May 4. 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
868 
varieties. I do not, however, believe that any of these will ever 
surpass in the estimation of the lover of the Anemone species that 
beautiful plant A. n. coerulescens, which has no rival in respect 
of colour, and few competitors as regards size. This year it has 
been particularly fine with me in an eastern aspect at the base of a 
rockery. A plant so planted has been very attractive, with its 
pleasing blue flowers of large size, one I measured the other day 
being no less than 2^ inch across, 
I have at various times expressed my regret at the loss of, or 
difficulty of, obtaining flowers which were well known long ago, 
and in the case of the Wood Anemones we seem to have lost two 
or three varieties, and here my authority for their former existence 
is Philip Miller, the pages of whose “ Gardener’s Dictionary ” 
may with profit be frequently searched. In the edition of 1735, 
under the heading of “ Anamonoides ; Wood Anemone ; vulgo. ; ” 
among others he speaks of a “Wood Anemone with double purple 
flowers a “ Wood Anemone with large double blue flowers;” 
and a “Wood Anemone with purplish-red flowers.” The first and 
the last may possibly be our rosy coloured forms, which are not 
otherwise mentioned by Miller, but the one with large double blue 
flowers I have been unable to hear anything of, unless a plant 
which is grown as the double form of A. apennina, but which I 
have not seen, may be the one of which Miller speaks. This is 
hai’dly probable, and the following extract from the “ Gardener’s 
Dictionary ” may be of interest, and may also lead to the discovery 
of this plant. “The other varieties ” (?.e., other than the single 
white) “ I have gathered in great plenty in the wildernesses 
belonging to the gardens at Wimbleton (sic) in Surrey, which 
were, probably, at first taken from some woods in England ; in 
this place they increase so fast that the surface of the ground is 
covered with them in the spring ; and, what is more remarkable, 
that there the large blue and double sorts are the most common,” 
Closely allied to A. nemorosa is A. trifolia with pretty white 
flowers with white sepals, and having ternate leaves. This was 
introduced from France in 1597. This year I had the pleasure of 
receiving a pretty variety—a seedling from A. trifolia—with white 
flowers, having a bright pink or rose-coloured zone-like centre. 
This was raised at Shepton Mallet by Mr. James Allen, and may 
be the beginning of a new departure in this species. 
Many other Anemones would call for notice, conspicuous among 
them being the St. Brigid varieties of A. coronaria, recently 
noticed in the Journal, These I have grown for several years, and 
no encomiums can exaggerate their beauty or merit. Leaving for 
the present other species, I am led to notice more on account of its 
comparative rarity than for its beauty, a little-known species 
known as A. albana, described in Paxton’s “ Botanical Dictionary,” 
and the older edition of the “ Cottage Gardener’s Dictionary ” as 
white, but which would be more correctly called pale sulphur. 
With me it grows to about 9 inches in height, 3 inches more than 
the height given by these authorities, and although not of the first 
order of merit, is desirable with its rather hairy fresh green leaves, 
and its somewhat bell-shaped flowers, the sepals of which are 
covered on the outside with silky hairs. A. albana is a native of 
the Caucasus, whence it was introduced in 1821. It appears to 
grow well in ordinary loam, and is suitable for the front row of the 
border, although grown here on the rockery where its flowers are 
seen to more advantage. The press of other flowers will for the 
present prevent further reference to one of the most attractive 
genera in our gardens.. 
The brilliant display afforded by the golden Rock Madwort 
(Alyssum saxatile) is so much appreciated that its claims to further 
notice need not be dilated upon. Worthy, however, of attention from 
its neater and dwarfer habit is the variety of A. saxatile compactum 
which, like so many other dwarf flowers, rejoices under the title 
of “ Tom Thumb.” This variety was sent out by, I believe, 
Messrs. Backhouse some five or six years ago, and is now finding its 
way into the trade generally- For many purposes it will be found 
superior to the typical A. saxatile or to A. s. compactum, as it only 
grows to a height of 6 to 9 inches and flowers as profusely as the 
others. It will hardly come true from seed, but it is easily in¬ 
creased by means of cuttings inserted after the period of flowering 
in sandy soil and covered with a handlight or bellglass which should 
be shaded. 
The first of the Poppyworts of the season, although not long 
preceding Papaver nudicaule, has been Meconopsis cambrica, which 
is always welcome with its clear yellow flowers and its fresh finely 
divided foliage. This little “Welsh Poppy,” as it is popularly 
called, is so accommodating in its habits that it has become widely 
spread among gardens here. In my own garden it flowers in the 
sun and in the shade, and sows itself with great freedom. 
