34 Foreign A'^olices. — England. 



MISCELLilNEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. Foreign Notices. 



ENGLAND. 



American grapes. — In the Gardener's Chronicle for November 

 last, a communication appears from Mr. Paxton, gardener to the 

 Duke of Devonshire, at Chatsworth, in which he states that he re- 

 ceived hy the royal mail steamer Caledonia, which sailed from Bos- 

 ton October 2(1, a basket of grapes from Col. T. H. Perkins, of 

 Brookline. It will be recollected that the Caledonia, owing to some 

 damage sustained !)y running on to the rocks near Halifax, put back 

 to that port, and did not sail till the 7th, and arrived at Liverpool on 

 the 19th. Mr. Paxton states that "the grapes were sent without any 

 packing, save a layer of cotton wadding beneath them, upon which 

 they were loosely laid. Notwithstanding this, the rough voyage 

 by sea, and the land carriage in this country, they arrived at Chats- 

 worth in such a state as to enable us to test their qualities against 

 the same kinds grown here: the latter proved very much superior to 

 the American fruit in flavor, but the bunches and berries were equal 

 in size to any hot-house grapes we have seen this season. The 

 kinds were Muscat of Alexandria, Syrian, St. Peters, Nice and 

 Grizzly, black and white Frontignac. The Syrian, Muscat, and 

 Frontiixnacs, were little injured, considering the journey; but the 

 latter kinds possessed none of the aroma for which they are prized in 

 this country — the white Frontignac tasting like the Sweetwater." 



Mr. Cowan, late gardener to Col. Perkins, informed ns the day 

 the Caledonia sailed, that he had forwarded a i)asket of grapes from 

 the vineries under his charge, to the care of Mr. Paxton, from whom 

 Mr. Perkins received many attentions when he visited Chatsworth 

 last spring; and he remarked to us that he was fearful they would 

 not arrive in such a condition as to fairly test their qualities, even 

 were the voyage as favorable as nsual. Unfortunately, the steamer 

 was delayed at Halifax, and did not arrive at Liverpool until the 

 19th, making the voyage seventeen days from Boston. It would not 

 be expected that grapes packed up in an open basket, and exposed 

 to the uifluence of the sea atmosphere for that long period, would re- 

 tain their tine flavor, particularly such as the Muscats, whose rich aro- 

 ma constitutes their great excellence. If all these circumstances had 

 been taken into consideration, we do not think Mr. Paxton would 

 have compared them with the fresh grapes, cut immediately from his 

 vines, without making due allowance for the long time the former had 

 been cu|, and the exposure they had suffered. Mr. Cowan's grapes 

 might not have been as high flavored as usual, but we are certain that 

 under oiu" hot sim and dry atmosphere, the Muscats can be made to 

 attain to a greater decree of perfection than in the climate of Brit- 

 ain. We hope, another season, that Col. Perkins or Mr. Gushing 

 will send another basket of grajies, selecting such as they know to 

 be excellent, in order that Mr. Paxton may see that we can cultivate 



