1G8 THE GARDENER. [April 



close atmosphere is better, the roots will thus lay hold of the new 

 healthy soil ; but a cold drenching at the roots at once is a double 

 check. Soil should be moist before it is used in the pots, and the ball 

 of earth round the roots should also be in a moist healthy state ; a dry 

 hard ball at potting time is most injurious, if it does not kill the plant. 

 Get boxes and cases ready for window-gardening ; they may be filled 

 with good turfy loam, resting on good drainage, and the plants arranged 

 to taste, and grown on under protection till they are wanted. Look 

 well after green-fly, thrips, and all other insects among plants. All 

 plants requiring heat to grow them should now be potted, unless they 

 are floweriiig or coming into flower ; a mixture of peat, turfy loam, 

 sand, and charcoal suits most of them. 



GROS COLMAN GRAPE. 



Should any variety of late Grape in particular necessitate the practical appli- 

 cation of Mr Henderson's appreciated remarks on " Papening late Grapes " at 

 page Gl, it certainly is Gros Colman. 



When thoroughly ripened and finely finished, in appearance as a Black Grape 

 it has no equal. When badly matured it is but an indifferent variety. The 

 too frequent defectiveness of this noble variety is entirely obviated by an earlier 

 and longer subjection to a higher temperature than is generally applied to late 

 varieties. Though less in size of berry than the "Duke of Buccleuch," 

 yet individually they are very large. When grown under the customary 

 practice of late starting, or natural starting, as it is often plausibly termed— 

 that is, the withholding of fire-heat until the advance of genial weather pro- 

 motes growth, little signs of vitality are observable until well into April 

 or even May. By the month of Sejitember colouring is not well begun ; 

 and however much fire-heat may be employed after that time, they never 

 acquire that degree of perfection gained by those started in March, when 

 colouring commences at a much earlier date, under the influence of that 

 amount of sun -heat indispensable to the complete ripening of Grapes that are 

 intended to remain in a presentable condition during winter. Where the sav- 

 ing of fuel is aimed at, early-ripened Grapes require far less firing while keep- 

 ing, which more than recompenses for the first outlay. Fire-heat, on the other 

 hand, fails in preventing shiivelling and decay in the case of badly-ripened crops. 

 My object is to commend Gros Colman as being one of the very few Vines of 

 Continental origin possessing sufficient merits to secure for itself a place, and 

 warrant its extensive cultivation, in our British collections. Gros Colman, next 

 to Lady Downes, is the most worthy of a place in every vinery where late-keep- 

 ing Grapes are grown. Its handsome compact round bunches, large globular 

 berries, wdth a peculiarly palatable soft rich flavour, with skins as thin as those 

 of a Hamburg, and retaining a plump condition of berry for a long time, 

 render it a late Grape of great value. 



Previous to this Vine being extensively planted at the Tweed Vineyard, 1 " 

 am not aware that it existed in any quantity in Scotland. I understand 

 its captivating appearance as seen at the Vineyard during last season has 

 created a great demand for it. J. M. 



