THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 369 



ningtons Pearmaln, Kerry Pippin, Devonshire Quarrenden, Si/Jce Mouse 

 Hussef, JReinette Jaune Tardive, Winter Pearmain. 



Cheeeies. — Black Tartarian, May Duke, Early Prolific, Late 

 Duke. 



Peaks. — Jargonelle, Williams's Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne of 

 Jersey, Beurre Deil, JJrhaniste, Thompson's, Passe Colmar, Gliau- 

 montel, Glou Morceau, Beurre Hance, Monarch. 



Plums. — Early ProliJic,Smith's Orleans, Victoria, Oidlins Golden 

 Perdrigon, Violet Haiif, Prince Englebert. 



HOAV TO KEEP LATE GEAPES. 



BY GEOEGE SMITH. 



[EPHAPS it may be useful to many readers of the Ploeal 

 AVoKLD to know that ripe grapes may be kept in the 

 most perfect condition for a very considerable period 

 after they are removed from the vines. It is a very 

 simple matter, this keeping grapes with the ends of 

 the stalks, or, more properly speaking, the end of the lateral, 

 inserted in a bottle filled with water, although some writers would 

 fain have us believe that it was full of difficulties. The laterals 

 upon which the bunches are borne are cut off about six or eight 

 inches below the junction of the bunch, and then inserted in bottles 

 filled with water. Ordinary soda-water bottles are the best, and to 

 maintain the purity of the water, a lump of charcoal should be put 

 in each before or after they are filled with water, and, for the sake 

 of greater security, they should be suspended by means of rather 

 stout copper wire. An ordinary fruit room will be in every way 

 suitable for the grapes, but a dry room, from which the frost can be 

 excluded in the dwelling-house, is, perhaps, the most to be desired. 

 Where the number of bunches is large, it will be found more con- 

 venient if a few stout pieces of wood are fixed across the room at a 

 convenient height to hold the bottles. There are two essential 

 points in keeping grapes by this system ; one is, to leave all the 

 wood beyond the bunch, and the other, to put the end of the stalk 

 in the water immediately it is separated from the vine. The only 

 attention required afterwards consists in examining them occa- 

 sionally, and removing all berries that evince traces of incipient 

 decay, and in keeping the room dry and excluding the frost. The 

 atmosphere must not be too dry, or the berries will shrivel ; and, on 

 the contrary, if too moist, a portion will become mouldy, and soon 

 spoil the bunch. 



The grapes may be kept by this system for a long time ; as 

 long, in fact, as they can be kept upon the vines. They are not 

 improved, although they are not deteriorated, by being kept in 

 water. Nevertheless, a knowledge of the system will be found of 

 immense value in all gardens in which grapes are grown. Bv 

 cutting now all grapes that will be consumed before Christmas, the 

 vineries can be filled with bedding or other half-hardy plants ; and 

 by cutting the later crops soon after Christmas, the vine can be 



December. ^4: 