But, alas ! one must close, and with a regretful look at flowers 
of the highest order of beauty which I have either spoken of 
before or for which the exigencies of space will not afford 
opportunity we must close and turn to the garden, with its stores 
of beauty such as no pen can describe and so fitted as to entrance 
us with their loveliness.—S. Aenott. 
GRAPES—SELECriNG AND THINNING THE 
BUNCHES. 
A BUSY time is now at hand for Grape growers. Thanks ia a 
great measure to the long spell of sunshine Muscats have sec 
splendidly, so the question as to how many bunches each individual 
Vine IS capable of ripening satisfactorily should be determined 
forthwith. Needless to say, the finest, best placed, and most 
evenly set bunches should be retained, these being distributed 
regularly along the Vines. The vigour and length of each Vine 
should be considered in deciding the number of bunches that shall 
form the crop as well as the size of the bunches which the cultivator 
has the choice of retaining or removing. A fully established and 
well-conditioned Vine, say 19 feet in length, of Black Hamburgh, 
Muscat of Alexandria, Gros Maroc, Gros Colman, Mrs. Pince’s 
Black Muscat, Foster’s Seedling, Mrs. Pearson, Black Alicante, 
Buckland Sweetwater, and Madresfield Court, showing fairly large 
framed bunches, bunches likely to turn the scale at 3 lbs. when 
ripe, and colour well at the same time, should not be allowed to 
carry more than seven such bunches for a crop. A greater or 
lesser number of bunches, according to their size and the length of 
the Vine, may be safely retained for a crop, providing the weight 
of Grapes does not much exceed 1 lb. per foot in length of the Vine. 
In the case of _“ large-bunch ” varieties, such as Gros Guillaume 
and Trebbiano, mistakes are often made in leaving more bunches 
for a crop than the Vine can possibly “finish” satisfactorily, 
cultivators forgetting at the right time that the larger the bunches 
promise to be the fewer they should be in number for the crop. 
Three or four 7-lb. bunches of Trebbiano are ample for one Vine 
if its permanent vigour is considered, as it should be. One 
12-lb. bunch of Gros Guillaume and one or two smaller bunches 
should be allowed for a crop in preference to leaving two largo 
bunches. In a general way, ten or eleven bunches of Lady Downe°s, 
weighing from 1| lb. to 2^ lbs. each, may be left on each Vine of 
the length indicated for a crop. Superfluous bunches should be 
removed as soon as the best bunches can safely be determined, and 
the berries ought to be thinned on those retained for the crop as 
early as possible after they have set, so as to not unnecessa-ily 
waste the forces of the Vines, as is the case when the Grapes are 
allowed to become as large as Green Peas before being thinned. 
The berries should be thinned out to 1 inch from berry to 
berry as soon as possible after they are set, retaining the croAvn or 
central berries, and being careful not to rub the bunches in any 
way, or to injure the berries with the scissors. In addition to a 
sharp-pointed pair of scissors, those engaged in the work of 
thinning should have a small forked birch twig for raising the 
shoulders of the bunches in the process of thinning. Loose 
shoulders are best cut off, as single-stemmed bunches are prefer¬ 
able. Large bunches of Gros Guillaume and Trebbiano should 
have the shoulders tied neatly and carefully out, suspending the 
points with a series of ties from the trellis, care being taken to give 
additional support to the points and shoulders generally as they 
extend in growth, otherwise the increased weight of the extremities 
of the bunch will cause them to assume a perpendicular position, 
and to cut at the point of contact with the trees. 
With regard to Gros Maroc and Gros Colman, a space of raflier 
more than 1 inch from berry to berry should be allowed in 
thinning ; and in thinning bunches of Buckland Sweetwater and 
Gros Guillaume, all that is necessary in a general way is to cut out 
all the small berries, as these, being furnished with long footstalks, 
will have ample room to swell out to proper dimensions. In 
conclusion, I may remark that the Vines should be kept well 
supplied with water at the roots during the next four or five 
months, giving surface dressings of Thomson’s Vine manure or 
some other approved artificial before applying clear water, and 
sopious waterings of liquid manure, not too strong, being given at 
the roots alternately with the applications of clear water, and 
results of the most satisfactory kind may be looked for, other 
points being duly attended to during the period mentioned.— 
H. W. AVakd, Longford Castle. 
NATIONAL AURICULA SOCIETY. 
SouTiiEKN Section Exhibition. 
I ilAVEjfor a number of years—in fact, ever since the Soc’ety 
was established—given my estimate of the character of its exhibi¬ 
tions ; these have been of the most varied descripti m, and I have 
sometimes been severely criticised because I have written dis- 
