
Vines.  Cut  the  bunches  with  as  much  wood  as  can  be  .spared,  and' 
place  the  stems  in  bottles  filled  with  clean  rain  water,  each  con¬ 
taining  a  few  bits  of  charcoal.  Fix  the  bottles  in  an  inclined' 
position,  so  as  to  admit  of  the  berries  hanging  clear  of  the  sides, 
and  they  should  be  so  far  apart  as  not  to  allow  the  bunches  to 
touch  each  other.  Keep  the  temperature  of  the  room  at  about 
45deg,  examining  the  Grapes  occa.sionally  for  decayed  berries, 
which  must  be  carefully  removed.  Prune  the  Vines,  dressing  the- 
cuts  carefully  with  patent  knotting  or  best  French  polish. 
Cleanse  the  liou.se  thoroughly,  and  dre.ss  the  Vine.s  with  an 
insecticide  or  combined  fungicide.  Admit  air  freely  in  favour¬ 
able  weather,  seeking  to  give  the  Vines  as  complete  rest  as 
pos.sible.  When  the  Vines  are  not  .sati.sfactory,  lift  them  and' 
relay  the  roots  in  fresh  compost.  Where  the  Vines  have  inside- 
and  outside  borders  the  renovation  may  be  accomplished  without 
lo.ss  of  crop  by  renewing  the  former  one  year  and  the  latter  the- 
next. — St.  Albans. 
