244 THE FLORIST AND P0M0L0GI8T. [ NOVEMBEE, 



fruit is what is wanted. Another grand desideratum is to secure kinds that will 

 mature their fruit in as short a time as possible, enabling us to discard such 

 varieties as Gros Guillaume, Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat, &c., which take nearly 

 six months of the best part of the season thoroughly to ripen them, at an expense 

 of nearly one-third more fuel and labour than suffices to mature some other 

 varieties. — ABOHiB^UiD Fowlee, Castle Kennedy^ Stranraer. 



NOMENCLATURE OF GRAPES. 



0[LA OULD it not be possible, at our large fruit shows, to have a Committee 



Mitty formed for the purpose of correctly naming any fruit that might be 



^fo) found to be wrong ? Supposing the judges were to put a Query upon 



^' any suspected dish, a small committee would soon determine the 



correctness or otherwise of the name adopted, and this would prevent the same 



variety of fruit being shown under so many different names, as was notably the 



case with the Gros Guillaume at the Manchester Show. If the sort usually 



shown under the name of Barharossa is not that variety, but Gros Guillaume^ 



then I think it ought to be corrected in every instance, and no judge should pass 



the same grape indifferently under the names of Barharossa and Gros Guillaume. 



I think it is most desirable to get rid of all but one name for each variety. 



New sorts are becoming so numerous, every year adding to their number, 

 that a great responsibility rests upon those who certificate them. Many of the 

 new ones are bought and grown for a year or two, and then make way for others, 

 or for the old ones again. After seeing at the Manchester Show, the splendid 

 examples of Madresfielcl Court Grape, I think there must be a great difference 

 as to the adaptability of certain varieties to certain soils, as neither on its own 

 roots nor grafted, does this variety do well with me, and this year, as in former 

 years, it is going off soon after it is ripe. 



Mrs. Pince's Muscat does very well and keeps well, but I think the best Black 

 Muscat Grape is still to be found in the old Black Muscat., better known as Muscat 

 Hamburgh ; and here again, if this is nothing more than the old Black Muscat 

 (as Sir Joseph Paxton many years ago asserted it was), would it not be better to 

 return to the old name ? This grape, when well grown, puts into the shade all 

 the so-called Muscats as regards flavour, and grafted on the Muscat of Alexandria, 

 it does remarkably well with me at Studley. I purpose growing it more exten- 

 sively, and have recommended many of my friends who have not succeeded with 

 it, to give it another trial on this stock. To all who wish for a really first-class 

 grape, I can heartily recommend it. 



What a magnificent-looking grape is Gros Colnian ! The berries are truly 

 like large Orleans Plums. I had a gentleman from London through the vineries 

 to-day (October 9), when we compared tliis variety with the Black Hamburgh. At 

 present it will not do to eat, but at the beginning of the year, when the Hamburghs 

 are over, it will be acceptable. Though a thin-skinned grape, it appears to be a 

 good keeper. Strange to say, the wasps have eaten more of this variety than of 

 the Muscats in the same house — I had given them credit for better judgment. 



