will all tend to place it high in the estimation of pear-growers and pearconsumers, when it shall have become better known. Col. Wilder did much towards introducing this variety; he having imported it some time previous to 1847. Though so long here, it has not attracted the attention. of fruit-growers to any considerable extent until within a very few years. The fruit is from medium to large size, of regular outline, obovate; stalk quite stout, generally nearly straight, set in a slight depression; calyx small, open, in a smooth basin; skin rather thick; color pale greenish-yellow, slightly russet at stem-end, with an occasional red cheek on exposed specimens; flesh yellowish-white, buttery, fine-grained, with rich, pleasant subacid flavor; tree a good grower, with light-olive-colored, stout wood; foliage light green, rolled up, not abundant. The fruit keeps well; never rotting at the core, but decaying from the outside: does well on pear or quince stock. It is perfectly safe for any one to plant this variety either for home-use or market. DANA'S HOVEY. DANA'S HOVEY. - This comparatively new pear was raised by Francis Dana of Roxbury, and named by him "The Hovey," in honor of Charles M. Hovey, Esq., the well-known pomologist, who purchased the stock of this and several other of Mr. Dana's new pears: and his name, as it well deserves, will go down to posterity in connection with this most admirable pear; for it is destined to become very popular as an early winter pear as it becomes better known. It is one of the richest of pears, equal if not superior in quality to any other except the Seckel. The tree resembles the Seckel in its growth, making stout, short wood. The leaves are large, and beautifully glossy and camellia-like; resisting blight, and remaining on the tree better than in many other varieties. It is hardy, and free from disease. It is also quite productive, often yielding large crops. The fruit keeps remarkably well, never showing a tendency to rot at the core. Size rather below medium, of a regular obovate form; stem nearly an inch long, rather slender, and set in a very slight depression; calyx moderately large, open, with reflex segments, in a shallow basin; skin thin, smooth, dark yellow, and nearly covered with russet; the flesh is yellowish-white, very fine, melting, rich, sweet, and juicy, with a delicious aroma; ripe first of November, but will keep into December. Among all the pears of its season, none can be found to equal it; and it is truly astonishing how Mr. Dana could have produced this, and many other fine varieties, as he has, without any special effort, beyond the sowing of the seeds of the best varieties. We do not know from what seed the Dana's Hovey sprang; but it seems to bear great resemblance to the Seckel. LAWRENCE. LAWRENCE. This variety is one of the best of the winter-pears. It is said to have originated on Long Island, and was introduced to the public some twenty or twenty-five years ago. This is also an accidental seedling that sprang up in the neighborhood of two old pear-trees, one a St. Michael or White Doyenne, and the other a St. Germain. The tree is a good grower, quite symmetrical, with new shoots of a clear dark yellow, and rather slender, with a light-colored, pointed, and rather small leaf. It seems to prefer a light, warm, loamy soil. The fruit is of medium size, a little irregular, with one side often larger than the other; form obovate; color pale lemon when ripe, with patches of greenish-brown, and sometimes russet; stem about an inch in length, curved slightly, stout, being thick where it joins the tree, and rather deeply sunk in a large cavity; calyx large, nearly closed, in a large, deep, plaited, irregular basin; flesh nearly white, juicy, and melting, but rather gritty at the core, sweet and rich. Time of ripening is from November to February. The facility with which this variety may be ripened (it requiring no more care than a barrel of apples), with its other good qualities, all help to place it high in the estimation of the public. It is especially sought for by all who admire a sweet pear. It may be considered nearly or quite first-rate, though it lacks the rich aroma of the Hovey. It does not succeed well on the quince. If the reader has a pearorchard, and it lacks either of the six varieties named, it should receive an addition, as soon as the weather will allow, of one or more of the kinds specified. James F. C. Hyde. PROPAGATING CACTI.