168 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



in bloom late in the autumn, and I do not think it more liable to the last fault 

 than the Black Jamaica. 



Your correspondent " M. S.," in your last Number, referred to the Smooth 

 Cayenne grown at Bowood several years ago. I may mention it is still grown 

 there as a winter Pine, and I believe from the original stock ; so I think there 

 is no doubt of his having the true variety. 



I think it would be a great mistake to grow and depend entirely on any 

 one variety of Pine, either for winter or summer use, when both size and 

 quality were required, and both r,re generally expected in large establishments. 



The principal demand is generally May until August, and from October 

 until February. For the summer season, Bipley Queen for quality and 

 general use, and Providence for size, a few of which, to come in in succession 

 through the summer, well grown, have a noble appearance on the dining-table, 

 which is its only recommendation. For autumn use, the Black Jamaica as a 

 fine-flavoured fruit, and cannot be dispensed with at that season; and the 

 Smooth Cayenne as a fine handsome fruit at that season. It has no equal, 

 and in my humble opinion is worthy of the highest recommendation I can 



LADY DOWNE'S GRAPE. 



WITH AH ILLUSTRATION-. 



For, several years there was to be found in various gardens in Yorkshire a 

 late Black Grape, known by the name of Lady Downe's Seedling ; it possessed 

 considerable local reputation, and ultimately it made its appearance in the 

 south. No great noise was made when it was ushered into the world ; its 

 advent was not announced by loud encomiums and Stirling paragraphs, but 

 nevertheless it forced itself on the attention of some of our best Grape-growers, 

 and it is to them that Lady Downe's Grape is indebted for the high reputation 

 it now enjoys. 



Three or four years ago Mr. Hill, gardener to Balph Sneyd, Esq,, of Keele 

 Hall, Staffordshire, adopted this as one of the varieties on which to exhibit 

 his great skill in Grape-growing, and the specimens he exhibited at the metro- 

 politan exhibitions are well known to the frequenters of these annual festivals. 

 Mr. W. Thomson, gardener to his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch^ Dalkeith 

 Park, has also contributed to extend the reputation of this excellent Grape 

 by so managing it as to have it as plump and fresh in the months of March and 

 April as new Grapes. " 



As a late-hanging variety it is, perhaps, unsurpassed by any other, taking 

 all its qualifications into consideration. The bunch we have illustrated is 

 necessarily a small one to enable us to get it on to the plate ; but as grown 

 by Mr. Hill, and exhibited by him this season at the Boyal Horticultural 

 Society's Fruit Exhibition, the bunches were as large as the largest Black 

 Hamburgh s. 



The bunch is large, sometimes shouldered, and sometimes cylindrical. The 

 berries are also large, roundish, or roundish- oval ; and, when well grown, an 

 inch in diameter. Skin rather thick, tough, and membranous, reddish-purple 

 at first, but becoming quite black when fully coloured, and covered with a 

 delicate bloom. Flesh dull opaline white, very firm, sweet, and richly 

 flavoured, with a faint trace of the Muscat aroma. 



This is a very valuable Grape. The Vine is very healthy and vigorous, 

 and the fruit is greatly improved by the Vine being grafted on the Black 

 Hamburgh as Mr. Hill grows it. 



