December 28, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 593 
arc also in grand condition in the same house, the leaves of great 
size, and the former finely coloured. 
- Messrs. James Carter & Co. have now a good display 
of Primulas at Perry Hill, but they are not yet at their best, 
and in the course of a few weeks will doubtless improve con¬ 
siderably. However, the merits of these carefully selected strains 
can even now be readily seen. Much attention is paid to these 
plants at Perry Hill, and, as a result, improvements are being 
annually effected, the colours being varied and deepened, the form 
of the flowers perfected, and the habit rendered more compact. 
Very notable amongst the most recent forms obtained is one with 
remarkably rich rose-coloured flowers, the deepest shade that we 
have seen. A handsome Fern-leaved white variety has also been 
selected, of extremely sturdy habit, the flowers large, beautifully 
fringed, and pure white, with a dark well-defined eye. The light 
rose and crimson, with the ordinary white varieties, are all meri¬ 
torious in a high degree. The celebrated “ blue ” Primula Holborn 
Gem has its colour well developed, while a still further improve¬ 
ment has been effected in it, a form with much darker flowers 
having been selected. It is quite evident that we shall soon have 
a strain of really blue Primulas, as still greater advances may be 
expected. 
- Messrs. H. Cannell k Sons’ Swanley Nursery as 
usual contains a number of attractions, but specially noteworthy 
just now are the Primulas, Zonal Pelargoniums, and 
Salvias, which occupy several large houses, and present a bril¬ 
liancy that is most welcome at this season. Of the first named 
the noted varieties Swanley Eed, Swanley Purple, and Swanley 
White constitute the bulk of the stock, but many others of the 
best strains are also grown, together with new and striking selec¬ 
tions. The Zonal Pelargoniums both single and double are mag¬ 
nificent, and the varieties are so numerous, each possessing 
some special merits, that it is difficult to make a selection. 
However, some of the most effective are the following:— 
Singles : W. B. Miller, deep scarlet; Eureka, white ; Eurydice, 
purple-pink, white centre; Guinea, brilliant scarlet; Dr. Orton, 
very dark scarlet; Kate Farmer, bright salmon ; Constance, pale 
pink ; and K. Greenaway, rose-pink, white centre. Doubles : 
General Campinon, dark scarlet; Lord Mayor, bright pink ; 
Gambetta, rich scarlet; La Quintinie, white ; and Henri Cannell, 
purplish crimson—with many others equally handsome. Of the 
Salvias the brilliant blue S. Pitcheri, the scarlet S. splendens 
Bruanti, the violet-mauve and white S. leucantha, the purple S. 
Betheli, and the scarlet and white S. Mons. Issanchou have for 
months past maintained a superb display. 
- In the outside borders at the above nursery Carter’s 
Perpetual Blue Viola is proving the appropriateness of its 
title by flowering most abundantly. This is said to be the result 
of a cross between Viola pedata and Viola Admiration, and has 
lavender-blue flowers of good size, possessing a slight but most 
agreeable fragrance. The latter quality, combined with its free 
and constant flowering habit, renders it a most useful variety, 
and one which will become a general favourite. In pots under 
glass the flowers come much larger and are extremely valuable 
for cutting. 
- One of the finest and most interesting displays of Primulas 
perhaps ever produced may now be seen in the trial grounds of 
Messrs. Sutton k Sons at Beading. It is fine because of the 
distinct and superior strains, and the splendid culture that is re¬ 
presented—interesting because of the extraordinary character of 
many varieties that have been produced by crossing, not a few of 
which are grotesque in hahit and colour, while others are strik¬ 
ingly beautiful. Buby King, which occupies the whole of one 
side of a house, is a rich glowing mass of colour such as is seldom 
seen, the trusses being dense, bold, and brilliant. Perhaps their 
appearance is the more striking by the contrasting effect of a 
mass of the charming white variety Pearl that occupies the other 
side of the structure—a perfect sheet of beautiful flowers. 
