and a half in diameter: Form, roundish oval, largest in the middle, tapering to each end, and obtuse at the stem: Skin, slightly rough, pale greenish russet, and little browned on the sunny side, and covered with minute russet specks: Stem, short, about half an inch long, moderately stout, fleshy at the

Fig. 43. Lee's Seedling.

base, and obliquely inserted without any cavity: Eye, medium size, open, and slightly depressed in a very small shallow basin; segments of the calyx short, round: Flesh, white, little coarse, half melting and juicy: Flavor, rich, sugary, and brisk, with a spicy roma: Core, large: Seeds, small. Ripe in September.

84. HANNers.

Hannas, of various collections.

It has generally been supposed that the Hanners pear, (fig. 44,)-incorrectly called Hannas-was a foreign variety, and that the original tree was imported from France. We had formerly entertained this opinion, but when, among all the

numerous varieties which have been received from abroad during the last twenty years, this has not been found among those which have fruited, we concluded there must have been some error in the generally received opinion of its foreign origin, and that it should be considered a native fruit. Impressed with this opinion, we recently called on Mr. Hanners, who resides in Boston, and who is now upwards of eighty years of age, and gathered the following facts, which show con

Fig. 44. Hanners.

clusively that it is a native variety, which probably originated in this city.

Before the Revolution, a large tract of land on Federal street was owned and occupied by Col. Webb, as a garden and pasture. Mr. Hanners's garden adjoined that of Col. Webb. At that time, Col. Webb had several fine pear trees, as well as other kinds of fruit, in his garden, many of which, especially the pears, were imported from England. Mr. Han

ners had two pear trees growing in his garden, and these he had grafted with scions procured from Col. Webb's trees. One of them was the White Doyenné, (or St. Michael,) and the other the St. Germain. Some time subsequent to the planting of these trees, he had a small pear tree from Col. Webb's garden, which had not been grafted. This was the one now known as the Hanners. The three trees were all that were planted in Mr. Hanners's garden, and they were all growing and bearing fruit, up to 1844, when the place was sold, and the trees cut down. Mr. Hanners's daughter also stated to us, that she well recollects when the tree first came into bearing; she had been to school, and, when she came home, her parents showed her some of the pears, which had just been gathered, and she then remarked that they looked "more like squashes than pears" from the remarkably obtuse form of the stem end, which gives this variety a resemblance to a bell squash. The fruit was very large the first year, when it bore only a small quantity. It continued to produce an abundant crop of fine pears.

The late Mr. Manning introduced this pear to notice. He first saw it in the market where it was sold as the St. Michael, and generally brought the handsome price of fifty to seventyfive cents per dozen. Tracing the pear to Mr. Hanners's garden, he procured a few of the scions, and subsequently exhibited the fruit; since which period, it has been considerably disseminated, and, from its excellence, deserves a place in every good collection. It greatly resembles the Cushing in quality, having the same very melting flesh and yellow skin. Mr. Manning and some amateurs in Salem have doubted whether it should not be considered as a synonyme of the latter; but its very obtuse form should at once set at rest all such doubts, how much so ever they may otherwise appear similar. If this is not sufficient, the growth of the tree, color of the wood, and form of the leaf, should at once do so. The shoots of the Hanners are upright, and of a dull yellow, while those of the Cushing are partially spreading and of a dull red; and the leaves of the Cushing are considerably serrated, while those of the Hanners are nearly entire.

Size, large, about three inches long, and two and a half in diameter: Form, oblong, full at the crown, little contracted in

the middle, and very broad and obtuse at the stem: Skin, fair, smooth, yellowish green, becoming pale yellow when mature, and regularly covered with large, conspicuous, pale russet specks: Stem, rather long, about one and a quarter inches, stout, curved, much swollen at the base, and obliquely inserted in a rather shallow open cavity: Eye, small, open, and slightly sunk in a small shallow basin; segments of the calyx short, round: Flesh, white, fine, melting, and very juicy: Flavor, rich, sprightly, vinous, and little perfumed: Core, large: Seeds, medium size, long and pointed. Ripe in September.

ART. II. Garden Notes. By Dr. M. A. WARD, Athens, Ga.

May 1.-I have often heard it asserted that, although the common English ivy would grow in common soil, and flourish indifferently well on trees and wooden walls, yet it would only flower when supported on old stone work. Last autumn, a stem of it, running up the north side of my house on a wooden wall, and near the tin water spout, not only flowered profusely, but set and ripened all its fruit. It proved quite ornamental. Its dense clusters of large, curiously acorn-shaped berries of a jet black wherever the thick ash-colored bloom happened to be rubbed off, remained all winter quite undisturbed by birds or insects, though looking very temptingly. It was not till one morning in the first part of April that I saw a pair of mocking-birds exploring the vine, and, after some time, they began to peck at and taste the berries—very slowly and cautiously-as if aware that they were experimenting upon unknown aliment. The rascals seemed perfectly conscious that they were not Black Tartarian cherries. The next morning I looked, and not a berry was left.

May 12.-Echinocactus Ottonis has a very fine flower fully expanded. The plant is about six years old, and five inches in diameter. Last year, it showed two buds, but they fell off when half grown. They come out on the ridges at some distance from the central crown, where I expected to see them, as I believe is the manner of most melo-cacti. The flower

stood stiffly erect, about two thirds as large, and of the same form as that of Cèreus grandiflòrus, the calyx and petals all of one color, which is a most delicate blush, like that of Lady Hume's camellia, shading off to a deeper tinge at the midribs; stamens white, as numerous and disposed as in the grandiflòrus; the tube of the calyx showing also the same exquisite tinge of green, nearly scentless; opened about nine o'clockclosed forever at nine at night.

Sept. 1.-I have never observed, in reports of floral exhibitions, or in notices of visits to northern gardens, one of my decidedly favorite climbing plants, the Clitòria, or, as I believe it is now called, Vexillària ternàtra. Its very large, upside down papilionaceous flowers, of the richest mazarine blue, are exceedingly grateful to the eye at this season of the year. I have not yet seen Ipomæ`a Lèarii, but, until I do, I certainly shall doubt if it can compete with my beauty when gracefully trained. Vexillària virgínica, and V. Mariàna are also well deserving a place in every garden. I believe they are all perennials, but may be treated as annuals. Ipomæ a Eònanox is another magnificent climber, making a most exuberant growth, with singularly shaped leaves and flowers, having a tube six inches long, and the limb of the corolla curiously plaited, of the purest white. It would scarcely ripen its seeds at the north, but it would be well worth while to obtain them from the south every year.

Sept. 16.-The Guernsey Lily is now splendidly in flower with me. Some bulbs have been left neglected and forgotten in the ground for four or five years. Several of them now send up three naked scapes two and a half feet high, each with an umbel of six to eight flowers.

Sept. 18.-Chromatella is a better rose than Solfitaire,-a little better in color and in form, and, with us, a much more free bloomer. Both are rampant growers. A cutting of Solfitaire, put down about a year ago, is now ten feet high, and has probably another month to grow before checked by frost. They will certainly form most magnificent bushes for another year: but I have seen half open buds of Rivers's Yellow Tea [Qy. Yellow Persian-Ed.] which to my taste must surpass what either of them can produce.

La Reine produces huge buds, but I am jealous they will