THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 275 
our Muscat house with a little fire-heat on the 1st of March, and 
although the district is favourable, I! generally have to turn on the 
heat to finish off such varieties as Mrs. Pince’s Muscat and Lady 
Downe’s Seedling. This is done if it is found that they are not 
thoroughly ripe by the beginning of September. In the case of those 
started naturally it is advisable to apply fire-heat by the middle of 
August, for they keep best when they are ripe by the middle of 
September ; and unless they are well ripened it is useless to attempt 
to keep them for any length of time. It may be well to remind the 
reader that all the thick-skinned black grapes are very deceiving in 
appearance. They frequently are so intensely black, and to the 
eye appear quite ripe, but on tasting them they will be found 
uneatable because of their sourness. When this is the case at the 
end of August, and it is desired to keep them through the winter, 
artificial heat must be applied in earnest when the external tempera- 
ture is not sufficient to keep the house up to 85° by day and 65° by 
night. In some cases, where the vines were started late, the bunches 
may be thinned out, if too thick; unless all late-keeping grapes are 
rather thin, it is impossible to keep them free from damp. 
To me it seems a great pity that late grapes are not held in 
higher esteem than they are at present. The fashion seems to be 
to devote any number of houses to the production of grapes, 
peaches, and melons, so as to produce a great bulk of fruit, and 
make a grand show for a month or two at the end of the summer, 
and ther to be destitute the remaining part of the year. It is true 
I have no right to find fault if it suits the taste of others, but I 
cannot help saying I do not think the plan a good one; nor do I 
think that the most satisfactory results are obtained from the garden 
when such is the case. Some people suppose that a late house of 
grapes are a luxury belonging only to the wealthy, but such need 
not be the case. ; 
As to the best varieties of late-keeping grapes, the choice is not 
extensive, but still there is sufficient for all practical purposes. 
Of white Muscat grapes, the Muscat of Alexandria still holds its own 
against all comers. Of black grapes which are thoroughly adapted 
for late keeping, I look upon the Alicante and Mrs. Pince’s Muscat 
as decidedly the best ; both are noble grapes when well finished, and 
as they may be kept until the month of April in good condition, we 
cannot desire anything better. On account of its better setting 
qualities, Mrs. Pince’s Muscat is perhaps to be recommended in 
preference to the Alicante for those whose experience has not been 
extensive in this branch of gardening. In the hands of a master, 
and with the roots in an inside border, Lady Downe’s Seedling is a 
desirable variety, as on account of its thick skin it will hang longer 
than the others where the conditions for keeping them are less 
favourable. But although it is a vigorous grower, I find in a rather 
heavy soil it is inclined to crack if the roots are exposcd to all the 
autumn rains. 
To keep late grapes in a satisfactory condition after they are 
ripe, a house must be entirely devoted to them, the atmosphere must 
be kept free from damp by a judicious system of ventilation, and 
September. 
