DECEMBER. 



185 



DALKEITH PARK. 



Most gardeners are familiar with at least the above name, and many with the place. 

 On the 17th of September last, being in the neighbourhood and fully alive' to the pending 

 arbitration on " Early versus Late Grapes," we called to see progress. The main garden 

 forms, as near as we could make out, a square, the south walls of each side being covered 

 with forcing ranges, with a great many clustered behind the south-wost range. We com- 

 menced our walk at the central range by first entering what we were told was the second 

 vinery. This was pruned and ready for starting in two weeks. The next was full of young 

 mixed Vines planted the first week of June. They had lost no time in the fifteen weeks, 

 as they had got to the top of the house and crossed back and forward in all directions, canes 

 short-jointed and strong. The next to this was the first house, some hunches ready for 

 thinning all in bloom. It is a strange sensation for a person accustomed to forcing to go 

 into a vinery in bloom at that early season. Frost, snow, covering-up, great forcing, and 

 anxiety rush upon one's mind by that same smell of Vine-bloom. Mr. Thomson informed 

 u-! the Vines began to break on the 1st of August, and they had not been syringed since 

 starting. The bunches are a good size, regular all over the house, more than we should leave 

 for a crop, the young wood strong and short-jointed, with fine large healthy leaves. The 

 Vines have originally been planted outside ; but, having been found rooting in the heating 

 material first used, this has been left. No doubt a great deal of the success in colouring in 

 the dark months proceeds from the ingenious method of giving air over the pipes, a full 

 description of which is given in the work on " The Vine," lately published by Mr. Thomson, and 

 also from the size of the house. The two following ar^ larger and central houses in the range, 

 being used as plant-houses; one filled with fioe-l'oliaged plants, the other as a greenhouse, 

 both gay. Peach-houses formed an equal to the vineri-s on the other side. The borders of 

 •these inside were neatly edged with Lycopod, which gives a neat appearance to houses when 

 the fruit is gathered. Behind this garden range a considerable space is occupied by more 

 vineries, Pine stoves and pits, Victoria, Orchid, Cucumber, Camellia, and forcing-plant- 

 houses and pits, all full and in fine order. A Muscat-house with the Vines planted in the 

 pit, a beauiful crop with fine amber-caloured bunches. STear to this a late house, 110 ft. 

 long by 11 ft. wide, was quite a picture. The sorts were "West's St. Peter's, Lady Bowne's 

 Seedling, Barbarossa, and Baisin cle Calabre. Some of the bunches on the latter must have 

 been from 5 to 6 lbs., and would make a fine show on the table ; but here, as elsewhere, Lady 

 Bowne's is the favourite, and I have no doubt it will take the place of all our other varieties 

 of late Grapes. A graft of a seedling from Barbarossa had a hunch of promising qualities. 

 A great advantage in this house for late work, was it-* steep pitch. 



Several other vineries in this part looked equdly well. I cannot leave this Vine 

 question without _ remarking the great number of seedbngs coming on both here and at 

 smaller places which promise plenty of work for the Fruit Committee, and we hope something- 

 go id besides ; and als > that the success of getting Grapes at any season is established beyond, 

 cavil. Mr. Thomson two years ago covered the whole Peach and Apricot walls here with a 

 lean-to. The result of this was apparent, by the beautiful crop of fruit on the walls. 



Although properly speaking there is no flower garden here, yet the extent of bedding 

 is something beyond many of our large ones, and deserves a separate notice from the great 

 care bestowed on the arrangement and good effeot. J. F. 



GOLDEN HAMBURGH GRAPE. 



If much writing with very opposite opinions, an occasional mixture of personal remarks 

 —generally, I must allow, from the supporters of the variety— would exhaust a subject, 

 I should not have a fresh idea connected with the above-mentioned Grape ; but a few remarks 

 from an unprejudiced observer may not be out of place before the subject is finally closed. 



We have heard and read the pro and eon. of the matter, so that it requires no additions. 

 In the first place, how many times has this Grape been shown since sent out ? It has been out 

 long enough for there to be plenty of thoroughly-established Vines in full bearing, in at least 

 all first-rate Grape-growmg establishments ; and if it is the first-rate variety represented to be, 

 of course there will be whole houses of it in some very large places. When and how many 

 times has it beaten other white Grapes at exhibitions, Muscats of course excluded ? I will 

 ask any practical Grape-grower if the above questions, answered satisfactorily, would not 

 establish the reputation of a fruit more than any amount of praise from interested parties ? 

 I can only say I have seen many of the London fruit shows for several years and have 

 seldom seen it at all, and more seldom still in a prominent place. I have also visited the 

 principal Grape-growing places in this country and seldom see it at all, which, to say the 



