THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. Ill 



the black kinds are decidedly superior in many respects. Our selec- 

 tion for the greenhouse must rest with Foster's Seedling and Buck- 

 land Sweetioater. The first is especially free, with large bunches, but 

 rather small berries. The last is now known to be one of the finest 

 white grapes, being large both in bunch and berry, and of excellent 

 flavour. All the above will do well together in the same house, aud 

 supposing eight vines to be planted, I should prefer three each of 

 the two black kinds, and one each of the whites. The Royal Ascot 

 is rather dear just now, and where that is a matter for serious con- 

 sideration, substitute the Black Hamburgh for it. 



The table may be supplied with Black Hamburghs every day in the 

 year where there is proper convenience for forcing, but as that is not 

 the case everywhere, we are bound to fall back for the latest and 

 earliest supply upon good keeping kinds. As I have already said, 

 the Frankenthal is one of the best of the Hamburghs, if not the best 

 for exhibition, aud quite equal in flavour and productiveness to any 

 of the other forms of this fine old grape. The berries of this, when 

 well grown, are slightly oval, and present a beautifully hammered 

 appearance. Tbe Black Hamburgh must enter largely into the 

 planting of all vineries that are to supply fruit from March to the 

 end of November. It can be had up to Christmas, but it is rather a 

 troublesome affair to keep it until then, and I prefer late-keeping 

 sorts after the time specified. Without a shadow of doubt, it is the 

 finest summer grape we yet have. 



In the Golden Champion we have a, noble companion to the 

 Black Hamburgh. The last is a grand grape without an equal 

 amongst the varieties that will do with the Hamburghs. The bunches 

 and berries are of a startling size, and for competitive purposes, none 

 of the white grapes (with the exception of the Muscats), can stand 

 against it. For summer work, Buckland Sweetwater must have a 

 prominent place, being iu every way superior to the old variety, the 

 large well-shouldered bunches of the former bearing a stronger re- 

 semblance to well-finished Hamburghs than anything else. For the 

 earliest house, the Old Sweetwater is perhaps preferable, as it is one 

 of the earliest grapes we have, and fair-sized bunches of it are by no 

 means despicable. But in all houses that are to ripen after April, I 

 should prefer the Buckland. 



The Golden Hamburgh is not sufficiently rich and vinous for a 

 well-educated palate to be tolerated in a select collection, though it 

 is a handsome grape when done well. In the Royal Vineyard, 

 Trentham Black, and Muscat Hamburgh, we have varieties that are 

 too shy and uncertain to be worth growing, while we have so many 

 good sure croppers to pick from. The Boyal Ascot is, of course, 

 admirable in the general vinery, but I think scarcely wanted where 

 a good crop of Black Hamburghs is a comparatively easy task in the 

 hands of its manager. I am not able to say anything about its 

 keeping qualities, but I am inclined to think that, as the texture of 

 the skiu is rather leathery, it will hang well. 



Black Prince and West St. Peter are both good grapes, and hang 

 well. The Muscat of Alexandria is still without its equal for flavour. 

 Its drawbacks consist in its requiring a large amount of fire-heat to 



