344 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



pleased to say that it is now again findnig favour, for it is a most 

 delicious grape to eat. The berries are small, of a foxy-red colour, the 

 bunches long and tapering, with a tendency to shank, but if grown on 

 the extension system and young rods run up each season this trouble 

 can be overcome to a great extent. 



' The Syrian Grape.' — This grape is supposed to be the variety 

 mentioned in the Old Testament, which the twelve spies sent to view 

 the land of Canaan cut down and carried back between two of them 

 on a staff. This grape is not generally grown, but it is worth a place. 

 It is a strong grower and makes very large bunches; the berries are a 

 greenish- white, but when well grown they will finish with quite an 

 amber tint, while the flavour is pleasant, the berries sweet and 

 juicy. The largest example of this variety grown in this country was 

 that grown by Mr. Speechly, of Welbeck Gardens, when one bunch 

 weighed over 19^ lb. This the Duke of Portland presented to the 

 Marquis of Eockingham, of Went worth House, and it was carried a 

 distance of twenty miles by four labourers, who carried it on a staff 

 in turns between them, thus repeating in modem times the method 

 in vogue in the days of Moses. 



• This brings my brief summary to a close. Several of the varieties 

 mentioned are little known, not by reason either of any difficulty in 

 cultivation or of their inferiority, but rather because of their accidental 

 failure to command attention when they were first introduced. I l 

 certainly feel that several have been dropped before they had been 

 thoroughly tried, or their places have been taken by others purely on 

 account of their appearance, and in total disregard of the fact that 

 dessert fruits are meant to be eaten and not only to be looked at. ] 



The grape is a kingly fruit, it deserves royal food and lodgment, and 

 hi return it will yield the grower a right royal feast. 



All the varieties mentioned are to be seen growing in the Wisley ' 

 collection, and all grow and fruit excellently there. 



