190 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ jrareli 9, im 
ranging from 2 lb?, to 4 lbs. each. I admit it is hardly fair to thus 
test any late Grape with Mrs. Pince. 
TESTING THE QUALITY OF GRAPES. 
AVhere several long-keeping varieties of Grapes are grown 
for home consumption it is a good plan, in order to ascertain 
which of the several varieties (VIrs. Pince excluded) find most 
favour, to place two together c n che table of persons who have been 
accustomed to the flavour of ( r pes fr-om their infancy, and who, 
therefore, may be considered competent judges of the quality of 
the Grapes set before them. Lady Downe’s should be the standard 
variety, as being the generally acknowledged best late Grape in 
cultivation ; therefore, the contest might be opened by sending to 
table Lady Djwne’s and Gros Jlaroc three or four days following, 
renewing supplies of the variety finding most favour daily during 
that period. Assuming Lady Downe’s to be that variety, Gros 
Guillaume might take the plate of Gros Maroc, and so on until all 
the varieties had been tested by the standard thus set up. On the 
other hand, should preference in the first instance be given to the 
Gros Maroc, Lady Downe’s would bo succeeded by Gros Guillaume 
or some other vaiiety at the end of the specified time. In this way 
a pretty correct decision of the relative qualities of late Grapes by 
competent and impartial judges might be arrived at. In reference 
to societies w hich only provide one class for black Grapes at shows 
held in August, as is the case at Southampton, good judges would, 
I have no doubt, give the prizes to moderately good and fairly well 
finished bunches of Black Hamburgh in preference to good 
examples of Alicante, Gros Colman, Gros Maroc, or Lady Downe’s. 
They wrould also give the prize to good examples of any of the 
last-named four varieties in preference to “ red ” Hamburghs, which 
only afford evidence of bad cultivation. 
BOTTLED GRAPES. 
I quite acree with what Mr. Thomson says with regard to the 
effect which the sjstem of cutting and bottling late Grapes has on 
their flavour—namel}", that the latter is considerably impaired by 
reason of the water which the Grapes imbibe from the bottles. 
There is no doubt about Grapes keeping better and being of better 
flavour by being allowed to hang on the rods till February in 
properly constructed houses, and in which no plants requiring 
or giving off moisture are wintered. This wrould be better for 
the Grapes ; but would not the fact of the bunches being left so 
long on the Vines permanently and injuriously affect them, see¬ 
ing that they would have no interval of rest between cutting 
the Grapes and starting the Vines, as I maintain all late Vines 
should be started by the middle of February? Moreover, the 
Vines, borders, and inteiior of the vineries need attention in the 
meantine. No. Where a supply of Grapes is required all 
the year through, as is the case here, and in many other places 
besides, the bottling system must be had recourse to notwithstand¬ 
ing the extent to which Grapes lose flavour in consequence theieof. 
--H. W. W.A.itr. 
SIX GOOD CAULIFLOWERS. 
Excoukagep by many private letters I have received confirming 
my recommendation of “ Six Good Peas,” I have selected Cauliflower 
for my third article ; and although probably one or twro varieties 
may be sufficient for amateurs, large garden owners are obliged to 
have the earliest and latest varieties, as w’ell as others that will give 
a succession throughout the whole season. Cauliflowers are not so 
numerous as some other vegetables, yet there are about a dozen and 
a half affording ample room for selection. The Cauliflower season 
may be said to begin in May and end in November, and the earliest 
of all is 
Veitch’s Extra Early Forcing. —This is a most desirable 
variety. If sown in a little heat in Februarjq transplanted in 
March, and planted out in April, it will head in May, and a Cauli¬ 
flower that gains maturity in a little more than three months after 
sowing merits the name of ‘‘ early.” It is very compact in growth, 
may be planted 18 inches apart each way, and the heads pro¬ 
duced, from 3 to 4 inches in diameter, are as white as snow, and 
exceedingly delicate in flavour. It heads a fortnight before any 
other variety I have seen. AVe have ceased to sow Cauliflowers in 
the autumn, as this variety, when sown about the present time, will 
head before any autumn-sown plants, and while many of these 
become very leggy, or “ bolt,” the spring-sown ones invariably 
grow compact and do well generally. 
A^’kitcii’s Pearl. —A fine second early variety. It grows taller, 
more bushy, and produces larger heads than the preceding, but in 
these respects it might be described as of medium development, and 
it is a useful Cauliflower. The heads aie exceedingly firm, very 
compact, and pure white. It is a splendid Cauliflower for the 
table, and if sent to market in June and early in July it would be 
sure to meet with a ready sale, and at the top price. 