Beference to some of the newer varieties must be postponed, but 
the doubles, raised from seed, demand prompt mention. In 
form, richness, and chasteness of colours they are alike notice¬ 
able, and they, with the Cyclamens, which are of the very first 
order of merit both as to culture and condition, are faithfully 
represented in the new catalogue now being issued. Altogether 
the display is most meritorious—quite a museum of Primulas— 
and the firm deserve high commendation for the results that 
have been achieved, 
—— We regret to learn that Mr. William Hinds recently 
died, after a very short illness, at the early age of thirty-eight. 
Mr. Hinds has held the position of head gardener at Boby 
Hall, Otterspool, Liverpool, and Canford Manor, Dorset, and he 
had been permanently engaged on the staff of the Gardeners' 
Chronicle during the past year. On leaving Liverpool he was 
presented with a gold watch as a token of the esteem in which he 
was held, and during his residence in the south his urbanity of 
manner and his assiduity in the fulfilment of his duties gained 
him the respect of many friends. 
NOTES ON GRAPES. 
The various opinions expressed upon Grapes in your columns 
are undoubtedly very interesting, and quite necessary for the 
peculiarities of the different varieties being fully understood. A 
correspondent on page 469 has contributed an useful article on 
this subject, and I will endeavour to give your readers the benefit 
of my experience with the varieties there discussed. 
Your correspondent begins with Madresfield Court. It is quite 
true, as he says, that the original recommendation of this being 
a grand late Grape was very misleading. In more than one esta¬ 
blishment I know a whole house was planted with this variety 
for a late supply which ended in disappointment, and after ten or 
twelve years’ cultivation it is found the most suitable place for it 
is the early vinery. It is very gratifying to find out the good 
qualities of this Grape. I have often seen Madresfield Court 
indifferently grown, and it has not been altogether satisfactory 
here, but after observing the bunches exhibited by Mr. Boberts 
of Gunnersbury at the Alexandra Palace two years ago, and the 
following year at the International at Manchester, gave me fresh 
courage ; and with another trial I hope to succeed better. 1 feel sure 
if Mr. Roberts would detail his practice in producing such splendid 
examples as he exhibits, and how he prevents the berries cracking, 
he would confer a benefit on more growers of Madresfield Court 
than myself. Like many more 1 cannot afford a house exclusively 
for its cultivation, but have it planted in an inside border of cur 
early house. 
Duke of Buccleuch I planted nine years ago, but it has not 
always given me satisfaction, although I have had the finest 
berries I have yet seen of this variety. Its great fault with me 
is cracking at the last swelling, which greatly disfigures it. My 
employer prefers this Grape to all others we cultivate. It is more 
satisfactory grafted on the Black Hamburgh, but I have never 
been able to keep the fruit in good condition more than three 
months after ripe. I should be glad if “ Northern,” who on 
page 530 states he has seen the Duke in good condition six 
months, would give fuller details of the treatment and conditions 
under which the fruit kept so well. 
The most remarkable bunches of this Grape I have yet seen 
were in the third-prize collection of six varieties of Grapes exhi¬ 
bited by Mr. Kirk at the International Show at Edinburgh in 
September last. These were simply grand, although perhaps 
smaller in the berry than usually seen. I heard several first-class 
Grape-growers say they did not know there was the length of 
bunch to be had in the Duke as shown by Mr. Kirk. It would 
appear from a report by “ T. B.,” in a contemporary, that Mr. 
Thomson finds something else requisite besides giving the variety 
a house to itself, and if the report be correct Mr. Thomson bores 
a hole through the shoots between the rod aad bunch—rather an 
extreme measure. I have not yet tried the gimlet dodge, but 
have twisted a piece of wire tightly round the shoot below the 
bunch with good results, and prefer this mode to notching the 
lateral, as practised by some growers to prevent cracking of the 
berries. The Duke is well worth whatever extra care it requises 
