I was pleased to see Mr M'Millan's supplementary paper on this subject, and I am gratified to learn that he is experimenting practically with the Quince: he has my best wishes for his success, and none will be more willing to acknowledge it than myself, and profit by the result. There are one or two statements in his paper, however, which, as they are slightly calculated to create a false impression regarding some of my remarks, I would like to notice as briefly as possible. Mr M'Millan alludes to my remarks about him being guided only by "considerations of soil and climate" in adopting the Quince in preference to the Pear; and from the way in which he discusses these points, in their relation to horticulture generally, I fancy he has rather misapprehended me. To the most of what he says on these questions I cannot demur; I certainly agree with him that "considerations of soil and climate" are important points to be studied by the gardener - points, indeed, which we cannot easily avoid studying, since they are pressed upon our attention too frequently, and in the most forcible manner sometimes; but in my former article I spoke of these points only in relation to the Quince stock; and Mr M'Millan is aware, as his very explicit papers on hardy-fruit culture indicate, that there are considerations, other than soil or climate, to be taken into account in choosing between the Quince and Pear stock; and I think that a careful perusal of my remarks will show, that while I did not ignore the "considerations" alluded to, I dwelt more particularly on the unsuit-ableness of the Quince as a stock only.

Though hardiness is not a feature of it, I do not doubt its adaptability in some respects, as Mr M'Millan has pointed out; but for the reasons given in my former paper, I say that for permanent plantations it is not safe.

Mr M'Millan admits it to be no uncommon thing to hear a gardener say, "Well, I have discarded the Quince stock as useless." This is ominous, coming as it does from such an able advocate of the Quince as Mr M'Millan; and the explanation which he offers is not a fortunate one. Ignorance concerning the mode of treatment may exist in some cases, as Mr M'Millan supposes, but we know that the Quince stock has been discarded and condemned at different times upon more intelligible grounds, by men who would probably resent the idea of being classed with quacks and pretenders; and besides, information on this, as upon any other horticultural subject, is now so ripe and so accessible that no one need be ignorant who has an interest in being informed.

Since my former remarks were penned; I have had an opportunity of seeing what can be done with the Pear stock at Worksop Manor, Notts. The fruit-trees there are a feature, and Mr Miller is a master in the art of cultivating them. The collection of standard Pears, etc. there is perhaps as fine as can be seen anywhere, healthy, handsome as could be desired, and prolific, and examples of what can be done by skilful pruning and training. Mr Miller is also experimenting with the Quince; and the trees look well, but they are young. However, Mr Miller has no occasion to be alarmed should the Quince fail with him, since the Pear stock serves his purpose so well.

J. Simpson.