AA^erb’s Kinver Monarch. —A new Cauliflower, and as a main 
summer crop sort it is in my opinion unique. Like all well 
selected vegetables ic does not produce a Cjuantity of superfluous 
leaves, but grows most compactly and developes fine heads with 
certainty. AVe sometimes see Cauliflowers exhibited at shows in 
June, but it is towards the end of July and throughout August 
that they are showm in the greatest profusion, and as an exhibition 
sort at such times the Kinver Monarch is difficult to surpass. If 
sown in the open ground in Alarch it will head freely in July, and 
a succession can be had for a long time. 
Sutton's King oe C-vulielower?. —A well known variety, 
and especially for late autumn use, its merits being included 
amongst a good half-dozen everywhere. It is a strong healthy 
grower, and although it does not head so quickly as some of the 
preceding it comes in well in good time, and anyone going through 
a quarter of it a little w'hile after the first were cut would be 
delighted with the many fine heads they would find. The heads 
are well protected by leaves, and this is why I like it so much for 
autumn use. 
Carter’s Mont Blanc. —This has the merit of being distinct. 
The plants are strikingly compact in habit, and the heads are large. 
It is a summer sort, and those who grow balf a dozen varieties of 
Cauliflower and do not include this may rest assured that they are 
w’ithout one good one at least. Some Cauliflowers only succeed in 
certain soils, but I have noticed that this one does well in all, and 
its good constitution and robust style of growth indicates it as a 
variety that will prove remunerative. 
A^eitch’s Autu.mn Giant. —It speaks well for the class of 
Cauliflower Messrs. A’’eitch deal in wdien three out of my good half- 
dozen are of their introduction, but they all merit note, and this- 
one as much, or perhaps more, than any of them. It is as well 
known as any Cauliflower in existence. I have nothing new to say 
of it, but I could not help including it amongst the six, and it 
would have had a place in a less number. It is not, however, an 
early Cauliflower, and it can hardly be called a summer variety, as 
it must be sown early to head in August, but for September, 
October, and November it outdistances all rivals.—J. Muir. 
PEACH TREES CASTING THEIR BUDS. 
The vexed question of Peach trees casting their buds is ever 
reappearing amongst us, and although various opinions are from 
time to t’me advanced as to the cause of the evil, no effectual 
means of preventing it have been found, as it is still very prevalent. 
It is generally attributed to dryness of the borders and unripe 
wood, but anyone who has had Peach trees under his charge in 
different localities will have found bud-casting take place even 
when the borders have received ample supplies of water at all 
seasons, and also wdien the nature of the wood as to ripeness has 
left nothing to be desired. 
Taking unripe wood first, “.I. H. AA^.” (pagelGO) says “unripe 
wood is generally the cause of buds falling.” Now, tliis is exactly 
the reverse of my experience and observations, for whatever other 
evils are due to unripe wood, and they are many, I have never 
found it conducive to buds falling. The wood of outside trees is 
often in an unripe state at the commencement of winter, and yet,, 
as ever 3 rone is aware, with these the evil very rarely if ever occurs. 
Again, it is much less frequent in late houses than in early ones. 
The latest Peach house here is in a very unfavourable position for 
the trees ripening their wrood, being shaded by a high plantation 
I most of the afternoon, consequently the wood is weaker and greener 
in colour than is the case in the other houses, but the trees never 
cast their buds ; whilst in the eaidy house, wdiere the wrood is stout,., 
hard, and red coloured, some of tlic buds fall every year, although 
not enough to cause anxiety, j'et the evil is present. Judging from 
these facts, unripe wood would not appear to be the cause. 
Drjmess of the borders no doubt contributes greatly to increase 
the disposition of trees to cast their buds ; but, on the other hand, 
strict attention to watering will not always prove a sure preventive. 
I have had charge of Peach houses from which all the roof lights- 
have been removed dircctlj" after the last fruits were gathered, and 
have only been replaced in time to prepare the house for forcing, 
j’ct, notwithstanding the most cautious and gentle forcing, they 
w'ould cast their buds in showers ; and often I have entertained the 
gi’avest fears that enough would not remain to- furnish, a crop of 
fruit. AVhat, then, could have been the cause of the evil in this 
instance ? It was neither unripe wood nor dryness at the roots 
for these trees I am confident never suffered in that respect. 
The origin of the evil, I am of opinion, is to be found in forc¬ 
ing—not alone the eailj' forcing of the trees into growth, but the 
forcing to rest at a time of the year when, under natural conditions, 
they would be full of life and vigour. The Peach appears to 
require the w'arm sunshine and cool nights of autumn to mature 
