24 



should be thinned out. Alnwick seedling is easier to grow 

 and gives less trouble than any grape in cultivation. Gros Maroc 

 is not a free bearer and is late in coming into bearing. There are, 

 however, few better looking grapes, and scarcely any so poor in 

 quality. It is largely grown, principally, no doubt, for its good 

 looks. 



" Out of the section of ' Late Grapes' we have five that may be 

 said to head the list , three are black, viz. : Alicante, Gros Colman, 

 and Lady Downe's seedling, and two that are white : — Mrs. 

 Pearson and Muscat of Alexandria. Canon Hall Muscat and 

 Bowood Muscat are regarded as cultural varieties of Muscat of 

 Alexandria. The three black varieties are vinous grapes in con- 

 tradistinction to the sweetwater and muscat flavoured varieties. 

 When fully ripe they have a very distinct port wine bouquet. 

 They are all free setters and require severe thinning. Gros Colman 

 is the handsomest in both berry and bunch ; Alicante is the easiest 

 to grow and Lady Downe's seedling, which is a confessedly diffi- 

 cult subject is, when finished, by far the best keeper and the best 

 flavoured. They all take on a better colour and preserve their 

 bloom better when grown with some shade from the foliage ; the 

 ripening is also more uniform. Of "Mrs. Pearson" I cannot speak 

 from personal experience ; I have never grown it and do not know 

 that I ever saw it growing. It has the reputation of being the 

 latest white grape in cultivation and an excellent keeper. 



" Muscat of Alexandria is a universal favourite. More vines of 

 this variety are grown in Jamaica than of any other and it is not 

 difficult to grow well. It is by far the best mid-year and late 

 grape in cultivation and well-grown and thoroughly ripened, 

 leaves nothing to be desired as a dessert grape. 



" When grapes are grown simply for home consumption, and 

 only one vine can be grown, Muscat of Alexandria should be 

 selected. Where there is room for two or more vines and the 

 duration of supply is desired, Foster's White seedling for early 

 use and Lady Downe's seedling or Alicante would be serviceable 

 as a late supply. Alicante is easy to grow, a free bearer and in 

 many ways a desirable variety. 



" When grown for commercial purposes the varieties selected 

 should he confined (unless the operation is to be on a large scale) 

 to not more than two kinds, one white and one black. By extend- 

 ing the period of pruning and starting into growth over say from 

 the end of January to the middle of March it should be possible 

 to market fruit from the end of May to the end of September or 

 later." 



MARKETS FOR GRAPES. 



The following letter from Messrs. Gillespie, Bros. & Co. appeared 

 in the Bulletin for June 1896 : — 



" We beg to lay before you the following regarding English (or 

 Hot-house) Grapes. These are saleable here during the winter 

 months, the price depending considerably on the condition in 



