small proportion of the top stem, boiled in a little salt, and the result was a very delicate dish; but, like spinach, it takes a good basketful to make one. For invalids and impaired constitutions, I am of opinion that it will prove a first rate vegetable.

IS MARKET GARDENING PROFITABLE?-To this question only an approximate answer can be given, owing to the difficulty of getting at the truth of the matter. An acre of early cabbages on the best land, 18 inches apart, in rows 20 inches asunder, would contain about 17,000 plants or so, which, if all sold at 1d. each (and good early cabbages fetch more than that,) would realize about 701.; but then more or less of them always fetch a much lower sum, and, therefore, we must descend in our scale of prices. The above number at 9d. per dozen would fetch about 50%., at 6d. per dozen about 351., and at 3d. per dozen about 187.; an acre of early white cos lettuces, grown after celery upon the richest land, a foot apart each way, would realize 1s. per score of 22 to the score, and if all sold at the above price, the aggregate sum would be 907., but, like the cabbages, many are sold for much lower prices. Then after cabbage or lettuce take celery. Some plant this in rows 4 feet distant, while others place it 5 and 6 feet apart, and if large fine heads are desired the plants ought to be 10 inches asunder in the rows-say 8000 plants to an acre. This number, at 1d. each, would fetch about 351.; but like other crops, if early and fine, they fetch 15d. and 18d. per dozen, and there is always an intermediate crop of lettuce or coleworts to come off before the celery wants moulding up. This intermediate crop will fetch. about 51., so that the average receipts of an acre may be set down at 901.

The expenses involved in the production of cabbage and celery crops, which occupy the acre nearly 15 months, are as follows:-Trenching an acre, about 27. 10s.; 30 loads of manure, at 7s. 6d. each, say 127.; dunging the trenches for celery, say 67.; planting the crops, 17. 5s.; seeds of various things, 10s.; hoeing several times, 27. 10s,; rent 97.; tithes 10s.; clearing off the several crops, say 47.; washing and

packing of produce, moulding up celery, &c., 41.; horses, waggons, carts, carters, market fees, &c., about 31. 10s. Total, about 457.

I am acquainted with a garden which contains 60 acres of choice fruit trees, whose blossoms were all destroyed by frost during three consecutive years. Now, on these 60 acres, the same expenses are incurred every year, whether they bring forth fruit or not; so that taking this loss, that of broccoli from frost, and other things, into consideration, the profits of the market gardener are not so large as at first sight they would appear. No doubt, in favorable seasons, they make a considerable sum of money; but owing to the vicissitudes of climate, the introduction of duty free foreign productions, and the fluctuation of prices, this desideratum is, at least, rendered very precarious. We have few instances, indeed, on record, of market gardeners becoming rich. By means of perseverance and great industry, however, they manage to live comfortably, and effect much good in the country, by spending large sums of money in labor; but as I have just shown, the profits of the occupation are small.

I have endeavored to ascertain the number of acres under cultivation for the supply of the various London markets, and the result of the inquiry is, that about 12,000 acres are occupied by vegetables, and about 5000 by fruit trees. These lie chiefly in the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Hertford, and Bedford, on the north side of the Thames; and Kent, and Surrey, on the south side; and some 35,000 people are employed on them. But this is not taking into account those more distant counties which, by fits and starts, send up the produce of acres of turnip tops, cabbages, peas, and other things; while hundreds of acres in Cornwall and Devonshire are employed in growing early potatoes, broccoli, peas, &c., which reach London by rail.

In writing these papers, I have endeavored, as far as possible, to stear clear of mentioning names of vegetables, knowing well the labyrinth into which such a subject would lead me; for their aliases are endless. Besides, what will suit one soil will not suit another, and the march of improve

ment is so rapid that sorts highly valued to-day will be thought less of to-morrow, and will ultimately disappear altogether to make room for more valuable kinds. These then are some of my reasons for not mentioning varieties.

In conclusion, I trust that some benefit may have been derived from what I have written on the subject of market gardening; and although a few errors may have crept in, I hope that on the whole they may have given satisfaction.

This paper concludes Mr. Cuthill's series of articles upon market gardening around London; and we believe their perusal will confirm all we said in our prefatory remarks. They show a system of thorough cultivation which can only be effected in the manner he names, viz., by deep and frequent trenching, and liberal manuring; to rely upon anything else than these, the market gardener around London could not pay the rent and labor of his land.

We trust these papers have awakened attention to the importance of trenching; if they have not, anything which we could say upon this point would fail to do so. It is the key to all successful cultivation.-ED.

ART. III.

Descriptions of Three Varieties of Pears, with Engravings of the Fruit. By B. DESPORTES, Angers, France.

In our last volume (XVI, p. 489,) we presented our readers with a communication from M. Desportes, describing three new varieties of pears; we now have the pleasure of presenting the descriptions of three other varieties of recent introduction to our collections, and one of which, the La Juive, has not yet, we believe, fruited here. We are gratified to add, that M. Desportes will keep us informed of all the new sorts of merit, which are introduced to the extensive collections at Angers, as soon as they are fully proved.-ED.

Dear Sir, I take great pleasure in sending you the outlines and the descriptions of some new pears, which have fruited on the specimen trees in M. André Leroy's nursery at Angers, (France.) If you find them worthy of insertion in your estimable journal, please do so.

1. BEURRE ST. NICOLAS.

Fruit, large, long, pyriform, but not uniformly shaped; Stem, large, irregular, stout at the base, curved; Skin, gray,

Fig. 51. Beurré St. Nicolas.

shaded with yellow spots towards the stem, and with speckles towards the eye, lightly colored on the sunny side; Flesh,

white, very nice, very melting, buttery; water abundant, sugary, perfumed, and highly flavored.

It is a very excellent pear, not surpassed in quality by any other. Ripens about 15th September. It was raised in the garden of St. Nicolas, at Angers, ten or twelve years ago.

Fig. 52. Saint Michael Archange.

2. SAINT MICHAEL ARCHANGE.

Fruit, of middle size, long, regularly, but sometimes undulated, pyriform; Skin, very slight, yellowish gray and