i88i.] NOTES FROM THE PAPERS. 555 



any other animal ; and if the operations of the Annelids are not too 

 much disturbed, a very considerable dressing of rich mould will be 

 raised to the surface in a short while. Their worst fault is, that they 

 are always most active in that way where they are least needed — that 

 is, in a rich soil ; and gardeners would gladly dispense with their services 

 under such circumstances. Whatever services they may render, how- 

 ever, by their additions to the virgin mould of the earth, it is certain 

 that worms are not regarded with favour near the roots of choice 

 plants in pots or growing in the bed ; and we cannot remember an in- 

 stance in which their operations in such quarters were attended with 

 any benefit, but the contrary. 



A correspondent of ' Gardening,' writing on the subject of market 

 Grapes in autumn, says that — 



"In spite of the large importations of foreign Grapes into this country, 

 home-grown Hamburgs of good quality still command remunerative prices, 

 and I think that I may with safety say that any grower who may not wish to 

 be troubled with keeping his produce until a late period in the year, when 

 naturally higher prices are to he looked for, may calculate upon a profitable 

 return if he should determine upon marketing his fruit as soon as ripe. Let 

 it be understood, however, that I am speaking of good Grapes only ; for bad 

 Grapes are often a complete drug in the market, and neither fruiterers nor 

 salesmen care to be troubled with them." 



Notwithstanding the fact that Grapes last week were quoted in 

 Covent Garden as low as 6d. per lb., there is truth in these remarks. 

 A well-known Covent Garden man said once to the writer, " Good 

 Grapes can always find a remunerative market in Covent Garden, if 

 delivered in good condition." They require to be good, however, now- 

 adays, and the majority of samples are indifferent. The same writer 

 in your contemporary points out a fact which is not always sufficiently 

 realised — viz., that from the time a bunch of Grapes is quite ripe, a pro- 

 cess of deterioration goes on. Hamburgs especially spoil quickly ; and 

 a curious fact in relation to this Grape is, that no matter how black 

 the berries may be, they turn red again after hanging for a time, and 

 lose flavour as well. No other variety has this fault that we know of. 

 The Alicante, Lady Downes, and other late and thick-skinned kinds 

 retain their colour to the last ; and the bloom of the berries, which 

 early in the season rubs off with the slightest touch, '' sets," and in 

 spring will endure considerable friction without injury. All those, 

 too, who hold their late crops with the object of getting better prices, 

 must also lay in their account for loss in the shape of decayed berries» 

 and a very sensible reduction of weight in the bunches, which grow 

 lighter the longer they hang. 



In a week or two, or by the time this is in print, the exhibition of 

 smoke-preventing appliances for domestic fireplaces, &c., will be held at 



