•i8 7 o.] GARDEN RECORDS. 317 



of Black Hamburgs, many of which were ready for cutting by the middle of 

 May. At one end, grafted on the Black Hamburg, is a rod of the Golden 

 Champion, a fine new Grape, that has in this instance large berries, but small 

 bunches. It is, however, not yet ripe. 



Following this is a second house of Vines that were started with heat at the 

 end of January. Here the fruit is still quite green, but will probably be ripe 

 about the end of June. The produce is heavy, and all that could be desired. 

 The sorts in this house are the Muscat Hamburg, Black Hamburg, and Buck- 

 land Sweetwater. This is again succeeded by another house of later Vines, that 

 is left to start in the spring without the aid of artificial heat, and which will 

 carry fruit for the table until the end of November. Here pot Vines are again 

 brought into requisition. As the lower portion of the house is filled with young 

 ones only, that do not cover the roof, a shelf has been erected through the 

 centre of the house, and upon this was placed a row of fine young canes in pots, 

 that, being full of fruit, effectually utilise the whole of the glass. These will 

 not be required next year, as the permanent Vines will then cover the whole 

 surface. In this house is that highly -flavoured Grape, the Duchess of Buc- 

 cleuch ; also two late Grapes, Mrs Pince's Black Muscat and Lady Downes ; 

 and inarched upon the Black Prince, that new and superb Grape, the Mad- 

 resfield Court ; this will fruit next year. Still another and last vinery, used 

 expressly for later work. This house, like the preceding one, has received as 

 yet the aid of no artificial heat, but will have that assistance when the fruit is 

 beginning to colour. The sorts are Lady Downes and Muscat of Alexandria — 

 the best of all our white Grapes — and the bunches are very fine and promising. 

 They are allowed to hang here, for the winter supply, until the 1st of February, 

 when the bunches are cut, with a good portion of the branch attached, the cue 

 end of the latter being immediately sealed with wax, to prevent the exhaustion 

 of the sap. These bunches are carefully hung in the fruit-room, and keep well 

 and furnish a supply of Grapes till the next forced crop is ready for use. 



The Pine-Apple is always in season at Mottisfont. Two large pits are devoted 

 to its early culture, and also a large stove for fruiting it in. As soon as a fruit is cut, 

 another plant is put into its place, and thus the supply is incessant. The kinds 

 chiefly grown are the Queen, Black Jamaica, Providence, and the Cayennes. 

 The fruit now ripening are fine samples, and Mr Jones's successes as a Pine-grower 

 have often been attested at fruit exhibitions far and near. Another early fruit is 

 the Fig, that has a house devoted to its culture. Here the back wall is quite cov- 

 ered with a fine tree of Lee's Perpetual, that yields three crops during the year, 

 the first of which was ready for gathering on the 6th of May. This early crop is 

 borne on the old wood of last year, the second from the first young growth, and 

 this growth being stopped, another growth and crop follow. At the end of the 

 house, and in the bed of it, are others planted, and amongst them are standing 

 some very forward Peach-trees in pots, full of fruit, that will speedily yield the 

 first gathering of this delicious fruit. 



Melons are planted out in pits at Christmas, and first cut from during May. 

 Other pits or frames are also filled for succession, and the supply of this fine fruit 

 is continued until the end of the year. The sorts in cultivation this year for the 

 earliest are Golden Queen and Bousie's Incomparable, both green-fleshed varie- 

 ties ; and for succession, Broadland's scarlet-fleshed and Malvern Hall. 



Strawberries in pots are grown extensively, reaching in number from 800 to 

 1000. The earliest are Black Prince and Keen's seedling, followed by Trollope's 

 Victoria and Sir Charles Napier. These are grown upon shelves in nearly all 

 the fruit-houses, every available space being utilised. The first gathering was 



