ACCOUNT OF THE " BLACK PKINCE HAMBUEGH " GEABE. 45 



same cross, grew the first year in pots, with artificial heat, but 

 were then turned out into the open ground without being trained 

 to a wall. Here they remained, and the annual shoots cut down 

 to one of two eyes, till I found the end of the summer shoots 

 and the cultivated appearance of the leaves began to throw out 

 tendrils with a few flowers. Cuttings were then taken from the 

 flowering end of the shoots, and planted against a south wall. 

 They came into bearing soon after this, and one or two of the 

 most promising were two years ago planted in my vinery. But 

 the wood produced, till this year, was small ; now it is become 

 more vigorous and strong. It ripens earlier than the Ham- 

 burgh, and colours with less heat and light. The plant from 

 which I gathered the bunch you will receive was planted at the 

 east end of a lean-to-roofed house, and only got a little morning 

 sun, and that but for a short period, owing to the shade of a 

 large willow tree. It had no top sun-light from the roof glass, 

 being under the shade of a rafter vine. You can therefore not 

 judge what the flavour will be under these disadvantages. I 

 expect the bunch and berry will be double its present size when 

 trained under the roof glass, and the wood becomes strong. 



We have had the coldest and most cloudy season I ever 

 remember for the vines on the open walls. Still I think my 

 new seedling varieties will ripen, if we have no severe frosts 

 before the end of the month. I have named the new variety 

 the " Black Prince Hamburgh." 



Pitmaston, near Worcester^ Oct. 13, 1847. 



Note by Mr. Tliompson. — The grape in question is a seedling, 

 raised between the Black Hamburgh, which was the female 

 parent, and the Black Prince. 



The bunch weighed 1 lb. 3 oz. It was loosely formed, with 

 long shoulders ; and long, rather slender, pedicels. The berries 

 are oval, being aboixt nine-tenths of an inch in diameter from 

 the insertion of the stalk to the opposite end ; and eight-tenths 

 in the transverse direction. The colour is a blue-black ; in this 

 respect resembling the Black Prince more than its female 

 parent. The juice is more purple than that of the Hamburgh, 

 and is sugary and rich. Seeds, two or three in each berry. The 

 variety deserves to be propagated. 



Oct. 21, 1847. 



