Psaas,---For the production of new seedling pears in this country, longer time and more attention are required than in the case of apples. Generally teo or twelve years elapse, before a seedling pear-tree n shows blossom-buds. Only two new pears can here be recommended ; but several very promising seed lings are known to be in a state of progress both in England and Scotland.---The Wormsley Bergamot has been raised by Mr Knight, from the blossom of the autumn bergamot dusted with the pollen of the St Germain. It is a melting pear, of good flavour. The tree grows freely, and the blossom appears to be hardy.— Williams' Bon Chretien is a large fruit, of a pale 'green colour ; pulp white, very tender, abounding with an agreeably perfumed sweet juice. The tree bears freely, even as a standard; but the fruit comes to greatest perfection on a west wall. It is now a good deal cultivated in the neighbourhood of London.
From America, we have, of late, received an ex cellent variety, called the Sickle Pear. The fruit is rather small ; sometimes of a yellow colour, and red next the sun, at other times altogether of a russet appearance ; the pulp is melting, juicy, and of exquisite flavour. The tree is very vigorous and quite hardy.—The public nurseries at Edinburgh have, within these few years, been enriched with grafts of borne of the finest seedling pear-trees raised at Brussels by Mr Van Mons, a distinguished culti vator there, and now Professor of Rural Economy at Louvain. None of them have yet produced their fruit in this country ; but a Committee of the Cale donian Horticultural Society had an opportunity of tasting several of the fruits at Brussels, and have particularly recommended those called Poire Marie Louise, Poire Napoleon, Marly, Diel, Salisbury, Archduke Charles, and dallebasse.
PEacnas.—In the production of new peaches. Mr Knight again excels. He planted several peach trees in large pots, and paid every attention to bring ing them to a state of high health and vigour ; he then applied to the pistil of one good kind the an them of another ; each tree was allowed to bring to perfection no more than three fruits : from sowing the stones of these some new and improved seedling varieties were looked for, and the expectations have not been disappointed. Two new kinds deserve particular notice ; and the situation of Downton, the seat of Mr Knight, being rather high and ex posed, it may be presumed, that fruits which are produced there, may probably succeed even in the more northern parts of the island. 1. The Acton Scott Peach. The fruit comes early, and never fails to attain maturity ; it is juicy and sweet, with a rich flavour. The tree is a plentiful bearer, and not liable to mildew. This new variety deserves the especial attention of Scottish horticulturists. 2. The Spring
Grove Peach is of a bright yellow colour, and red next the sun : it has a firm but not hard pulp, which melts in the mouth, and has a remarkably rich, brisk, and vinous flavour. The fruit never becomes over ripe or mealy, but, when quite ripe, is apt to shrivel a little : it is then in the most perfect state for the table. The tree grows slowly, but ripens its wood early in the season. It seems to succeed better on an apricot than a plum stock.
To America we owe Braddick's American peach, figured and recommended in the second volume of the London Horticultural Transactions. It is a large fruit, with a yellow skin, red next the sun ; the pulp is yellow, and of high flavour. It is not a hardy kind, nor does the tree produce freely.
NECTARINE.—We know only of one new variety of nectarine, which can at present be recommended for cultivation. This is the Woodhall Nectarine, so called from its having been raised at Woodhall, near Holyton in Scetland, by Mr Walter Henderson, gardener there, well known as a most successful cul tivator of the Citrus and Erica tribes. The fruit approaches most nearly to the elruge ; but it is more juicy, and perhaps also of a higher flavour ; the fruit never fails to come forward to maturity. At pre sent its good qualities are evidently on the increase. The tree grows freely, and has never shown the slightest symptom of mildew ; the wood ripens readi. ly in the autumn. The blossom is small, early, and hardy ; and ever since the tree came into bearing, about six years ago, it has not once failed to produce an abundant crop.
PLusts.—The most important acquisition of the plum kind has been described and figured by Mr Hooker in the third volume of the London Horticul tural Transactions, under the name of Wilmot': New Early Orleans Plum. In general habit the tree resem bles the common Orleans; but the fruit ripens three weeks before that of the Orleans. Notwithstanding this early maturity of the fruit, the blossom is later of expanding than in almost any of the plum tribe. The combination of the properties of late flowering and of early ripening, must render this variety peculiar ly valuable in the northern division of our island. The fruit resembles that of the Orleans, but is softer and more juicy, and of excellent flavour. The habit of the tree is vigorous and fertile.—Coe's Golden Drop is generally regarded as a new variety. The leaves of the tree are uncommonly large, and this is the most marked character of the variety. When the fruit is ripe, the pulp is of a gold yellow colour ; on the side next the sun the skin is dotted with violet and crimson. The fruit may be kept for many weeks if suspended in a dry place. The tree requires a wall, but succeeds very well on a west aspect.