114 



THE FLORIST AND P0M0L0GIST. 



seedling plants of this, Messrs. Smith have found a peculiarly dwarf-habited 

 sport, with the flowers equally double, and of the same colour : this they have 

 named The Fairy. The other variety, rubra, gkandiflora {fig. 1), corre- 

 sponds in a great measure with the foregoing description of delicata — that 

 is to say, it has large full- double fringed blossoms, and it reproduces itself 

 from seeds. Its chief difference consists in its colour, which is one of those 

 showy rosy tints which are not uncommon among good strains of Chinese 

 Primroses. 



Can any of our philosophical readers explain the singular fact, that, whereas 

 in almost every flower which has been improved by cultivation the process of 

 improvement has been mainly directed towards securing smoothness of surface 

 and margiu, in this Primrose the old smoother-edged sorts are at a discount, 

 and the modern improved ones all have fringed edges ? It seems as if floral 

 law, which is generally inflexible, has here given way before some other 

 code. M. 



SOMETHING ABOUT GRAPES. 



Under this heading Mr. Henderson, of Trentham, has an article in the 

 June Number of the Florist and Pomologist, which refers to me in such 

 a way as to make some reply necessary to prevent the appearance on my 

 part of discourtesy towards Mr. H., if for no other purpose. I feel that an 

 apology is due to those who may very justly consider that the subject of 

 " Early versus Late Grapes " might be allowed to stand over till the matter is 

 brought to the practical test that awaits it in January and February next ; 

 and but for the reason I have assigned, they should have had six months' rest 

 from me. 



It will be observed that Mr. Henderson, in his opening paragraph, disclaims 

 all intention of following Mr. Tillery and myself in our views as to the merits 

 of early as compared with late Grapes, and adds that he will simply give his 

 own. The temptation, however, seems too powerful for him, and he walks 

 into the subject right and left, giving me the hot end of the poker, where he 

 says, " Hanging Grapes on the Vine in March is only a secondary evil to 

 extreme early forcing." 



The following paragraph, however, is that to which I specially refer as 

 requiring a reply from me : — " It is taking us by surprise when we read ' June 

 and July are better wintering months for Vines than August and September.' 

 Mr. Thomson will no doubt confer a favour on myself and many others with 

 humble capacities who cannot sink to such depths of reasoning." From what 

 Mr. PI. says here it is difficult to say what the favour is he wishes me to confer 

 on him. I infer he wants me to assign a reason why I consider Vines go to 

 rest more readily in June and July than in August and September. If I am 

 correct in this inference, I can only repeat my reply to Mr. Tillery in the May 

 Number of the Florist and Pomologist. The roots of the Vines are in the 

 earth, and its temperature is higher during the two latter than during the two 

 former months. This is my theory on the subject, and all the facts that have 

 come under my observation fully bear it out. This year the Vines from which, 

 we began to cut early Grapes in January went to rest in May ; and by the 

 12th of this month (July); when I pruned them, they had not the slightest 

 sign of making young after-shoots. Most of their leaves had fallen off, and 

 those that had not were quite ripe : this I accept as clear proof of the sound- 

 ness of the theory I have advanced. 



Mr. Henderson and all who have had experience in such matters must 

 have observed what a constant . tendency Vines in good health have to 



