142 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 22, 1894. 
FACTS ABOUT GRAPES.—No. 2. 
Madresfield Court. 
Before this variety was seen at its best upon the exhibition 
table the Black Hamburgh was the mainstay of those who com¬ 
peted with collections of fruit in which two varieties of Grapes 
were allowable. At that time the impression generally expressed 
was to the effect that no other black Grape would ever surpass the 
old favourite, always provided it was shown in good form, but it is 
never safe to prophesy unless we know. If Black Hamburgh and 
Madresfield Court, each equally well represented, are in open com¬ 
petition, the latter is usually preferred by good judges, and I think 
rightly so. 
At its best it is a handsome Grape, the bunches being long, 
well-shouidercd, and tapering to a good point, and in this respect is 
decidedly the superior of its older rival, the Black Hamburgh. 
Then, again, it is a free setter, the berries being large, even, and, 
as a rule, carry a good bloom. Whether they shall be of a rich 
purple-black colour or not depends largely upon the cultivator, a 
no very impressive remark be it said, but it will be seen presently 
what I mean. Even if the colouring is not satisfactory, the 
quality is rarely at fault, Madresfield Court being one of the 
best-flavoured Grapes I know. Nor can any fault be found with it 
on the score of non-productiveness, as I have always found it most 
productive, the bunches also being finer than the size of the young 
wood would lead us to expect. 
The foregoing is a tolerably good character to give to a Grape, 
and if there was not more behind of a less laudatory description 
the Madresfield Court would, perhaps, be generally voted the best 
all-round variety in cultivation. Not till the colouring period is 
reached does the cultivator’s trouble commence. One day the 
state of the crop may be all that could be wished, and the next this 
good prospect be greatly marred owing to a wholesale cracking of 
the berries. What caused this unfortunate occurrence was for 
some time an open question, some growers attributed it to one 
thing and others to another. It was well debated in these columns, 
and if I remember rightly I was one of several who took the wrong 
line of argument. I thought then, as some still maintain, that the 
splitting of ripening berries was brought about by a too late free 
application of water or liquid manure, or it may be a heavy fall of 
rain and dull weather following upon a dry time. 
Friends of mine who had little or no cause of complaint stated 
that their borders were never allowed to become in the least dry, 
but on the contrary were given more water and rich food from 
the first than thought necessary in the case of other Grapes in the 
same houses. There was, therefore, no premature hardening of 
the skins, and no sudden rush of sap and consequent cracking of 
berries owing to a soaking of water being given after the Vines 
had suffered from want of it. The other extreme, or the keeping 
the border very dry during the ripening period, was recommended, 
and probably is still practised in some cases, as a good preventive 
of cracking, instances having come under my notice of the Vines 
adjoining dried off, Madresfield Court flagging badly. Curiously 
enough, the latter did not apparently show signs of suffering from 
want of water, and this experience of it did not turn out altogether 
satisfactory as far as colouring or even cracking was concerned; 
certainly proved the Madresfield Court to be a very “ long suffer¬ 
ing ” variety, or more so, say, than Foster’s Seedling growing 
alongside it. 
Of late years I have repeatedly proved, to my own satisfaction 
at any rate, that wholesale cracking may take place even if the 
border has been kept uniformly moist, and also if rather dry during 
the ripening period. I have also found the border far drier than 
I cared to see it while the berries were colouring, and yet no crack¬ 
ing worthy of mention take place after a good soaking of water 
was given. Evidently the most frequent, if not the sole cause of 
berry cracking, is to bo traced to faulty ventilation, and the 
advocates of the endosmose theory deserve every credit for the stand 
they made and the good service rendered. When the berries are 
swollen to their full size it only needs a very little moisture to pass 
through the skin to bring about bursting, and that is actually what 
does take place in nearly all instances where the ventilation is at 
fault. In order to guard against the sudden rise of temperature 
and an atmosphere overladen with moisture, a free circulation 
of air must be kept at all times, and in particular during dull 
showery weather. Attempting to do without fire heat is quite a 
mistake, as in order to keep up a buoyant atmosphere air ought 
to be admitted at the front lights, pass over a warm flue or hot- 
water pipes comfortably heated, and out of the top ventilators. 
Without the aid of fire heat the circulation of air is very sluggish 
at times, low temperatures likewise being prejudicial to perfect 
ripening. 
