20 



ROVAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The whole of the Australian species succeed in smaller pots 

 than the species previously named. Diuris prefers a rather 

 strong loam, Thelymitra a sandy fibrous soil, and Pier osty lis soil 

 off a basaltic formation, if attainable. A brick pit with a south- 

 eastern aspect, free from frost, suits them well. They do not re- 

 quire so much water as many other terrestrial orchids. 



There are many other very beautiful genera found in Australia ; 

 but, as many have proved almost uncultivable, I have not noticed 

 them. Nothing can be more interesting than a collection of these 

 beautiful plants ; they are easy of introduction, and with little 

 attention will well repay the cultivator for the trouble bestowed 

 upon them. 



III. Note on one of the Hybrids between the Muscat of Alex- 

 andria and the Trouveren Muscat, which promises a supply of 

 grapes all the year round. By John Standish, Hoyal Nursery 

 Ascot, Berks. 



When my " Hints on Hybridizing Fruits " were published in the 

 first volume of the New Series of this Journal, page 135, I had not 

 witnessed the extraordinary fertility of one of the hybrids there 

 mentioned, and which has now received the name of the Royal 

 Ascot. It has proved itself a perpetual bearer, forming bunches on 

 every branch and lateral branch that it throws out, and can be 

 made with the greatest ease to have ripe fruit all the year round. 

 If, for example, a house filled entirely with this variety were started 

 the first week in December, and, when the shoots were of sufficient 

 length, thinned out so as to leave only enough for half a crop, 

 they would break again, or throw out a quantity of laterals, when 

 some more branches might be left, and, so vigorous is the plant, 

 in six weeks again some more. These three partial crops would 

 swell, so as to prolong the fruiting till the end of October, by which 

 time the vines would want pruning in for forcing the next season ; 

 and what then remained could be cut, with a piece of the wood, 

 and placed in bottles of water on the French plan. This house 

 would give grapes from the beginning of June until Christmas. 



Another house might be started in the middle of July, leaving 

 again only half a crop, and so on as before, which would give 

 grapes from January until the end of July. By adopting this 

 plan, in two houses, grapes could be had all the year round with- 

 out any difficulty ; and should extra grapes be wanted for some 



