468 ^ THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



In Black Hamburg Mr M'Connocliie had a nicely-formed bunch, which took 

 second place; Mr James Hannah, gardener to John Duncan, Esq., Burnhead ; 

 Mr J. Anderson, gardener to J. F. Webb, Esq., Nevvstead Abbey, Nottingham, 

 and others, had fine fruit. Mr Wm. Melville, gardener, Glenlee, New Galloway, 

 had the second prize for Alicante ; Mr George Greig, gardener to Wm. Christie, 

 Esq., Greenpark, Liberton, and Mr M'Millan, also showing well. For Hamburps 

 in pairs there were twenty-three entries, Mr Walker Bassett, gardener to J. S. 

 Philips, Esq., Cheadle, running the winner very hard for position, backed up well 

 by Mr Stevens, Trentham. The finest-flavoured Grapes in white and black, out 

 of respectively nineteen and seventeen entries, were declared to be Duchess of 

 Buccleuch and Muscat Hamburg ; Mr Jno. Brunton taking position after Mr John- 

 ston. The heaviest black Grape (Black Hamburg, 6 lb. 4 oz.) came from ]\Ir 

 James Douglas, gardener to F. Whitbourne, Esq., Loxford Hall, Essex, and Mr 

 Laing — both Hamburgs ; and the heaviest white was a Brobdingnagian Syrian, 

 weighing 16>^ lb., and in good general order. This came from Mr James Dickson, 

 gardener to John Jardine, Esq., Arkelton. The Messrs Lane had a wonderfully 

 large bunch of Muscat of Alexandria. Muscat Hamburg was well shown by Mr 

 David Morrison, Mr Bryden, and by Mr James Turner, gardener to Mark Sprott, 

 Esq., Elddle. For the best pair of Mrs Pince's Muscat, Mr Meredith had extra 

 fine samples, large in size, fine in formation of bunch, and well finished — much 

 better than any exhibited by his compeers. It looks valuable as a variety. Mr 

 James Douglas and Mr John M'Donald, gardener to Mrs Sharp Erskine, Duni- 

 marle Castle, had the other lots. Mr Thomson had the best assortment of varie- 

 ties of Black Hamburgs, comprising Richmond Villa, a small but finely -hammei-ed 

 berry ; Old Black, a little larger and redder in the tinge ; a seedling black, much 

 inclined to shoulder, fine bloom ; Champion, smaller than we have seen it ; and 

 Dutch. Mr Johnston, who had the second collection, had the Mill Hill variety, 

 fine in colour, in addition to some of those named above. In the collection of Mus- 

 cats Mr Ingram had the largest bunches, and Mr Thomson the smallest in the ripest 

 condition. The lots comprised Escholata, loosely arranged in bunch ; Tottenham 

 Park, Bowood, Candia, Tynninghame, the least ripe of the group ; and Canon Hall. 

 Mr Thomson also exhibited the White Lady Downes in very promising conditioa, 

 but unripe. 



Respecting the exhibition of Grapes, the ' Nottinghamshire Guardian ' says : 

 "Messrs Lane & Sons, the great nurserymen of Berkhampstead, are generally con- 

 sidered first-class Grape-growers. They entered splendid Grapes in eight classes, 

 and gained only one third prize ; while many who went down with high hopes of 

 success got no prize at all. In the contest for flavour, it will be seen the prizes fell 

 to the Muscat Hamburg and Mr Thomson's Duchess of Buccleuch. Thip;, in 

 point of flavour, is doubtless an exquisite Grape, and it is also a free-beariug 

 kind, with bunches of good size ; but the smallness of the berry is, and ever must 

 be, a drawback upon its general cultivation. Mrs Pince's Black Muscat, which 

 some of our friends are finding much fault with, was shown in splendid conditioa 

 by Mr Meredith. We believe it to be strictly a winter Grape ; for, planted side 

 by side with the Muscat of Alexandria and other kinds, with the advantage of 

 bottom-heat to the border, we find it to be still some weeks from being ripe, 

 while the Muscats are shrivelling. We are also convinced the variety requires 

 ample room for development, and that, grown upon the extension principle, a 

 Vine or two to a house, it will prove the best and most useful New-year's Grape 

 in cultivation. We ask those who are condemning it prematurely to 'cease 

 their railing,' and our prognostication will be verified." 



In the collections of fruits, which formed a very fine feature of the Exhibition, 



