1869.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 179 



in build very similar to the well-known General Jacqueminot. It may 

 be an open question whether it be wise to give so high an award to a 

 forced Rose ; but certain it is that this flower was produced in a very 

 high state of development. 



A word of praise is due to the magnificent forms of the improved 

 varieties of Cyclamen Persicum, Mr Wiggins, of Isleworth, has lately 

 been producing at the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society. 

 They so far transcend all that has hitherto been seen of this charming 

 spring flower (often very sorry objects indeed), that they are a show in 

 themselves. Some of the bulbs, nearly four years of age, form plants 

 fully 18 inches in diameter, bearing hundreds of beautiful flowers. 

 From purplish rose to the purest white they range through several 

 intermediate shades ; a house of such plants as seen at Isleworth is 

 indeed a charming and long-to-be-remembered sight. Something, 

 however, must be said about these in a separate paper. 



New fruits are rare — very rare indeed — though Grapes are to some 

 extent an exception to this invariable rule. At the last meeting of 

 the Fruit Committee, Mr William Thomson, of Dalkeith, sent what 

 promises to become a valuable Grape. It was appropriately named 

 " Thomson's White Lady Downes," as it partakes of the character of 

 this late Grape, being a seedling from it crossed with the Bowood 

 Muscat. The bunch and berries are handsome, and the latter regular 

 in size and of a fine amber colour. Mr Thomson, in a communication 

 to the Committee, stated that the Yine is, if possible, more vigorous 

 than that of Lady Downes, of the same habit, and may be grown 

 along with that variety in a house with no more than greenhouse 

 heat to ripen the fruit. Last year, Mr Thomson stated, he kept the 

 Grapes in good condition on the Yine till April, but this season the 

 unusual heat of February stimulated the sap in the Yines so early that 

 the flavour of the fruit had in consequence been adversely aflected. 

 From this cause the Grape was quite flavourless, or almost so, but a 

 member of the Committee stated that he had tasted it in the autumn 

 and found it very fine. If Mr Thomson will exhibit it earlier another 

 season, there is no doubt but that the Grape will receive a high 

 commendation. R. D. 



NOTES OK" HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



Wahlenbergia is a small genus of Campanulaceae. Looked at from 

 a practical point of view, it should never have been separated from 

 Campanula, from which it difl"ers in only one respect, and that not a 

 very conspicuous feature. The openings for the escapement of the 

 seeds in the old family of Campanula were, in the majority of the 



