23rd 
Th 
Staines Chrysanthemum Show. 
24th 
F 
Liverpool Chrysanthemum Show. 
25th 
S 
26th 
SUN 
25th Sunday after Trinity. 
27th 
M 
[and Son’s Nursery, Feltham. 
28th 
Tu 
Sale of Conifers by Messrs. Protheroe & Morris at Messrs. Lee 
29th 
W 
South Shields Chrysanthemum Show (two days). 
November 23, 1882.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 469 
White, it forms a trio of which we may say 11 that their 
qualities surpass their charms." They have to yield to the 
grander-looking varieties ; but were I growing for my own 
table they wculd have a considerable space in my vineries. 
Nothing need be said about that splendid Grape the Muscat of 
Alexandria, except that theBowood variety is really the finest. 
I would, however, put in a word for Canon Hall Muscat, so 
often discarded for its non-setting propensity. Grown in a 
house where a high temperature is maintained, and artificially 
impregnated, it can be made to produce splendid samples, and 
repays the extra trouble by its noble appearance. 
Another example of a Grape doing well with one person and 
failing with another is the Alnwick Seedling, which Mr. Bell 
grows to perfection, while others have failed with it. Arti¬ 
ficial setting is required by this Grape also ; and if this is 
done, other conditions being favourable, it should not fail to 
bear well and reward its cultivator with handsome bunches 
which keep well. A peculiarity of that grand late Grape, the 
Gros Colman, is its not keeping well in bottles. I have not 
heard of anyone succeeding with it in bottles, and would be 
glad to learn through your columns if anyone has so succeeded. 
On the other hand, how well Lady Downe’s keeps in bottles! 
Scalding is the weakness of this fine Grape, and this has led 
some people to discard it, sometimes through the want of their 
knowing how to remedy this defect. If kept perfectly cool 
from the time the first berry is seen to scald, which is at the 
stoning period, till the first sign of colouring is noticed, this 
scalding can be almost entirely prevented. About the end 
of March Lady Downe’s is splendid for eating, being then 
sweet, juicy, and possessed of a certain crackling freshness 
that is exceedingly pleasant. Black Alicante cannot fail to 
always have admirers on account of its fine appearance ; but 
I confess I do not much regard it, as in nine cases out of ten 
it is quite flavourless. One Grape there is of which I am 
unable to say anything good, Waltham Cross. It proved 
with me a worthless variety both in its appearance and quality ; 
being extremely like the foreign Grapes we are supplied with 
in the markets, and having no good qualities to recommend it 
for the table. 
Having been long accustomed to try the different varieties 
of Grapes on their merits, and always having endeavoured to 
be just in the matter, noting that sometimes others could suc¬ 
ceed well with varieties that my experience did not warrant 
me in extolling, and at other times being successful in growing 
varieties that I have found others failing in, I much regret the 
spirit in which some writers have denounced certain varieties 
of Grapes which have in other hands proved remarkably fine. 
This style of writing is much to be deprecated, and it would 
be much more pleasant to see different opinions and sug¬ 
gestions, in print without the personalities which are too often 
indulged in. 
The cultivation of such a noble plant as the Vine would be 
made more pleasant to all if they were allowed to record their 
experiences and opinions without being pounced upon, and in 
some cases ridiculed, for what they state. There is so great 
a difference in the spirit of criticism, too ; few of those who 
assume the office of critic being actuated by a genuine desire 
to discover truth and expose error, but rather to assert their 
own views to the exclusion of all others. For the credit of 
horticultural journalism it is to be hoped that such captious 
criticism will cease, and that all who write for the gardening 
SOME NOTES ABOUT GRAPES. 
ijj’T is instructive, interesting, and sometimes amus¬ 
ing to read the various experiences of writers 
who are recording their different opinions 
about various Grapes. I daresay there is 
hardly a Grape in cultivation which has not 
been decried by someone ; and, on the other 
hand, many varieties that are pretty well con¬ 
demned by most writers sometimes find admirers. 
My experience in the cultivation of the different 
varieties of the Vine has led me to be slow in con¬ 
demning many of those which have been introduced during 
the last twenty years, as, though some of these kinds have not 
in all places proved what they were represented to be, they have 
under different circumstances become valuable acquisitions. 
Madresfield Court, for instance, in my experience was planted 
in a late house and the fruit failed to keep well, the berries all 
cracking ; but in an inside border and used as an early Grape it 
proves itself a capital variety. For early work I would recom¬ 
mend everyone to have a house of this variety and a house of 
Duke of Buccleuch, both planted in inside borders, where the 
roots can be under perfect control as regards moisture. These 
two Grapes make splendid dishes for the table, the Duke being 
specially fitted for a nobleman’s table, as its grand appearance 
is quite in keeping with the grandeur of the tables of our 
nobility. When cut and dished without being subjected to 
packing and railway travelling the Duke cannot be surpassed. 
Then, as has been remarked before, another matter, which if 
attended to in the cultivation of the Duke is of material im¬ 
portance to its fruitfulness, is the maintaining a succession of 
young rods, which is a simple matter. 
Golden Champion, though not forcing so well as the Duke, 
is still a very fine Grape for summer work, and should also be 
treated to an inside border. I well remember the two bunches 
of this Grape shown at Manchester some years ago by Mr. 
Hunter ; they were simply grand. Mrs. Pince, though trouble¬ 
some to get to colour perfectly, can sometimes be seen almost 
blacx, and has so many other good qualities that it is well 
worth a place in a collection of Vines. 
What shall I say of Mrs. Pearson, Golden Queen, and 
Duchess of Buccleuch? They are all successfully grown by 
some people, and have their admirers. My own experience of 
the two former is that they are fair ordinary Grapes, with 
nothing particular to recommend them, and no great faults to 
condemn them. Duchess of Buccleuch has long held the palm 
for flavour, and had it the appearance of the Duke would be 
unrivalled. As it is, along with the Frontignans, Grizzly and 
No. 126.—Yol. V., Third series. 
No. 1782 .—Yol. LXYIII.i Old Series. 
