FRUIT UNDER GLASS. 143 
grapes, and are the most appreciated on a gentleman’s table. 
The other three varieties of grapes equally largely grown are 
classed as late keeping grapes—namely, Gros Colman, Alicante, 
and Lady Downe’s. ; 
Lady Downe’s is the best of the three for quality and good 
keeping. It is a good grower, and when properly treated gives 
good bunches, and the fruit takes on a fine finish. One peculi- 
arity of this grape is its need of a circulation of air night and 
day whilst forming its seeds, or, as we technically say, when 
stoning, 
Gros Colman is more largely grown for market than any 
other. It is not a general favourite on gentlemen’s tables, 
because it too often lacks flavour. The treatment, however, of | 
it is becoming better understood, and good finished grapes of 
this sort are increasing. It takes a long season to grow; it 
requires the same temperature as Muscat; and the fruit seems 
to be best when it hangs till January. 
West’s St. Peter’s is our best-flavoured winter grape. It gives 
a good bunch and is a good cropper. The fruit takes on good 
bloom, but the berries are rather small. In a house with a steep 
roof built specially for keeping late grapes, I have seen West’s St. 
Peter’s hang till March. This is the only grape the late Queen 
Victoria would have for winter, and it was largely grown at 
Frogmore. 
It is not desirable to have grapes hanging on the vines after 
early February, and the bunch should therefore, when they are 
wanted later, be cut with a piece of the lateral growth attached. 
The lateral growth is then put in a bottle of water, and the bunch 
stood in a cool, dry fruit room. In this way grapes, particularly 
Lady Downe’s, are often kept until June. es 
The early forcing of the vine is an important object in ay 
gentlemen’s gardens. The greatest favourites and most suited 
for this purpose are Black Hamboro, Foster’s Seedling, and 
Madresfield Court. 
The best plan for very early forcing of vines is to grow year ly 
a quantity of vines in pots—they can be grown to fruit the 
second year from eyes—fruit them once and then throw them 
away. Putting in eyes yearly keeps up the succession. I 
should start my eyes for pot-vines, in sods six inches square, in 
