412 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



MUSCAT CHAMPION, 



To a considerable extent this Grape has been lost sight of, and it 

 is not often seen. We hear of its being good at some places — 

 as, for instance, at Sandringham, where we believe it is well grown 

 and very highly appreciated. Our own experience of it dates back to 

 before it was sent out ; and as a line-flavoured very large-berried Grape, 

 and a strong-growing Vine, we have a high opinion of it. With us it 

 never has made very large bunches, but the berries are immense, and 

 it is a most luscious juicy Grape, with a decided trace of Muscat flavour. 

 It colours very much as the Grizzly Frontignac does in the same border ; 

 and certainly, if it 'were a more decided colour, it would generally 

 be better liked. We cannot say that it deserves more, all things con- 

 sidered, than just a place in moderate-sized collections of Vines. 



GOLDEN CHAMPION. 



The prospects of this Grajoe are improving. We have always main- 

 tained that such w^ould be the case, and after a longer experience of it 

 than any grower, except the raiser of it, we will try to represent it with- 

 out the bias, which some might naturally attach to any opinion of ours ; 

 for if this Grape is what some have represented it to be, no good word 

 of ours will save it from being forgotten. We first planted it at Archer- 

 field in 1864, in an old vinery in which Grapes were generally ripened 

 in April. It fruited in 1865, and from that experience of it to the 

 present our opinion of it has not altered ; and to all who have any 

 doubt of the noble appearance, the immense berry, and strong-growing 

 free-bearing qualities of this Vine, we can only say, Come and see it, 

 under by no means favourable circumstances, growing in a low semi- 

 pit with Black Hamburgs, and in a border not intended to be per- 

 manent. We know of no other white Grape that will thoroughly ripen 

 with Hamburgs, with which we would displace the Golden Cham- 

 pion, either for freeness of fruiting, magnificent appearance, or flavour. 

 It may also be stated that we saw it in July last, at Keele Hall, on by 

 no means a strong Vine planted in 1870, and its appearance there was 

 quite equal to what is said of it above ; it was, indeed, the most con- 

 spicuous sample in the same vinery, and the whole were fine for their 

 age. It is also to be seen splendid, as compared to any other Grapes 

 in the same vinery, grafted on a by no means strong Bowood Muscat, at 

 Langlee ; here there is a rod about 6 feet long with eleven bunches on 

 it. We hear of its being fine at Sir Henry Seaton Stewart's of Tough, 

 and at Lord Abercromby's, and other places that could be named. Some 

 unfortunate circumstances connected w4th the plants that w^ere first dis- 

 tributed caused the impression that it is a weak grower, instead of which 

 it is one of the strongest-growing of Vines, whether on its own roots or 



