SUMMER BEURRÉ D'AREMBERG. We have often heard from the lips of Mr. Rivers a flattering account of this new seedling pear of his, which fruited for the first time two or three years ago; but from the fact of it being an early pear, and soon past, circumstances have hitherto prevented us from forming our own opinion of its merits. Fortunately, this season, some of the fruit has reached us in perfect condition; and from those now before us we furnish a figure and description of this new fruit. The size, as will be seen by the figure, is not large; and the form is somewhat turbinate, or short obovate, even in its

outline. Skin of a lemon color, slightly veined with cinnamon-colored russet, with a patch of the same here and there, and particularly so round the stalk ; eye very small, frequently wanting, and set very deeply in a deep and narrow basin; stalk upwards of an inch long, and inserted in a small, round cavity; flesh tender, melting, juicy, brisk, and with a fine, sprightly, vinous, and perfumed flavor. The fruit does not keep long, as it rots at the core shortly after being gathered: but the variety is a desirable sort at this season; and, if gathered before it is perfectly ripe, it will, no doubt, keep much longer after being gathered.

The Summer Beurré d'Aremberg was raised by Mr. Rivers from the old Buerré d'Aremberg; and the tree forms naturally a perfect pyramid, is hardy, and a great bearer. - Gardener's Chronicle.

LILIUM GIGANTEUM.

The following is the history of six plants of this lily, which have flowered at Jardine Hall, Lockerby, this season: Three years ago, we had a plant of it in flower in the greenhouse. Being the first I ever had under my charge, I was not quite sure about its propagation; but, judging by the appearance of them and some young bulbs growing amongst the roots on the surface of the soil, I knew that the old bulb was gone, and that these young ones were intended to become giants in future. Six of these young bulbs I potted, and put into a frame. After they were established, they were set outside, where they remained till frost became dangerous, when they were put into the greenhouse, and kept pretty dry all winter. In May, last year, two of these were planted out in the lawn: the others were shifted into larger pots, and were set outside also. When frost took the leaves of those that were planted out, I covered them with a little dry fern; those in pots being returned to the greenhouse. In March last, the fern was removed, as the bulbs were beginning to grow, and spruce branches stuck round them substituted. They soon made leaves; and, in May, the flowerstem made its appearance: both flowered in June, and are now ripening seed. One of these produced sixteen, and the other seventeen blooms, each bloom measuring seven inches across; and the stem was eight feet in height. Those in the greenhouse commenced to grow in February: two I planted out in March last, when they were in full leaf, just a short time before the flower-stem commenced to grow. These stood twelve degrees of frost, with only a few spruce branches for protection. I have seen the leaves frozen, and hanging on the ground as if quite killed; but they always recovered. These measure seven feet in height, and on each are seventeen blooms. Two are still inside: these are growing in boxes that would hold about the same quantity of soil as a No. I pot. The largest of them produced a stem eleven feet in height, and ten inches in circumference, one foot above the soil. It furnished twenty blooms, each measuring seven inches across: those inside flowered first, those planted in March next, and those that stood out all winter last. By planting in this way, we had a fine succession, as each plant lasted about a fortnight in flower. I may mention that the soil used was loam, rotten cow-dung, and sand, in about equal parts, with a liberal supply of water when the stem was growing. Accompanying this is a photograph of one of my best plants, which will indicate the fine appearance such a noble lily has on a lawn. This lily has flowered in several places in the open ground. The bulb does not die after the flowering is over; but the leaves disappear in autumn, and are again renewed in spring. The gigantic lily was first brought to notice by the late Dr. N. Wallich, by whom a fine figure of it has been given in his great work, the "Plantæ Rariores Asiatica." In the Himalayas it grows in shady places, in rich loam, at altitudes of from seven thousand to eight thousand feet, as at the western base of the Dodecatowli Mountain in Eastern Gurhwal, on the road leading to Lobah; and in the valleys below Tyne Tiba, on the ascent to Koth, in Western Gurhwal, it is known under the native name, Naltoora. When in perfect flower, it is one of the finest lilies met with in the vegetable kingdom, and is well worthy of more attention than it receives. There is another fine lily common in the Himalayas, though rarely seen in this country,-L. Wallichianum, which is also well worthy of at

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tention. It is known under the native name of Gurj Kuml. It has large whitescented flowers, from five to seven inches in length, which scent the air during the rains. — Observer, in Gardener's Chronicle.

