3i8 THE GARDENER. [Aug. 



May till the beginning of July, according to the season. It attains a 

 height of from 8 to 10 feet in this country, and when well grown 

 has a most symmetrical appearance. 



The situation best adapted for its growth is one fully exposed to the 

 sun, and so well drained that there is no possibility of water stagnat- 

 ing at the roots : a dry sloping bank or raised bed suits it admirably. 

 It is most impatient of wetness or excessive moisture ; under such cir- 

 cumstances it soon gets stunted-like, and rarely forms flower-buds. 

 The best variety of this species in cultivation is MyrtifoUu, a miniature 

 form, yet as indispensable as its parent to any collection. 



Hugh Eraser. 



GRAPE - SETTING. 



This subject has of late been discussed to a considerable extent in the 

 various horticultural periodicals. Some of the writers, notably Mr 

 Simpson of Wortley, has been the advocate of a liberal use of the 

 syringe during the time the Grapes are in bloom ; and I at once admit 

 that Mr Simpson's success as a fruit-grower entitles his opinion on this 

 subject to the highest respect and consideration. Others, and amongst 

 them the writer, think that a dry atmosphere conduces most to the 

 setting of the shyer sorts, such as Muscats, Lady Downes, West St 

 Peter's, Mrs Pince, Black Morocco, and Cannon Hall Muscat, inas- 

 much as in a dry atmosphere the pollen disperses itself with greater 

 freedom than in a damp one. The farmer is familiar with the fact 

 that heavy rains falling on his wheat when it is in bloom — i.e., when 

 the pollen is bursting — is against its setting, as compared with hot dry 

 weather ; and may there not be some analogy between Wheat and 

 Grapes in this respect 1 I think there is between all plants. As to 

 results, as far as my experience and observation have gone, I am certain 

 that there is no difficulty in getting any Grape I know to set well in- a 

 dry atmosphere ; that is, as dry an atmosphere as we find in a vinery 

 where the steaming and watering the varieties is only suspended when 

 the Grapes come into bloom, to be resumed as soon as they are set, 

 except the Cannon Hall Muscat. Occasionally I have seen this 

 Grape set well when no special precautions were taken with it ; but as 

 a rule, all I have tried with it has failed to satisfy me. Its frequent 

 failure results from an entirely different cause to that which leads to 

 failure in, for instance, the Black Morocco. The pollen of the former 

 is not only deficient in quantity, but the female organ has a sort of 

 gum over its point, which protects it from the fertilising influence of 

 either its own or the pollen of any other Grape. Not so with the lat- 



