FEBEUAKY. 



19 



I pruned them early in July ; they broke naturally on the 1 5th of August, and 

 we cut again on the first day of this year ; the three bunches weighing 3 lbs., 

 and the crop double what it was in 1861, the wood much stronger, and it is 

 now thoroughly hard and ripe, and they are likely to get a respite for another 

 year. 



It will be necessary to bear in mind that Vines started in August have three 

 months of comparatively fine weather before them in which to expand their 

 foliage, and do a deal of their work ; whereas, "those started in October, to be 

 ripe in March, have the dreary part of the year alone to grow in. The house 

 we force here to come in in March and April was not so good in 1861 as in 

 1860, and will, judging from its present appearance, not be so good this year as 

 last, and it has received more care and attention than the one that was ripe on 

 the first day of the year. 



There is something that appears to me very remarkable about the Grapes 

 we have ripened here in January. In the first place, they colour as black as 

 sloes ; their skins are thinner than the same sort of Grapes in August (they are 

 Black Hamburghs) ; but what surprises me most is that a berry which is green 

 to-day and black three days afterwards has no trace of acid in it, is perfectly 

 sweet and well-flavoured. I send you a small bunch from the cool end of the 

 house, where some of the berries are still green, and you will find that those 

 berries that are only changing colour are, nevertheless, sweet. Now, it is well 

 known that in summer a Grape has to hang a fortnight after it is black before 

 its acid is got rid of, and its flavour is up. Perhaps some of your other corre- 

 spondents may be able to account for these facts, or state if their own expe- 

 rience confirms mine. I may remark that a current of air, previously heated, 

 has been allowed to pass into the house night and day since forcing begun ; 

 but this takes place in the case of Grapes ripened in August, though, as a 

 matter of course, it does not require to be heated artificially in summer. 



The rapidity with which they get their flavour seems very puzzling to us 

 who have considered sun absolutely necessary to produce flavour, and when it 

 is considered that since the Grapes in question were thinned they have not had 

 fifty hours' sun if it were all put together, so dark, damp, and foggy has been 

 the winter here up to this date. 



Dalkeith Park Gardens, January \3th. W. Thomson. 



[The "small" tamcli alluded to by Mr. Thomson was received on the 15th of January- 

 It weighed 1 lb., and measured 9 inches in length. The berries were well grown, well set> 

 and splendidly coloured, with the exception of those at the end, three of which were green, 

 and three more in various shades between green and black. The berries that were perfectly 

 coloured were delicious in flavour, and the skin very tender ; those that were of an inter- 

 mediate colour were sweet, but not melting in the flesh, and those that were green were 

 acid. This is the most masterly example of Vine forcing that has yet come under our notice. 

 The bunch is as good both in size and flavour as could be desired in August. — Eds. F. and P.] 



FANCY PANSIES. 



The old familiar stereotyped forms of Pansies, consisting of white-ground, 

 yellow-ground, and self varieties, with which we have been familiar for about 

 twenty years, run a great risk of finding a powerful rival in popular opinion 

 in the new and pleasing forms recently introduced under the designation of 

 Fancy or Belgian Pansies. These are now fast approaching the circular form, 

 combined with texture and substance, which the stern laws of the florist demand 

 before the Pansy can be admitted into their circle. Whether florists will 

 ever recognise the Fancy Pansies remains to be seen, so completely do they 

 set at defiance all recognised rules with regard to colouring ; but as all do not 



