428 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 17,1887. 
removed to render them more visible. The bunches are produced from 
the second, third, or fourth joints from the base, but under glass the 
bearing laterals are topped, or as we commonly say “stopped,” at the 
first, second, or third leaf beyond the bunch, according to the space be¬ 
tween the rods ; but in the open air there is no limit to the space up¬ 
wards, and the growths, which correspond to the laterals in vineries, are 
allowed to reach the top of the stakes and are then topped, it may be at 
seven or eight leaves beyond the bunch. The secondary growths or sub¬ 
laterals are suppressed as fast as produced, this pinching and hoeing the 
ground to prevent weeds being all that needs to be done in the summer. 
The ground is not dug, but is firm, and “netted” with roots, and a 
dressing of Thomson’s manure has been, if I remember ri.litly, once 
applied. tfOJSAa , 
Thei(health of the Vines is of the best that can be imagined, as 
indicated by the sturdy growth of the canes and the extraordinary 
texture of the foliage. Consequent on the short-jointed growth the crop 
is clustered towards the base and not far from the ground ; and it is 
Fig. 53.—A CnMle Coch Vine. 
possible that it ripens the better on that account through the radiation 
of heat from the earth. The leaves of the Vines are not quite so large 
as those of well-grown Black Hamburghs under glass, but equal the 
best of them in substance, far surpassing the majority in that respect; 
and it would not perhaps be easy to find examples under glass equalling 
in weight the best grown in this op n vineyard, it is not the mere size 
or superficial area of leaves that represents their value, but texture or 
weight in accordance with size, or, in other words, a Vine leaf !) or 10 
inches in diameter may be better, because stouter and heavier, than one 
a foot or more across. When Vine leaves are abnormally large, and at 
the same time thin in texture, soft and flimsy, it is a certain indication of 
imperfect growth, and indubitable evidence of something being wrong 
somewhere. That there was nothing wrong with the Castle Coch Vines, 
or at least with the variety best adapted "for the purpose in view, and 
which is the most extensively grown, was apparent, and I have not the 
remotest fear of anyone who inspected th m in September, and who is 
cimpotent to judge on the matter, questioning their superior con¬ 
dition. In that respect they quite exceeded my expectations, and I 
was more than satisfied with my visit to this vineyard when the 
Grapes were ripening for the best vintage that has been seen m 
England in the memory of man. Whether the monks of old had 
b tter from their vineyards we shall never know, but if they grew 
their own wine in various parts of the country—and for what other purpose 
could the vineyards be established ?—why cannot it be produced in 
other districts than South Wales now ? The rainfall is less in many parts, 
and equally good shelter could be found, such as in clearances that might 
be made in unproductive woods and plantations. If I were in the 
position of many landed proprietors 1 should certainly try what could 
be done, and should not expect to fail. But it has to remembered 
that wine-growing involves waiting for results, these now attained at 
Castle Coch being represented by 60s. per dozen for the rich, yet 
vinous, Sauterne-like wine that is there produced through all stages, 
from inserting the cuttings of the Vines, pressing out the juice from 
the Grapes, and maturing and bottling the wine by Mr. Pettigrew. 
The demand for this wine exceeds the supply, the Marquis of Bute 
is satisfied, and his gardener ought to be proud of his work. 
Much more could be written on this interesting subject, but Clin s- 
antliemums are in the ascendent just now, show reports claiming space, 
and it can only be added that the ordinary early Sweetwater and 
Muscadine Grapes are of no use for wine-making in comparison with 
the variety chiefly grown at Castle Coch—the Gammy Noir. The bunches 
are not thinned, the Grapes, being small and blue-black in colour w hen 
ripe ; but it is not necessary that Grapes should be dead ripe for wine¬ 
making. 
We returned from Castle Coch via Llandaff, a neat, well-to-do-looking 
village-like city of apparently three or four hundred inhabitants, glanced 
at the beautiful tower of the restored cathedral, peered through the trees 
at the Bishop’s palace, and a two-miles drive, mainly through an avenue 
of young trees planted by Mr. Pettigrew, took us to his house again, 
from which we soon afterwards departed, with pleasant remembrances ot 
unbounded kindness, for Margam. —A Toukist. 
*** The figure 2 appears to have dropped out of the type on page 404 
last week, making the Recreation Ground at Cardiff 4 instead of -4 
acres. 
GROS COLMAN GRAPES NOT COLOURING. 
I should be glad if some of your able correspondents could inform 
me why this Grape has not ripened with me. This is the first time I 
have grown it. The vinery was started on January 15th at 45°, the 
heat was gradually increased until it reached 65° during the flowering 
period—night temperature—the day being 10° or 15° higher, according 
to the weather. The Vines all broke strongly and regularly, and all 
finished their crop beautifully, except Gros Colman. The A ine is not 
heavily cropped, having but eleven bunches of medium size. The \ ines 
were planted in 1884. What crops they carried previous to last year I do 
not know, but when I took charge, a little more than a year ago, every 
Vine from which the fruit was not cut had twenty-four bunches on, 
some of them very large. I thought the crop too heavy, so allowed none 
of the Vines this year to carry more than twelve bunches, and so give 
them a chance to recoup themselves this year. Would the heavy crop 
of last year affect the ripening this year ? A clever piece of workman¬ 
ship on the part of my predecessor was to plant the early vinery with Black 
Hamburghs, Gros Colman, Muscat of Alexandria, and Buckland Sweet¬ 
water, while the late house in which the Grapes are required for Christ¬ 
mas is planted with Alicante, Lady Downe’s, Mrs. Pince, and Black 
Hamburgh. Is it too late for me to shift the Gros Columns and Muscat 
of Alexandras into the late house, and bring the Black Hamburghs 
into the early vinery ? I must start the early vinery in January, and 
the late one in March. I would not mind having to sacrifice a crop 
next year on the Black Hamburgh that I want to move if I could 
secure a few bunches off the Muscats and Gros Colman in the late house. 
The vineries are span-roofed, and contain six Vines on each side. 1 he soil 
is sandy loam, the top spit from the deer park. It contains no lime, and 
as far as I can ascertain no lime rubbish was used in making the borders. 
The Vines have had plenty of water and liquid manure from the farm 
vard, also two dressings in spring of half inch bones. I may add, the 
last of the Grapes in the early vinery—with the exception of Gros Col- 
nian—were cut a fortnight ago, the crop having given entire satisfaction 
to my employer in all points. I enclose sample ot Grapes in question 
for the Editor’s opinion. They are deficient in stones (also flavour) as 
they were never fertilised beyond tapping the rods.—A YOUNG Head 
Gardener. 
[The Vines may be removed and replanted at once, due care being 
exercised in the work, and the leaves retain-d as long as possible. The 
Gros Colman Vine was weakened by overcropping last jear, and this 
year's crop, though much lighter, was still too heavy. The Grapes are 
of good size, but the skins too thin and tender for long keeping.] 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
November 8th. 
Scientific Committee.— Present: G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., in 
the chair ; Messrs. Lynch, Smith, O’Brien, Smee. Michael, Maclachlan, 
Pascoe, Bidley, Murray, Professor Church, Professor Ward, and Rev. 
G. Henslow. 
Kryng um Sp'ciss as Bcc-flurrrm .—With reference to Mr. V ilson’s 
observations on E. giganteum being a good bee-flower, Mr. Henslow 
