376 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ NcTtmber », WS-7. 
not perfect as a fruit when short of the proper number of 
stones. I have seen Lady Downe’s this year quite worth¬ 
less because, as I considered, practically seedless. 
I have made a special point of fertilisation, and shudder 
to think what the crops would have been without it. One 
bunch of Muscats hanging “ tells a tale.” I touched the 
top portion of the bunch, down one side, and also the bottom, 
with pollen ; where it was not touched all the berries are 
small, and the effect very striking. Yet the large berries 
want more stones; and if I did not know it before I know 
now, that, beneficial as fertilising is, it will not of itself 
produce seeds in Grapes. Remembering the grand 
results achieved by Mr. Taylor from the very free use of 
lime in perfecting stones in his Grapes, I am utterly at 
a loss to know why my apparently healthy Vines should 
not, when the same means are applied, answer to my call. 
I h ive used a stone (14 lbs.) of lime to a square yard in 
some cases, and even more coprolites and gypsum. I 
should like to know what more can be done to effect the 
desired object. As to the time of applying lime, l have 
given it three times a year, never top-dressing or mulch¬ 
ing without using it. When making the borders I may 
have depended too much on old mortar rubbish, which is 
good for a mechanical purpose, and it is possible if more 
active lime had been used I should have better results; 
but the point is a moot one, and I leave it for further 
consideration. Reverting to artificial fertilisation, I 
cannot help feeling vexed to hear clever men, who happen 
to catch me dusting the bunches, remark they never 
have any trouble in setting their Grapes, but “just tap 
the Vine, and all is right.” 1 wish I had this magician's 
wand. 
My prospects for the next season are good. The 
wood is extra well ripened and strong -i. e., stronger than 
that of last year. As the fruit is cut a good sprinkling 
of lime will be given, washing it well in, following at the 
spring top-dressing with a heavier dose; the soil being 
naturally tenacious, will do with more than some of a 
friable nature. 
The question was very gently put to me once this 
summer—Did I think the Muscats had as much fire heat 
as they wanted at flowering time ? To this I replied, 
“ Supposing they did not, surely the want of fire did not 
injuriously affect the black Grapes,” yet all are alike 
faulty in stoning. I am fully aware there are faulty 
bunches, in one house especially, but I think other crops 
counterbalance this, and believe that more than one 
good reader of Journal will bear me out in this opinion.— 
Stephen Castle, West Lynn. 
[Our correspondent gives his experience on a subject of 
considerable importance; and it is observable that he does 
not hesitate to admit the faultiness of some of his crops, 
not dwelling on those alone that are meritorious. Mr. 
Stephen Castle sent us samples of Grapes on a previous 
occasion, and we could not fail to notice that the skins 
were lacking in texture, as well as the seeds being few. 
The condition was attributed to overcropping, or a 
deficiency of lime, or both. The overcropping is now 
admitted, and lime has been liberally used. There is a 
distinct improvement in the samples, the skins being 
thicker and colour better, and the seeds in the larger 
berries more numerous, but the smaller are very de¬ 
fective in this respect. 
A close examination of the berries sent, the whole of 
them having been dissected, reveals the influence that 
the seeds exert on the size of the fruit, apart from its 
keeping. As a rule, the size of the berries was in pro¬ 
portion to the number and character of the seeds in them, 
the exceptions to this being so few as to have practically 
no modifying effect. There can be no seeds without fer¬ 
tilisation, and those thus formed cannot be developed im 
the absence of lime, potash, and phosphoric acid, of 
which they are mainly composed, these comprising more- 
than 80 per cent, of their constituents. Mr. S. Castle has- 
evidently applied sufficient lime, and possibly more than 
enough, in which case the border would be the pooreran-d 
the Vines the losers, for if more food is liberated than 
they can appropriate it is washed away and lost. Has- 
he applied sufficient potash? Well-developed stones- 
contain about 5 per cent, more lime than potash; but 
if we add the skins thereto we find a great excess of 
potash in the composition. We are of opinion, how¬ 
ever, that the want of seeds in this case is mainly the 
result of defective fertilisation. 
It is quite true that many gardeners have no need to 
exercise the care that Mr. Castle bestows in the setting 
of the fruit. This we suspect indicates a difference in 
temperature or atmospheric conditions during the flower, 
ing period. The reluctance of our correspondent to use- 
the front ventilators, which we know are often seriously 
abused, suggests the possibility of the atmosphere being 
too damp, according to the temperature, at a critical 
time. The fruit will set in a low temperature if the air 
be dry, but not otherwise, and the higher the temperature 
the drier the air as a rule, when other routine conditions 
are alike in the two cases. The position of the vineries 
being low, and the sea not far distant, a naturally moist 
atmosphere may prevail, and if this is so the corrective 
that occurs is more fire heat when the Vines are flower¬ 
ing. We have had Grapes set freely at a temperature of 
50° in a dry house and district, but found an increase of 
15° under opposite conditions distinctly advantageous. 
Further comment on the subject is left to others, and we 
now briefly indicate the character of the samples before us. 
Gros Colman, fertilised with Black Hamburgh pollen; 
the largest berry 1& in diameter, contained four good 
seeds ; the majority, nearly as large, two and three seeds, 
a few smaller berries one seed; colour very good, and 
quality above the average. Muscat:, the largest and 
roundest berry was the only one having three seeds, the 
majority two seeds, every small berry one only ; size 
below average, but the firmness remarkable, and quality 
excellent. Gros Maroc on own roots in a cool house : 
berries oval, much more so than the Muscats; medium 
size, well coloured; the largest two seeds, the majority 
one; quality inferior—soft and watery, the result probably 
of low temperature and overcropping. Gros Maroc on 
Black Hamburgh stock : a remarkable change. One berry 
only, the largest, had four seeds; the majority, 1 \ inch 
in diameter, two and three; the smallest only one stone. 
Berries quite round, and exactly resembling Gros Col¬ 
man ; colour good, and quality far superior to the other. 
Judging from appearance alone nine out of ten gardeners 
would have pronounced it Gros Colman, but the palate 
test settled its identity as Gros Maroc Black Ham¬ 
burgh : below average in size; seeds as a rule imperfect, 
only one berry having four, the majority two, the smallest 
one; stems weak; footstalks long and slender ; colour 
good, and quality above the average. Judging by the 
sample alone the Vine is not in a satisfactory condition. 
Black Alicante on Buckland Sweetwater: berries round 
and well coloured, medium size, and of fair quality; a 
few of the largest contained three seeds, the majority two, 
but several only one. The same variety not fertilised: 
small, loose, nearly seedless, and practically worthless. 