Not only is a fairly brisk circulation a sure preventive of 
cracking, but it is also needed in order to promote perfect colouring 
of the berries. From the time the Madresfield Court under my 
charge commences colouring the front lights are never wholly 
closed during the night, and a chink of top air is also left on con¬ 
stantly. Nor is this all. Owing to the top air being admitted by 
running sashes there are times when these must be drawn up 
nearly close, or otherwise too much moisture may find its way into 
the house for the benefit of ripening and ripe Grapes. Then if 
these lights are not opened again directly the sunshine breaks 
through the clouds, there is a rapid rise in the temperature, and 
vapour accumulates on the berries to a very dangerous extent. To 
obviate this difficulty and for another very sufficient reason 
several end squares of glass are taken out opposite the bunches of 
Madresfield Court, which fortunately are near to the end of the 
house, and quarter-inch galvanised wire netting substituted. Since 
that practice has been adopted scarcely any berries have cracked, 
whereas previously I have had whole bunches spoilt in a few 
minutes. 
This admitting air thus freely while yet the berries are not 
fully grown has its drawback, as it undoubtedly militates against 
the Grapes attaining a large size. On the other hand, a free 
circulation of air is absolutely necessary to promote perfect 
colouring of the berries, and the laying on of a good coat of not 
easily disturbed bloom. The berries are frequently grown by 
other gardeners to an extra large size, and consequently severe 
thinning is particularly needed in the case of the Grape under 
notice, or more so than I can always bring myself to practise. 
Unfortunately the largest sized berries very rarely colour properly, 
if ever they do. 'Phere is always a greenness apparent near the 
footstalk, this greatly detracting from the value of the bunch from 
an exhibitor’s point of view. Air being admitted so very freely 
invariably leads to our bunches colouring beautifully, but then as 
before stated, the size of berry is at fault. This season I hope to 
see the berries a shade larger and yet well coloured, but whether 
any risks will be run in the way of keeping the glass at the ends of 
the house intact longer than usual remains to be seen.— 
W. Iggulden. 
LANDSCAPES. 
Apart from gardens and gardening, which it is obvious does 
and should claim our first attention, there is another phase of the 
art on a broader basis, that of Nature’s domain, in which we do 
not intrude as workers. Yet this must ever play an important, if 
a secondary, part in our lives ; and it is a field in which we, too, 
can learn many a lesson from the silent teacher. Varied and soul- 
stirring is the beauty of the landscapes of “ Merrie England,” with 
the bolder and more rugged grandeur of “ Caledonia, stern and 
wild;” whilst Ireland, “emerald gem of the sea,” more than 
holds her own in natural beauty. Each with characteristics of 
their own together form a field of observation for those who have 
not the opportunity of seeing Nature’s pictures in other lands, and 
perchance there are many who do can say on their return— 
“ Where’er I roam, whatever realms I see. 
My heart untravelled fondly turns to thee.” 
In order to draw comparison with our own country and distant 
lands it would be necessary to eliminate for the time being that 
feeling of amor jyatricB existing in all races, white or black, which 
is a consideration scarcely possible with even the proverbial 
Englishman’s love of fair play, and for that right and proper 
feeling due margin must be allowed. Those persons whom 
circumstances confine to the limits of our snug little islands can at 
least enjoy what is worthy of admiration, and probably find ample 
room in so doing without that ever constant dread a transatlantic 
visitor had of stepping over the side into the sea. 
True, we cannot in our geography lay claim to “ the biggest 
things on earth,” at the same time there is some consolation in the 
reflection that some of these big things have drawbacks we can 
well do without. In that grand chain of the Rockies of the West 
are bred the discords of the elements, those cyclones and blizzards, 
which sweep down from their mountain home to carry destruction 
and desolation across a continent ; or in the tropical luxuriance of 
the “ Garden of the Sun,” where only man is vile, and the Bornean 
head-hunter gathers his peculiar fruit, we escape their reaping- 
hooks amongst a crop that could be ill spared ; there are, too, bits of 
earthly paradise where Nature is found in her most loveable moods. 
But these influences are too enervating. Here Nature does too much 
and leaves too little for man to do, smilingly giving him all he 
wants, whilst we, in these islands, have to wrestle with her when 
she frowns—and she often does—but in the struggle is formed 
the sinews and muscle of a nation. So putting out of mind what 
we cannot possess and are possibly better without, let us at least 
enjoy what we have, and we have a great deal. 
