November 6, 1884. ] 
JOURJSAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
409 
COMING EVENTS 
M 
6 
Th 
Soutbampten Show (two days). 
7 
F 
Havant Show. 
8 
S 
9 
SUN 
22nd Sunday after Trinity. 
10 
M 
Stoke Newington Show (two days). 
Royal Horticultural Society’s Fruit and Floral Committees at 11 A M. 
Croydon, Lambeth, Putney, and Kiugston Shows. 
11 
TU 
12 
W 
Royal Aquarium, AVestminster. Bath and Colchester Shows. 
THE GRAPE SEASON. 
{Contimtedfrontpage 3S8.) 
HEN Mrs. Pince’s Black Muscat was first sent 
out it was extensively planted, but so disap¬ 
pointing did it prove that probably one-half 
of those planted were rooted out again. In 
the gardens where I was acting as foreman it 
was at once given a trial, a very favourable 
position in the late vinery being assigned to 
it. It grew strongly, and in due course pro¬ 
duced a crop of very fine well-shouldered 
bunches. The berries set evenly and swelled to a good size, 
but the colour was a sickly red, and altogether proved a dis¬ 
figurement to an otherwise really fine house of Grapes. The 
next season no improvement was appj.rent, and the Vine was 
removed. Our experience was only too similar to that in 
numerous other vineries ; but, as it proved, we erred in so 
soon cutting it out, as those who retained their Vines soon 
found it gradually acquired a stronger constitution, with the 
consequent great improvement in the colour. It appears 
the great demand for the variety led to its being propagated 
at a rapid rate, being, in fact, increased principally from 
green wood or growing shoots, much as we would propagate 
softwooded plants, and this completely ruined its constitu¬ 
tion for several years. Now no great difficulty is experienced 
in colouring, though in some cases the foliage appears to be 
rather flimsy, and a slight shading is necessary in order to 
prevent scorching. All black Grapes colour best under a 
liberal amount of foliage, but with none is this more apparent 
than with Mrs. Pince’s Muscat. It really forces well, and 
can be had well coloured and of excellent quality early in 
July; but it is of greatest value in a late house, and I am 
not wide of the mark when I assert that on the whole it is 
the best late Grape we have. 
Lady Downe’s is perhaps a longer keeper, but is, afcer all 
that has been written in its favour, somewhat fickle. At 
any rate, I could point to more better finished and heavier 
crops of Mrs. Pince’s Muscat than of Lady Downe’s, and I 
certainly prefer the quality of the former. Lady Downe’s is 
apt to produce rather too small bunches, and in many houses 
scalding of the berries is very prevalent. We prevent this 
by leaving a little front and top ventilation on the house, 
and the pipes fairly hot during the nights, directly the stoning 
process is near completion. This season supernumeraries of 
this variety were allowed to get rather too dry at the roots 
after they were fairly coloured, and when the border was well 
soaked with water the berries began to crack badly, though 
other sorts under the same treatment did not do so. The 
same misfortune may and often does result where the borders 
are allowed to get very dry, under the impression that this is 
necessary to insure keeping. Under this treatment the 
berries commence shrivelling badly ; this leads to a heavy 
watering being given, followed by cracking. In such cases 
it is a better plan to gradually remoisten the border, and 
also to keep a low temperature and a dry atmosphere for a 
No. 228.—VoL. IX., Third Skries. 
time, in order to avoid exciting the Vines in any way. The 
borders should never be dried, then shrivelling would 
seldom occur, and the Grapes would also keep well, providing 
a little heat was turned on in order to maintain a warm and 
dry atmosphere, this being most conducive to the formation 
of sugar in the berries, and without which they keep very 
badly. 
This is especially the case with Black Alicante, and is 
the principal reason why it is both very inferior in quality 
and difficult to keep when grown under cool or Black Ham¬ 
burgh treatment. To have it really good it should either be 
grown in a Muscat house or be given Muscat temperatures, 
and then we should hear less about its being little better 
than “ bags of sugar and water.” Grown with Muscats it is 
more fleshy, more sweet, and keeps well. The Black Ali¬ 
cante is one of the most attractive Grapes in appearance we 
have, and I believe I may safely say it will thoroughly finish 
a greater weight of Grapes than any other variety—in 
fact, perfect nearly double the weight than does Lady 
Downe’s. It should not be closely spurred back, and often 
succeeds best under what is known as the long-rod system of 
training. 
Gros Colman appears to be gaining ground in the esti¬ 
mation of various growers, especially now it is found that, 
besides being of noble appearance, it is also if properly growr. 
good to eat. I recently tasted some at Cranmore Hall near 
Hhepton Mallet that were surprisingly good, and Mr. Moore, 
the gardener, and his employer are delighted with it. It is 
worked on a Black Hamburgh stock, and this may have 
favourably influenced the scion. Be this as it may, a good 
crop has been well ripened under the same treatment as 
given to Mrs. Pince, Black Alicante, and other late Grapes 
in the same house. At Longford Castle near Salisbury Mr. 
Ward has several Vines of this variety, and all finished off 
good crops of really fine bunches, many weighing not less 
than 4 lbs., and no fault is found with the quality. The 
mistake sometimes made with this and other thick-skinned 
Grapes is in starting them late. Early in February is not 
too soon to start them, and this admits of steady forcing and 
plenty of time in which to colour and ripen them. If the 
ripening has to be done in September and October much fire 
heat must be given, and even then the chances are they will 
not contain sufficient saccharine matter to please the 
majority of connoisseurs. 
Gros Maroc is now in great demand, and over-rapid 
propagation would appear to have also injured this recently 
reintroduced and decidedly valuable black Grape, or else 
why is such a difficulty experienced in establishing it on its 
own roots ? When first received I heard that it was a 
curious variety to deal with, and it proved to be only too 
true, as the one I planted out refused to grow. Luckily, 
another that was inarched on a Black Hamburgh grew away 
readily, and this I find is generally considered the best stock 
for it. Have any of the readers of the Jonrnal of Horticulture 
a healthy Vine of Gros Maroc on its own roots, or can they 
point to one ? This variety produces small bunches, fair- 
sized berries, which colour remarkably well and are fairly 
good in quality. It is also said to be amenable to cool or 
Black Hamburgh treatment, and if this prove generally true 
it should be extensively grown by amateurs and all who 
possess one vinery only. I saw this variety in excellent 
condition at Longford Castle, and perhaps Mr. Ward and 
others will favour us with a few remarks upon it. 
Alnwick Seedling is also considered an acquisition among 
late black Grapes, some authorities going so far as to assert 
that it is one of the best keepers This, I am afraid, will not 
be found correct, as, from what I have seen and can learn, ils 
season may be said not to extend beyond November, and I 
have seen several fine bunches shrivelling in October. Mr. 
Austin had it particularly good when at Ashton Court, but 
he does not think it a good keeping sort; neither do other 
good growers I could mention. I find it possesses a good 
No. 1884.—VoL. LXXL, Old Series. 
