1873] ABOUT ADIANTUMS. 561 



ing. It is my intention to find the most active roots of the delin- 

 quent Champion, and place in front of them a quantity of stones 

 and brick-rubbish rammed hard, which will cause each tapeworm- 

 like root to separate into scores of threads before they force them- 

 selves through the barrier. By this means I secured fine fruit from 

 a Golden Hambro, which yielded plentiful supplies for a number of 

 years, and kept quite as well as the Black Hambro. 



We are too ready in casting off a Grape which will not attain 

 perfection under the same treatment as the Black Hambro. At an 

 extensive place a few miles from here, the gardener was to root out 

 his Lady Downes Vines because they did not behave well in the 

 same house where Alicants were excellent. There was, no doubt, 

 a cause for this, though for the present it remains in obscurity. 

 Still I would be inclined to try and find out the cause before destroy- 

 ing the growth of years, and intend trying a few experiments before 

 I destroy the " Champions," so well established here before they fell 

 into my hands. M. Temple. 



Blenheim. 



I BEG to offer my opinion of this Grape, it being" one I very often 

 meet with in my travels. I cannot help thinking that the reason 

 some people fail in its culture is owing to their not ripening it early 

 in the season while there is plenty of sun-heat. Eipened early, it 

 will hang until it shrivels and becomes a perfect sweetmeat. I have 

 this season seen it doing well with Mr R. Gilbert of Burghley, and 

 many other gardeners speak highly of it. I tasted some berries 

 grown in the Muscat-house at Chiswick, and they were most de- 

 licious, — a remark which applies to others grown at ^ewark-on-Trent, 

 Notts, and sent me by ]\Ir W. P. Ayres. ^Golden Champion will 

 always be grown for its superb appearance and excellent flavour, 

 while the only fault its worst friends can find with it is an inclina- 

 tion to spot under some modes of treatment. That it is possible to 

 grow it without spotting we know, and it deserves a place in every 

 early Vinery. F. B. W. 



[Nearly all Grapes require special treatment, and, of course, so does Golden 

 Champion. — Ed.] 



ABOUT ADIAISTTUMS. 



Some people are passionately fond of Ferns, — lovers of all kinds, 

 whether exotic or indigenous, whether of plain appearance or the 

 most beautiful. We doubt if there be many, comparatively, who are not 