[A correspondent informs us that Lilium giganteum has flowered in the open ground in New Jersey, and stood the winter with slight ground-protection.—Eds.]

CULTIVATION OF DUTCH BULBS. — The amateur cultivator has, then, chiefly

to remember, in order to insure success, that his treatment of these Dutch bulbs is not so much intended to form the flowers — the bulb-grower has already done that for him—as to liberate them safely from the succulent folds of the parent bulb. The flower or flower-spike is wrapped up within the bulb, and only wants enticing forth from its winter prison-house in such a manner that it shall not appear en déshabille. Now, to do this cleverly, the free formation of roots must be induced before the growth of the leaves or flower-stem is excited. This is the turning-point. Get plenty of healthy roots, and, under fair conditions, good flower-spikes will follow: fail to get these, and good flower-spikes are barely possible. A rootless bulb may, indeed, push out its ready-formed flower-stem by feeding on its own substance, even as the felled tree may sometimes clothe itself with branches pushed forth by its self-contained sap; but such developments can be in no sense perfect, and must at length fail from sheer exhaustion. Hence the importance in bulb-growing (and this forms our text for the present), whether in earth or water, of inducing, in the first instance, a profusion of roots, as the means of securing a vigorous development of the flower-spike.

We may usefully reproduce here Mr. Paul's nine rules for the culture of hyacinths in glasses; merely premising, that excellent results may be obtained by this mode of culture; and adding, that, mutatis mutandis, the same rules will apply equally to pot-culture, substituting earth for water, and pots for glasses. The rules may be slightly abridged as follows:

"In choosing bulbs, look for weight as well as size, and be sure the base of the bulb is sound. Use single kinds only: they are earlier, hardier, and generally preferable. Set the bulb in the glass so that the lower end is almost, but not quite, in contact with the water. Use rain or pond water. Do not change the water, but keep a small lump of charcoal at the bottom of the glass. Keep the glasses filled up from time to time. When the bulb is placed, put the glass in a cool, dark cupboard, or other place where light is excluded. When the roots are freely developed, and the flower-spike is pushing into life (which will be in about six weeks), remove by degrees to full light and air. The more light

and air given from the time the flowers show color, the shorter will be the leaves and spike, and the brighter the color."

These directions, it will be remembered, suppose the glasses to be kept, during the active development of the plant, in the habitable rooms of a dwelling, where they should be placed in the window, for light, during the day, and be removed from the window, to avoid risk from frost, during the night. Whether the apartment be heated or not, is immaterial: the only difference will be in the earliness or lateness of the flowers, according as they are or are not stimulated by warmth. Gardener's Chronicle.

NEW PLANTS, 1868.

Among the many new or showy plants figured in the French and English illustrated magazines, the following are especially worthy

of notice:

Lilium Leichtlinii.

- A new and very showy lily; flowers drooping; color pale yellow with maroon spots; probably hardy. — L'Illustration Horticole, pl. 540.

Epidendrum atropurpureum, var. roseum. A charming orchid, with deep purple flowers, with bright rosy lip; native of Guatemala. — Ibid., pl. 542. Maranta Baraquinii. - A very fine-foliaged plant, leaves beautifully pencilled with white from a dark-green centre to deep edge of green. Requires stovetreatment. - Ibid., pl. 542. Gesnera Exoniensis.

A charming species, producing masses of orangescarlet flowers with yellow throat during the winter. The foliage is dark, rich, and velvety, studded with minute red hairs, which, in some lights, give it an appearance of plush. This is, probably, one of the most valuable of recently-introduced plants. - Floral Magazine, pl. 381.

Croton maximus. A fine species with rich golden leaves with green bands. As they are often a foot long, the beauty of the plant can be appreciated. A stove-evergreen growing in loam and peat. — Ibid., pl. 382.

Pelargonium Mlle. Nilsson. - One of the zonale section, chiefly remarkable for a large truss of delicate pink flowers. Revue Horticole, March, 1868.

Passiflora trifasciata. - A very pretty-foliaged passion-flower, the leaves of which are reddish maroon, purple beneath, and deep green, heavily marked with maroon, above. — L'Illustration Horticole, pl. 544.

