294 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 29, 1881. 
vated there during a long period. Several varieties are obtained 
from seed, varying from rich crimson through lighter shades to 
pure white ; but all are beautiful, especially the extremes of the 
series. 
The woodcut (fig. 49), shows both flowers and fruit, and was 
prepared from a specimen furnished by Mr. T. Ware. 
WASPS. 
Last year, through July, August, September, and even later, I 
had to contend with the wasps for all my garden fruit. I took 
with a most seductive beverage for them—skilfully compounded 
of beer, sugar, water, and quassia chips—about one pint of wasps 
daily for several weeks, and wondered where they all came from. 
This year during April and May queen wasps were most ex¬ 
traordinarily abundant. I killed on several days six, seven, and 
even ten. Now not a wasp is to be seen. I dare venture to give 
a shilling for a wasp caught within a mile of my house. We have 
been able to gather a most abundant crop of Currants, Rasp¬ 
berries, and Gooseberries without being annoyed by these insects. 
What has become of them 1 I think that one of our late frosts 
must have destroyed all the young broods in the nests. How are 
they in other parts of the island 1 —G. 0. S. 
AN ESTIMATE OF GRAPES. 
An English gardener who has an intimate knowledge of Grapes 
having been requested by a Belgian gentleman to furnish him 
with a descriptive list of the Grapes that are most approved in 
England, and their adaptability for cool or warm houses, also for 
affording a supply at different periods—has submitted the follow¬ 
ing paper to us for perusal, and for publication if we think it 
worthy of a place in the Journal. As we think our correspondent 
has made a judicious selection, and has described the varieties 
with considerable accuracy, his estimate can scarcely fail being 
useful, while the varieties named will be sufficient for most culti¬ 
vators who require a good and serviceable collection of Grapes. 
THE BEST BLACK GRAPES (EARLY). 
Black Hamburgh is the most useful Grape in existence. Free 
grower ; fine bearer, and quality. Early , and well managed keeps 
until January. In England it is in use from May till the end of the 
year. Victoria and Frankenthal (Pope’s Hamburgh) are fine forms 
of it, and in some soils differ very slightly, if at all, from the type. 
Mill Hill Hamburgh is a more delicate grower, but fruit fine. Dutch 
Hamburgh, larger but coarser. More Vines of the Black Hamburgh 
are sold and grown in England than of all the other varieties com¬ 
bined. You may confidently recommend it as the best early Black 
and general purposes Grape. Warm or cool house. A bunch of Black 
Hamburgh has been grown by Mr. Hunter of Lambton Castle (Earl 
of Durham’s) weighing 21 lbs. 12 ozs. 
Madresfield Court. —A splendid Grape for early autumn. Some¬ 
times the berries crack when the Vines are strong and crop light. 
Large bunches, noble berries, rich quality. Will not force so early as 
the Black Hamburgh. Warm or cool house. 
Black Champion. —A little earlier than Black Hamburgh. Berries 
rather oval, and colour well; bunches short, and not shouldered. 
Not much grown nor wanted except for variety. 
Muscat Champion or Champion Hamburgh Muscat. —Fine 
bunches and berries, splendid quality ; colour grizzly, seldom if ever 
black, and on this account not much grown in England. Early 
autumn. Warm or cool vinery. 
Black Frontignan. —Although the bunches are not large, and 
the berries only medium-sized, yet the flavour is very rich, and as the 
Vine bears well in a warm or cool house it is worth growing. 
Meurthe Frontignan. —Has larger berries than the preceding, 
and is in other respects equally good. One of the best of its type. 
Both these ought to be more grown in England for their fine flavour 
—Frontignan and Muscat mixed, the latter preponderating; but 
English gardeners must have size as well as quality. 
LATER, BUT NOT VERY LATE, KEEPING (BLACK) VARIETIES. 
Venn’s Black Muscat. —When in good condition fine in every 
respect—size, colour, quality ; but—and a very important “ but ” it is— 
the berries do not always set and stone well, and they sometimes 
“ shank,” decay at the footstalks, and turn like bags of vinegar 
(acetic acid). 
Black Muscat of Alexandria. —Precisely the same remarks 
apply here, indeed about half the number of English gardeners con¬ 
sider the two varieties identical. If there is a difference between 
them it appears to be very slight. Only skilled cultivators can grow 
these Grapes well. This is also known as Muscat Hamburgh and 
Snow’s Black Muscat. 
Black Prince. —Pretty tapering bunches, seldom shouldered ; 
good-sized oval berries, bluish black, and of excellent quality. Good 
grower, bearer, and setter, ripening well in a cool house. Totally 
distinct from Mill Hill Hamburgh. As you ask this question I may 
say there is as much difference between them as between a dray 
horse and an Arab in appearance. 
West’s St. Peter’s. —Fine bunches, and good-sized roundish oval 
berries, very black, almost purple ; juicy, sweet, and refreshing. It 
requires a warm house, and keeps well until February. A very good 
Grape. 
