Notes and Gleanings. 169 



lated the members of the association upon their commendable enthusiasm in 

 this laudable and national enterprise, upon the harmony and good feeling that 

 had characterized their deliberations, and upon the ability, intelligence, and 

 cheerfulness with which these arduous duties had been performed. Thus ended 

 the interesting convention of the American Pomological Association of February, 

 1869. 



Bees 7>crsiis Raspberries. — We think the statement of an intelligent bee- 

 raiser, that " the raspberry will not succeed where bees are kept, for the reason 

 that the intermeddling of these insects with the pollen of the flower is decidedly 

 injurious, and prevents the fruit from reaching perfection," needs confirmation. 

 We have grown this fruit for the past twenty years, and in a common enclosure, 

 within a few yards of the plants, have uniformly kept the common hive-bee ; 

 the number of colonies varying from five to ten in diflferent seasons. Referring 

 to our record, we find that in no one of these years has the crop proved a total 

 failure. In seventeen of the years, the crop wz.^ good; and, in three instances, 

 the season of fruit was shortened by dry weather. We recommend " G. G." to 

 retain his bees, and continue the cultivation of his raspberries, confident that 

 there is no good reason for relinquishing either. F. B. 



Madresfield-Court Black Muscat Grape. — This grape is one worthy 

 of the warmest commendation, both in regard to its appearance and quality. It 

 was raised by Mr. Co.x, gardener to the Earl of Beauchamp, at Madresfield Court, 

 Great Malvern, some half-dozen years since ; and was selected as the best of a 

 batch of seedlings obtained from the Muscat of Alexandria and the Black Ali- 

 cante, intercrossed in both directions. It proves to be a grape of excellent qual- 

 ity, setting its fruit as freely as the Black Hamburg, than which it takes about 

 a fortnight longer to ripen. 



The vine is of a robust constitution, producing short-jointed wood, with 

 prominent pointed eyes. The fruit-clusters are large, regularly tapered, and 

 handsomely shouldered. The berries are large, of a longish oval-shape ; like 

 those of the Muscat, perfectly black ; and covered, like those of the Alicante, with 

 a fine, thick bloom. They are attached by stout, warted foot-stalks. Their skin 

 is tough ; and their flesh is firm, juicy, and rich, with a fine, luscious, Muscat 

 flavor. The leaves are bristly, deeply lobed, and serrated with reddish stalks 

 and midribs. 



With such qualities as those just indicated, it is not surprising that the 

 Madresfield-Court Grape should have won a first-class certificate when exhibit- 

 ed before the Fruit Committee in August, 1867 ; and that it should have been 

 designated as a splendid new grape. In truth, it comes in as a very useful 

 auxiliary to the few thoroughly good grapes already in cultivation, nearly if not 

 quite equalling the Muscat of Alexandria in quality, and indicating, by its stout, 

 firm foot-stalks, and leathery skin, that it will rank amongst those especially 

 useful kinds which hang well after they have reached the ripening stage. — 

 Florist and Potnolojrist. 