Calodracon (Dracæna) terminalis, var. Moorei.

A charming variety of a well

known plant. The old dracæna has been greatly subdivided as follows: 1° Dracœna Vandelli, pl. Type and only species D. Draco and its varieties. 2° Cordyline Commers, pl. - Type D. reflexa, Lamarck. 3° Dracænopsis, pl. - Type D. australis, W. Hook. 4° Calodracon, pl. — Type D. terminalis, Jacq., &c. 5° Charlwoodia, Sweet. — Type D. congesta ejusd. 6° Cohnia Kunth. — Type D. Mauritiana, Willd.

Our plant belongs to the fourth of these divisions, and is a great improvement on what is generally known as "Dracana" terminalis. The foot-stalks are blood-red, and all the coloring is brighter. — Ibid., pl. 532.

Dalechampia Roezliana rosea. This plant owes its beauty, like the Bougainvillea, to the bright colors of the bracts. They are of a rich rose-color, and are freely produced. The plant succeeds and flowers well in small pots. A specimen was exhibited by William C. Harding at the annual exhibition of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. It is a fine plant, but will hardly equal the expectations of cultivators. Floral Magazine, pl. 373, 374.

Quisqualis pubescens. A charming climber, with rosy flowers. stove-plant, seldom attacked by insects, free-flowering, and desirable. Horticole, February, 1868.

It is a

Revue

Rhododendron Rovellii. — A hybrid between R. arboreum and Dahuricum. Flowers fine scarlet, of medium size; being larger than one parent, and smaller

than the other. The plant has the early-Llooming quality of R. Dahuricum, and, should it prove hardy, will be a great acquisition. — Ibid., May, 1868. Rhododendron præcox. A hybrid between R. ciliatum and R. Dahuricum, valuable for its producing a profusion of light-purple flowers very early in the It may prove hardy, but, if not, would be useful for forcing. Ibid.,

season.

June, 1868.

Lilium Thompsonianum. This pretty Indian lily is well worthy of cultivation. It is not hardy, but will well repay pot-culture. The flowers are very freely produced on long spikes, and are of a pinkish purple. — Ibid.

Alternanthera amabilis. — A beautiful little variegated plant, charmingly effective for borders; lively in color, and altogether desirable. —L'Illustration Horticole, pl. 558.

Lasiandra macrantha - A fine stove-plant, producing very large deep-blue flowers. This plant is especially valuable for flowering when very young; plants four or five inches high having six or seven buds and flowers.

It is also known as Pleroma macrantha. — Florist, September, 1863. Saccolabium ampullaceum roseum. The finest variety yet introduced; flowers bright rose, and foliage beautifully marked. A stove-orchid from Moulmein, requiring basket-culture. — Floral Magazine, pl. 393.

Clematis John Gould Veitch. A fine blue double-flowered clematis, imported from Japan by Messrs. Veitch. It is a very showy plant, and worthy of extensive cultivation. - Ibid., pl. 394.

Azalea Sir Robert Napier. — A greenhouse azalea of the deepest shade of crimson yet produced, of good form and substance, and a great acquisition. Ibid., pl. 395.

Hybrid Perpetual Rose Duke of Edinburgh. One of the best new roses of 1868. An English seedling raised by Paul and Son; color glowing crimson, of fine form and good substance. It gives promise of being a popular variety. — Ibid., pl. 339.

THE October number of the Journal mentions an award of a gold medal given to a gardener at Melun, France, for a hundred and ten varieties of pelargonium zonale; and in "The Gardener's Monthly" of the same month, in a report of the July show of the Royal Botanic Society at London, we cannot find a single geranium, but a great many pelargonii.

Now, this may be all very well for France and England: but we in America will yet a while have to adhere to the geranium; for, according to an article in the August number of the Journal, written by a distinguished cultivator of "new and rare plants," we shall have to contemplate the existing spectacle of "every old lady in the land up in arms, and young ones too," against such a perversion of names, such an affectation, such a robbery. And as the mandate from the distinguished cultivator of "new and rare plants" has gone forth to the horticultural world of this country, that it is to be hoped, "for the dignity of the trade," that no 66 nursery-man or florist " will be "servile enough to imitate this change," we would simply take the liberty to give you a friendly warning not to encourage such "trenching upon dangerous ground" by publishing European reports,