Royal Ascot. —Rather small bunches, but good berries, crackling 
and refreshing ; one Vine, however, is sufficient in most gardens, and 
it can easily be dispensed with. 
Trentham Black. —Large, tapering, and well-shouldered bunches, 
and medium-sized oval berries, very black, and of a rich vinous 
flavour. It ripens about the same time as the Black Hamburgh, but 
keeps better, continuing the supply until the very late Grapes are ready 
for use. A good Grape, and succeeds well either in a cool or warm 
house. 
THE BEST KEEPING (BLACK) GRAPES. 
Lady Downe’s. —Although not the finest in appearance, this is 
perhaps the best of all late Grapes. The Vine is a good grower and 
excellent bearer ; bunches long, slightly shouldered ; berries roundish 
oval, above medium size, good in colour when well ripened, and of 
superior quality, having a faint trace of Muscat flavour. Will hang 
fresh till March, sometimes later. Must have a warm house. 
Alicante.—A handsome and useful late Grape, though not of the 
highest quality. The Vine is a free grower, great bearer, and sets its 
fruit freely; bunches large, and broad across the shoulders ; berries 
large, oval, and jet black ; juicy, and much of the Hamburgh quality. 
Will ripen its fruit in a moderately cool vinery, but the quality is 
much improved when the Vines are grown in a high temperature and 
the fruit is ripened early. Much grown for the market. 
Mrs. Pince’s Black Muscat. —A good keeping Grape of the 
highest quality ; rich Muscat flavour. A free grower and good 
bearer; bunches large, tapering, and shouldered; berries of good 
size and perfectly oval, but do not usually colour well. The want of 
colour generally is the fault of this Grape, and to aid the colouring 
process the Vine should be allowed to carry more foliage than other 
varieties. It is best grown in a warm house. 
Gros Guillaume. —Incorrectly sold under the name of Barbarossa, 
which is a red Grape and seldom seen. Gros Guillaume produces the 
largest bunches of all black Grapes, with berries of good size and 
nearly round; juicy, sweet, and approaching the Black Hamburgh 
quality. Pruned on the short-spur system the Vine is often a shy 
bearer. Young canes should be retained when pruning, and these 
strong and well ripenedjusually produce fine bunches freely. Bunches 
are grown from 18 lbs. to 25 lbs. It requires a warm house, and 
keeps late. 
Gros Colman. —Vine a very strong grower ; bunches good ; berries 
of great size and round—the largest of all black Grapes. Ripened 
in a cool house the flavour is poor, but in brisk heat is fairly good. 
A most imposing Grape and a good keeper. Is rising in repute as a 
market Grape. 
Alnwick Seedling. —In appearance and general character much 
resembles the Alicante, but is of better quality. It does not, how¬ 
ever, set its berries so well, and to ensure full bunches the flowers 
should be artificially fertilised by lightly drawing a rabbit’s tail or a 
bunch of Feather Grass over them; and if pollen can be supplied 
from other free-setting varieties so much the better. Has had a first- 
class certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society. A good 
keeper. 
Gros Maroc. —A strong grower like Gros Colman, but in other 
respects quite distinct. Bunches of good size, tapering, and hand¬ 
some ; berries oval, and of a splendid blue-black colour; quality 
refreshing, something of the Black Hamburgh quality. It was intro¬ 
duced from France by the late Mr. Rivers, and was awarded a first- 
class certificate in 1880 by the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society. Skin tough but not thick. It will probably prove 
a good if not a very late keeper ; it should be grown in a warm house 
to ensure the best quality. 
Note. —Many people think that to have Grapes late in the spring 
they should be ripened late in the previous autumn. This is a great 
mistake. If they are not ripened well they will not keep well, and 
it is impossible for their quality to develope in dull, cool, autumn 
(October) weather to anything like the same extent as when aided by 
the sun in August and early September; therefore Grapes that are 
intended to keep late must be ripened early. The bunches should 
also be thinned much more freely than those of summer and autumn 
Grapes, for crowded bunches will not keep long. 
THE BEST WHITE GRAPES (EARLY). 
The earliest white Grapes belong to the Sweetwater and Muscadine 
sections. Of the former Early White Malvasia is one of the earliest, 
and good ; bunches medium, thin, tapering ; berries medium to small, 
juicy, rich, and sweet. Cool house or wall. 
Foster’s Seedling. —Considered the best of the Sweetwater class. 
A good grower and great bearer, with fine bunches of medium-sized 
berries of good quality. The most useful white Grape for forcing 
early with the Black Hamburgh. For this purpose it is more largely 
grown in England than all other white (not Muscat) Grapes combined. 
Buckland Sweetwater. —Also a very popular, freely grown, and 
good Grape. The berries are larger than Foster’s and of equally 
good if not better quality ; but the Vine is not such a constant bearer, 
and the berries are rather liable to shank ; skin very thin. A very 
