98 



JOURNAL OF HOETICDLTUBE AND OOTTAGH GAEDENER. 



[ Angast 8, ISST. 



bnrghs to market as soon as they are quite black, although they 

 may at the same time not be quite ripe. Those bunches 

 which do not colour well must remain until they are quite ripe, 

 consequently they are better-flavoured than the black Grapes 

 from the same house ; but this would not bo the case if they 

 were all cut at the same time. Now, it is the same with ex- 

 hibitors ; as soon as the berries are black the bunches are fit 

 to cut for exhibition, while they would be better of being allowed 

 to hang for ten days or a fortnight longer, if they had to appear 

 on the dinner-table. Here, in a house of Hamburghs that were 

 lipe in the last week of May, there are hanging Grapes of 

 several different shades of colour, and those nearest approach- 

 ing to black are the best-flavoured, and the flesh is also firmer; 

 ■while in an adjoining house there are Hamburghs just ripening 

 off, and some of the bunches are already quite black, but are 

 not yet fit to send to table ; and on comparing the berries with 

 the brown ones in the earliest house, they are not yet fit to be 

 matched with them as regards flavour. I think if comparisons 

 were made in this way, the prize for flavour would at least 

 generally be given to those Grapes possessing the highest colour. 



I perceive that the Royal Ascot Grape receives a high 

 character both in your Journal, and from some of your con- 

 temporaries. I could not judge of its merits when I saw it ex- 

 hibited, as the bunches were crowded together in a basket. One 

 can judge much better of the merits or demerits of a variety, 

 new or old, if the bunches are laid out singly on boards. 



The Trentham Black Grape here is a stronger grower than 

 the Black Hamburgh, but the berries do not set so well. Would 

 that have any effect on the setting of the berries of another 

 sort inarched on it? — J. Douglas. 



I AGKEE with Mr. Thomson in his remarks on judging Grapes. 

 I consider that all ought to be tasted by judges before these 

 decide upon their awards. Mr. Thomson would give three 

 points to flavour, and I should say flavour ought to go a great 

 way in the judging of all kinds of fruit. 



I think Mr. Dixon's observations about the colouring of 

 Grapes are very true, especially as respects the inferiority in 

 colour when manure water is used. I have found this to be 

 the case myself. I have grown large bunches for the last seven 

 years, and have used manure water from the farmyard, and 

 they have generally been of a bad colour, but as for flavour they 

 could not be surpassed. I have gained many first prizes at 

 several horticultural exhibitions when others have had smaller 

 bunches, but jet black, and when my employer has had the 

 badly coloured Grapes on his table they have been preferred to 

 some from the same house not so large in bunch, but all that 

 could be desired in respect to colour. Gentlemen have told me 

 these were not so sweet but better-looking. What has the eye to 

 do with taste ? For instance : How often do we see at horti- 

 cultural shows a large Melon which, though apparently a first- 

 class fruit, when cut tastes more like a Turnip, or much 

 worse ? I believe that over- cropping Vines prevents the Grapes 

 colouring well. 



I do not see how Mr. Thomson's ten points can be im- 

 proved. I should say flavour ought to be the most important 

 point. 



As regards Mr. Alliston's remarks, I cannot perceive how 

 judges can decide without tasting the fruit, and I do not think 

 employers would object to two or three berries being cut off for 

 such a purpose, as it could be done without disfiguriug the 

 bunches. All societies should state in their schedules what 

 Grapes should be shown. Hamburghs ought to form a class 

 by themselves, and that would do away with Mr. Alliston's diffi- 

 culty. — W. Hat.t.rtt, Cossington, Bridgwater. 



Being a Black Hamburgh of the deepest dye, polished with 

 the best Day & Martin my kind master can procure, and 

 finding by the opinions of some correspondents to your valu- 

 able Journal my supremacy is in danger of a severe encounter 

 with a formidable army, a much larger force as to numbers 

 than mine is, nevertheless, I do hope to rouse up the few blue 

 blacks to stand up for their rights and not kt invaders wrest 

 them from us without a severe struggle. I think there should 

 be men chosen for deciding our merits that should be able to 

 do so without mutilating us in a show tent. As to a Mill Hill 

 taking the laurels from me, I will never countenance a society 

 that selects judges who are not able to tell by the eye, with- 

 ont tasting, what variety of Grape is brought against me. Much 

 has been said and written lespectiug me. I have been from 

 time immemorial extolled and admired, and have always done 

 my duty with good treatment. Just at this time, and when j 



looking for fresh honours from so much noise about table 

 decorations, to have my bloom spoilt in this way is more thao 

 I can endure. 



Let reds say what they may, I consider my fast colour and 

 perfect bloom gives me the preference, and I am ready at 

 any time with my true dress on to show battle against all the 

 wishy-washy reds brought against me. 



