266 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 22, 1892. 
done 8o much in so short a time for the welfare of the people. The 
approximate supply in 1886 of what are termed English-grown Grapes 
amounted to about 400 tons, one commission agent in Covent Garden 
(Mr. Monro) disposing of 40,000 baskets, or an equivalent of about 
■250 tons. During the past year (1891) this quantity has been greatly 
exceeded. The greatest quantity ever sold in one day wa3 in October, 
1891, and amounted to 4 tons = 750 baskets.” 
Where the Grapes are Produced. 
“ The chief producing establishments are to be found within a com¬ 
paratively easy distance of London, so that the fruit may be delivered 
by van without the intervention of the railway ; the Grapes are thus 
•obtained without a blemish in the best possible condition. Several of 
the vineyards or Grape-growing establishments are of a leviathan 
•character, whole fields being covered with glass, presenting in some 
parts of the country quite a novel feature in the landscape. Every 
year these are more and more extended. At the present time the 
largest growers are probably the Messrs. Rochford, who in their several 
establishments in the neighbourhood of Cheshunt, Brox'bourne, &c., 
have over 50 acres covered with glass, about one-half of which is 
planted with Grapes, from which they calculate to produce about 
300 tons a year, when the Vines come into full bearing—an acre of 
.ground covered with glass being estimated to produce 15 tons of Grapes 
annually. Reckoning the value of the crop at 2s. per pound, the gross 
return per acre thus amounts to £3360. Of other large growers in 
the London district may be named Mr. Peter Kay, of Finchley ; Mr. 
Ladds, of Bexley and Swanley ; Mr. Sweet, of Whetstone ; and many 
ethers. 
“ Another great centre for Grape-growing has arisen at Worthing, in 
Sussex, from whence some 300 tons are sent to Covent Garden every 
year, and is still extending ; the principal growers are Mr. N. Piper, 
Mr. Bushby, Mr. G. Russell, Mr. Sams, and Mr. Beer. In Scotland also 
Grapes are largely grown for London markets by Messrs. Thomson and 
Sons, at Clovenfords, Galashiels ; and Mr. D. Beatson, of Kirkcaldy. Of 
Grapes grown in the Channel Islands, especially Guernsey, the quantity 
is simply enormous. According to official returns in 1876 the shipments, 
via Southampton, amounted to 50 tong, whilst in 1886, ten years later, 
the total was over 500 tons, of which one salesman in Covent Garden 
(Mr. G. Monro) sold on commission over 300 tons, and in 1890-91 about 
350 tons. Although the production has very greatly increased, the 
quantity sent to Covent Garden does not appear so great, increased 
facilities for transmission having spread the trade in these low-priced 
Grapes to the provincial towns, Mr. Monro, for example, selling in 
Manchester, on commission last year, over 80 tons of fruit.” 
The Most Profitable Varieties. 
In Grape-growing, as in many other branches of commercial horti¬ 
culture, it is found that success is not to be gained by a multitude of 
varieties. It is far more profitable to restrict operations to one or two 
sorts for which a s'eady demand and fair prices exist. Although the 
general principles of culture are the same with all, there are certain 
modifications in treatment which it is only possible to provide in 
an economical manner by selecting one or two leading varieties and 
keeping each to itself, then growing it so well and extensively 
that a small profit per pound on a large bulk of fruit may give a 
satisfactory aggregate return for the capital and labour invested. 
“ Of varieties grown for market,” Mr. Barron says, “ the chief for 
early and summer use, up to the month of December, is the Black 
Hamburgh ; succeeding this, for late use, is the Gros Colman. No 
other Grapes command the market to any extent. Lady Downe’s 
Seedling, a few years ago, was the favourite late Grape; now it is of 
comparatively little value. Black Alicante commands a fair price 
up to a certain period, and Madresfield Court is approved as an early 
sort. Amongst white Grapes the Muscat of Alexandria is the first 
favourite, and Buckland Sweetwater second.” Probably Gros Colman 
well grown brings the best prices. When well cultivated this Grape 
has that rare combination—magnificent appearance and good quality. 
Medium-sized bunches, with large and perfectly coloured berries, are 
what dealers require, and market growers turn them out as though from 
a mould—living pictures of beauty and quality, that invariably com¬ 
mand purchasers. The name of Mr. Witherspoon, of Chester-le-Street, 
is worth adding to those who are named in Mr. Barron’s work as having 
had a large share in the development of commercial Grape-growing. 
His culture of Gros Colman and Alicante is certainly remarkable. 
Will the Prices Keep Up? 
Passing over the information that is supplied on the methods of 
culture pursued in the great Grape establishments, also on that respecting 
the important question of keeping fruit, but which must be carefully 
studied by intending growers, we come to the subject of prices. May 
they be expected to keep up? will be the question suggesting itself. 
Mr. Barron gives a negative reply. In the 1887 edition of his work he 
gave a list of prices for fruit supplied by the well-known Covent Garden 
agents, Messrs. Webber & Co., which were from 25 to 50 per cent, lower 
than those in 1876, and predicted that there would be a further decline. 
