62 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



as long, if not longer, than those ripened six weeks later. What has 

 caused the complaint this winter of Grapes not keeping well 1 The 

 want of sun and heat to finish them properly the past cold, wet, sun- 

 less autumn. All the fire-heat that could be given did not make up for 

 the rays of the sun. Our late house was quite ripe by the beginning 

 of September, and I have scarcely lost a berry; and they are as fresh 

 and plump now — the middle of January — as need be. All those sorts 

 that have been subjected to a high temperature are also high in quality, 

 even Muscats and Frontignac, Sec; and what can be worse than green 

 Muscats 1 How often do we see at exhibitions early in the season Mus- 

 cats quite green, which have perhaps been grown along with Hamburgs 

 for this special object, but which, if the framers of many of the schedules 

 of tlower-shows were to adhere to their rules, would be discarded as unfit 

 for exhibition, far less competition, and rightly so ! Even the Hamburg is 

 not so high in flavour when grown in what is termed a cool house. What 

 has more particularly led me to call attention to this is, that I have Bar- 

 barossa and Trebbiana in a Muscat-house, which is generally started 

 about the middle of February and ripens in August. The Muscats have 

 that fine amber colour which invariably proves that high flavour is not want- 

 ing. Trebbiana was this last season even higher coloured than usual, and 

 the flavour much appreciated by some. This variety we cut earlier than 

 Barbarossa. The latter was allowed to hang until December, although, 

 as far as ripening is concerned, it could have been cut in September. 

 When sent to table, there being a large party, one of the gentlemen, 

 being a great connoisseur of Grapes, could not make out what Grape 

 it was. When told the treatment it had received, his answer was, 

 " From the quality and flavour of the fruit, I can uphold every word you 

 say." Having sent a few to the Editor of the 'Gardener' from the same 

 Vine, his verdict was the same. If Lady Downes, Alicant, Seaclifi'e 

 Black, Madresfield Court, and Mrs Pince, were all, say, started in 

 March, and treated with a Muscat-house temperature all through the 

 season, I feel perfectly satisfied that tlie flavour would be higher ; also 

 there would not he the so common complaints against their thick 

 skins. Mrs Pince, treated thus, will rise higher in estimation than it 

 stands at present, for it has then a decided smack of the Muscat, but 

 not when newly ripened. Then there is Eaisin de Calabria, often 

 seen in late houses, similar to the green Muscat spoken of. This I 

 have at present as fine in colour as the finest finished Muscat, and at 

 this season it is most useful when a quantity of dishes are required. 

 There is another point that I think well worthy of consideration — 

 namely, allowing the fruit to hang so long on the Vines. I believe it to 

 be as injurious to them, if not more so, as early forcing ; for a large 

 crop hanging up to the month of February and March must, to a 