I should be very proud to have my place amongst all the 

 nobles of our land. I am found there occasionally, and think 

 if my habitation with them were more general, I should not be 

 assailed as I am at the present time. — Black Hambuhgh wiib 



A GOOD THICK ElOOM. 



A GIGAKTIC TREE. 



In travelling from La Victoria, a small town in the province 

 of Aragua, towards Puerto-Cabello, in Venezuela, the road leads, 

 in part, along the northern shore of the Lake of Valencia, 

 situated in a longitudinal valley nearly 1500 feet above the 

 level of the sea. This valley is of unsurpassed fertility, and 

 Humboldt, the great traveller, calls it one of the most charm- 

 ing realms he has ever seen in all his travels. 



In the middle of the road above mentioned, three miles west 

 of Turmero, stands the famous Zamang, an enormous tree, 

 belonging to the sub-order Cfesalpinese. It is not so much on 

 account of the height or the dimensions of the trunk for which 

 this tree is celebrated ; but it is the size, and especially the 

 horizontal diameter of its head, that attracts our attention. 



Its head is somewhat of the shape of an opened umbrella, 

 and covers very nearly an acre of ground. In 1857 I measured 

 the head in its greatest diameter from L.S.E. to W.N.W. most 

 carefully, and found it to be 206 feet 11 inches. Fifty years 

 preceding it was found by Humboldt to measure in its greatest 

 diameter 19'2 feet, French measure, which is equal to about 

 204 feet 6 inches English. Hence we see that this extraor- 

 dinary tree has, within fifty-seven years, increased the hori- 

 zontal diameter of its head only by 2* feet, from which we may 

 infer that it is of a good old age. The natives assert, more- 

 over, that as far back as the discovery of the country by the 

 Spaniards, three and a half centuries ago, the Zamang was, 

 even at that early day. reputed for its enormous size. At the 

 time I saw it, it was but thinly covered with leaves, and seemed 

 to lack vigour of growth. The natives hold it in high vene- 

 ration, and it was against the law to break even the smallest twig . 



Besides their own enormous weight the branches sustain the 

 additional weight of an astonishing mass of succulent heavy 

 epiphytes and parasites, such as Bromeliads, Orchids, Cacti, 

 Mistletoes, and fleshy Piperacea. — A. Fenhler (in American 

 Gardener's Monthly). 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



AcQCSi 6th. 



Fruit Committee. — Mr. Cox, gardener to W. Wells, Esq., Ked* 

 leaf, sent a fine dieh of Bigarreau de Mezel, wliicli received tbo first 

 prize for the best dish of the newer varieties of Cherries. Mr. Karley, 

 gardener to F. Pryor, Esq., Bigswell, sent in competition for Grcen- 

 Seslied Melons Dr. Hogg, which, being of very fine flavour, received 

 the first prize. Mr. Grieve, Cnlford, sent Queen Emma, which was 

 over-ripe, and was, in fact, in a state of decay. From Mr. Rivers 

 came frnit of tlio Late Black Biganean Cherry, very large and very 

 firm in the flesh ; the stone rather large. It received a first-class 

 certificate. He also sent fruit of a seedling from Early York Peach, 

 with round glands on the leaves : the flavour was vei*j' delicious, and 

 the flesh tender. It is named Rivera's Early York. It likewise re- 

 ceived a first-class certificate. Mr. J. Beach, gardener to C. J. Her- 

 ries, Esq., Sevenoaks, received a special ceiiificate for an excellent 

 dish of Morello Cherries. 



Mr. Wilkie, gardener to Mr. McHenry, Addison Road, Kensington, 

 exhibited Lady Downe's and Black AUc.ante Grapes ; and from Mr. 

 Standish came fruit of bis Royal Ascot Grape in fine condition. Th» 

 decision of the Sub-committee awarding a first-class ceitificate to this 

 Grape was confirmed. Mr. Henderson, of Thoresby, exhibited Thoresby 

 Queen Pine, a large handsome fruit, which, however, was found to bo 

 very deficient in flavour ; and Mr. Forsyth, gardener to Baron Roths- 

 child, Gunuersbury, sent a handsome fruit of Smooth-leaved Cayenne. 



Mr. J. Beach, gardener to C. J. Herries, Esq., Sevenoaks, also sent 

 three lUahes of handsome Gooseberries ; Mr. Turner, of Slough, a 

 disb of Black Naples Currants, the berries of which were of largo size ; 

 and Mr. W. Nichol, gardener to T. H. Powell, Esq., Drinkstono Park, 

 Bury St. Edmunds, fruit of Passiflora quadrangularis and edulis, 

 perfectly ripe ; the former was certainly the preferable. Mr. Poynter, 

 of Taunton, sent two varieties of Peas — one, named Pearce's Gar- 

 dener's Delight, which proved to be Ne Plus Ultra ; and the other 