The prediction has been fulfilled, “ the prices from Messrs. Webber’s 
books of last year (1891) being 25 per cent, lower in every month 
(excepting October) than in 1886, and the tendency is still downward, 
although the prices at the present time seem to be as low as it would 
appear possible for them to pay, even with skill and capital combined. 
The chief growers do not, however, trouble themselves much after 
sensation prices. They base their calculations on the actual costs and 
gross returns; and argue thus—that to sell a ton of Grapes at 2s. or 3s. 
per pound is better than, as formerly, to sell a few hundred pounds at 
10s. or 203. per pound—prices which were practically beyond the reach 
of the consumers. Cheap prices now enable retail fruiterers to maintain 
a supply on sale at all times, thus increasing the consumption. This 
fall in prices has a tendency to induce growers to crop too heavily, and 
in this way the general quality of the Grapes is not maintained.” 
English Grapes for America. 
It would be easy to quote further from this deeply interesting 
chapter, particularly from what is said on packing Grapes for market, 
and on the structures in which the great bulk of the fruit now sent to 
market is grown, but a perusal of the work will afford information on 
these and other points in procedure that are of prominent importance. 
We conclude with a gratifying testimony to the quality of British 
Grapes in the information that an export trade in them to America is 
growing up. “ A great trade in English winter Grapes seems likely to 
become established with America. During the past two seasons regular 
consignments of English Grapes have been sent from this country. 
They have been found to travel well and to arrive in good condition, 
and prove of superior quality to American produce during the winter 
season. They are sent by the Cunard steamers, reaching New York 
about ten days after being cut ; some are sold on arrival at New 
York, whilst others are sent on to Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburg, 
Chicago, <Scc.” 
It is a little consolation that if home growers of Apples cannot beat 
the American cultivators, we are able to produce Grapes of the highest 
quality, and find a market for them in the States. 
HARDY FLOWER NOTES. 
Tantalising to the flow r er grower is the weather of the season. 
Days of constant rain follow in close succession. Sometimes, fortu¬ 
nately, we have had brighter days, when, as Longfellow says in 
“ Evangeline”— 
“ Bright rose the sun next day ; and all the flowers of the garden 
Bathed his shining feet with their tears, and anointed his tresses 
With the delicious balm that they bore in their vases of crystal.” 
All too seldom have these days come. How welcome are they when they 
appear, both to us and to the flowers, to which they seem to bring fresh 
beauty ! Nothing can quench that beauty, and now it seems enhanced 
by the past disappointments and by the thought of the coming gloomy 
winter. There is much to view and to praise. 
COLCHICUMS AND SNOWFLAKES. 
The Colchicums, or Meadow Saffrons, have begun to open, and in 
some gardens further inland Crocus speciosus, the blue autumn Crocus, 
has opened its brilliant cups, although with me, where everything is 
late this autumn, none of the Crocuses are yet above the surface of the 
soil. The delightful little autumn flowering Leucoion or Leucojum, 
L. autumnale, is, however, in full flower, and excites much admiration, 
so delicately beautiful are its tiny pendent Snowdrop-like flowers with 
their tinge of pink at the base. This is now thoroughly established, and 
is well worthy of being planted in quantity in mild and favoured 
localities. A word of warning may not be out of place to those growing 
this tiny autumn Snowflake for the first time, and that is to take care 
not to destroy the grass-like foliage when it appears in spring. It is 
readily mistaken for grass by the careless or hurried weeder. For this 
chaste little flower a sunny, sheltered position in light soil will be found 
the most suitable. Mr. Baker, in his “ Handbook of the Amaryllidese,” 
gives its native habitats as “ Portugal and Morocco to the Ionian 
Islands.” L. autumnale of Linnaeus is the Acis autumnalis of 
Salisbury. 
Liliums. 
Several Lilies are now well in bloom, and among the most reliable 
and satisfactory for the hardy flower garden are still the varieties of 
L. tigrinum, the well known Tiger Lily. The variety Fortunei or 
splendens is in many respects superior to the typical form, being taller 
in stature and having larger flowers. The double Tiger Lily (L. tigri¬ 
num fl.-pl.) is apparently becoming a greater favourite, and is met with 
in gardens much more frequently than formerly. It seems of compara¬ 
tively recent introduction, having been only introduced about the 
year 1869 from Japan. It appears to me to be the double form of 
L. t. Fortunei, and is later in flowering than the typical tigrinum. Its 
very double blooms are curious and fine, and the ease with which the 
varieties of the Tiger Lilies may be increased by planting the bulblets 
which are so freely produced on the flower stems, should enable admirers 
of the double form to add rapidly to their stock. The price is, however, 
so low that it seems hardly worth while to wait for these bulblets 
attaining a flowering size. In some of our works of reference various 
double Lilies are mentioned, but few of these are seen in general cultiva¬ 
tion. I have not as yet met with any of the double forms of the 
Martagon Lily (L. Martagon), or with L. pomponium fl.-pl. Several 
variegated leaved Lilies seem also to be in existence, but these are 
apparently rare, although the variegated form of L. candidum is com¬ 
paratively cheap. 