-These are readily increased by cuttings; the shoots being cut below a joint or eye, and from four to six inches of the points taken off. These, laid on a shelf for a few days until the cut is dried or healed, may be inserted to one-third their depth in sharp sand, the base of the cutting resting on the sand; the pot, which should be well drained, being filled to within two inches of the rim with equal parts of turfy loam and pieces of brick, or crocks broken small. With the soil kept no more than just moist, they strike root well on the shelf of a greenhouse in the full sun. When the growth has attained its full size, and become plump, water should be gradually withheld, and the plants put to rest; never allowing the soil to become so dry as to cause the shoots to shrivel. "Cottage Gardener." THE NEW CONIFERS. HAVING paid some attention to the cultivation and acclimatizing of many of the new conifers, I am induced to offer you a few remarks, the results of my observation, which I trust may be of service to those who may contemplate ornamenting their grounds with this beautiful class of trees, and possibly prove of interest to your readers generally. Mr. Sargent, who had probably the most extensive collection of evergreens of any amateur in this country, gave us, in his new edition of Downing's "Landscape Gardening," the benefit of his valuable experience up to that time; but seven or eight years have since elapsed, affording us the advantage of so much more time for further observation as to the merits of the trees then in cultivation, and to test, to some extent, several of the Japanese plants more recently introduced into the country, a larger proportion of which, I am glad to say, from present indications, are likely to prove adapted to our severe climate. Amongst the most prominent Spruces and Firs, I have had the opportunity of very thoroughly testing the following: Picea nobilis, Nordmanniana, grandis, pichta, Cephalonica, and pinsapo; and, with proper treatment, I can recommend them with much confidence for general cultivation in this vicinity, except, perhaps, in very exposed situations, or near the seashore. Their progress for some time after transplanting is generally slow, and somewhat discouraging, — the same as I have found to be the case with the European Silver Fir; but, when once well established, their growth is more satisfactory, and quite vigorous with the Nordmanniana and grandis. These six are all very distinct varieties; magnificent trees, of great size in their native soil, growing, in the case of the grandis, according to Gordon, to the enormous height of two hundred and eighty-five feet; are all worthy companions of the stately Norway, so justly popular with all planters; and, one of these days, they will no doubt be considered indispensable in every ornamental place of any pretension. The nobilis is a superb tree, growing two hundred feet high, forming vast forests in Northern California, with regular horizontal branches, resembling, when of great age, it is thought by some, the Cedar of Lebanon more than any other tree we can cultivate in this country. There are several dwarf Spruces, such as Abies Clanbrasiliana, compacta, elegans, Gregorii, pygmæa, pumila, and pyramidalis, all perfectly hardy, quite interesting, and well adapted to places of limited extent. Amongst the larger-sized trees, we have also Abies Orientalis, Abies Mensiezii, and Picea Fraserii, perfectly hardy, but not quite so distinct, which would not, probably, be considered so desirable as the preceding. Unless one should have a very sheltered location, and be disposed to pet and coax a great deal, I would not advise their attempting to grow such trees as Abies Smithiana (the Indian Spruce), Picca Webbiana, Cunninghamia sinensis, or the Cedar of Lebanon; for they get more or less cut up every winter, lose their leaders, and are any thing but satisfactory. It is a matter of deep regret, that, of the trees of recent introduction, the three greatest favorites for ornamental planting at the present time in England and on the Continent,—the Araucaria imbricata, Cedrus Deodara, and Wellingtonia (Sequoia) gigantea,—none will be found sufficiently hardy for general cultivation in New England; though it is by no means certain that the two last named may not be successfully grown under unusually favorable circumstances as to soil and location. The Deodar almost invariably loses its leader every winter with more or less of its foliage, and, instead of becoming one of the most graceful and effective of trees, gradually degenerates into a straggling shrub. The Wellingtonia appears to be the less tender of the two; and, though its foliage is apt to get a good deal browned, it seems to gain vigor with age, and bids fair occasionally to triumph over the difficulties of our severe climate. Abies Douglassi. - I wish I could give a more satisfactory account of this tree; but, although I have several very fine specimens eight or ten feet high, I fear it can hardly be classed with those sufficiently hardy for general planting in the neighborhood of Boston. It succeeds perfectly in England, where I saw trees of great size; but here I have lost many after they were three or four feet high and it is so capricious, it can only be recommended to those who are fond of experiment, and are willing to take the chance of failure. : Cryptomeria Japonica. As is well known, this is a native of China, and one of those trees in regard to which great expectations have been raised; but I am sorry to add, no very great reliance can be placed on it, and |