60 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 23, 1891 
It was clear I had been well advised as to the track that would 
open out to still more interesting discoveries, as, sure enough, here 
was Grape growing with cropping and luxuriance such as I had 
never previously seen. My first impression was, Were those Grapes 
mine I would pray night and day for a season with fourteen months’ 
sun, as how such a growth of wood could be ripened without it 
was past my comprehension. And, undoubtedly, there was crop¬ 
ping in proportion to growth. On one Muscat cane I counted 
fifteen bunches, and I have weighed Grapes too long not to know 
that they would cast the scale at 45 lbs. Mr. Murray I found 
delayed his stopping till literals were some G or 7 feet long, and 
this undoubtedly resulted in root vigour proportionately. Bunches 
generally were large to an extreme, and Lady Downe’s, Golden 
Queen, and Mrs. Pearson especially so, they in many instances 
averaging between 3 and 4 lbs. Up to now I had concluded that 
I held the whip w T ith Alicantes ; but here I saw that I was caught 
up, and with Mr. Murray being a few days earlier, at any early date 
I might be passed. Our Gros Colmans I saw just about the same 
stage, though here again, and especially after getting home, I con¬ 
cluded that foot for foot of glass I should probably cut greater 
weight and value. This allusion to home your readers will perhaps 
kindly pardoD, but as journeyings are frequently after knowledge 
so were mine, and it is by comparison that we find out where know ¬ 
ledge is most necessary. At Park Hall, too, were Black Ham- 
burghs, Alnwick Seedlings, Raisin de Calabrias, Gros Marocs, 
Muscat Hamburghs, and Madresfield Courts, all growing in the 
greatest luxury and abundance. After leaving Mr. and Mrs. 
Murray’s hospitable roof and accompanied by a shorter cut to 
the station, when left alone my mind was at once set meditating 
on the rich store of pleasant remembrances that I had happily 
to carry home, and the evident lessons that there might yet be 
learned anent Grape growing. 
The next morning once more found me early astir, and again 
accompanied by my son we reached Milbank, so long under the 
charge of my old friend and superb plant grower, Mr. Patterson. 
It was with much regret that I learned that regretable changes were 
contemplated which would probably result, after some forty years’ 
residence, in Mr. Patterson having to seek out a new sphere for his 
declining years. Thrift and prudence fortunately, I am glad to 
know, will prevent the necessity of choosing a new home in a 
hurry, but in all probability the new home will be necessary, and 
which I much hope will be as suitable as Mr. Patterson’s life-long 
character and abilities have been esteemed. 
The place of the cousinsdBuchanan, near Stirling, was the one 
I next wished to see, but I was in this dilemma—I had reached my 
last day, and it was the day on which the renowned Grace with his 
Gloucester team was timed to play the gentlemen of Scotland, 
consequently I determined to secure what might never be repeated, 
a special treat on the cricket field, in which I take great interest, 
and so my visit to my old neighbours and much-appreciated friends 
and other places on my list was left over to t some future oppor¬ 
tunity.— Joseph Witherspoon, Red Rose]\Vbieries , Chester-le- 
Street. 
PINUS INSIGNIS. 
I am forwarding to 171, Fleet Street, by the same post as this 
communication, a small shoot cut from a rather remarkable speci¬ 
men of the above named Conifer, remarkable on account of the 
way in which it has passed unscathed through many severe winters, 
while large numbers planted near it at the same time have all been 
killed. A brief statement of the facts, which I have gleaned from 
a person who helped to plant the trees, are as follows :— 
About forty years ago young trees of Pinus insignis and Cedrus 
Deodara were planted alternately to form an avenue in the park 
here. A very severe winter occurred five years after they were 
planted, and killed every Pinus in the avenue, with the exception 
of the one from which the specimen sent was cut. Throughout 
the many severe winters which have occurred since this sturdy 
Conifer does not appear to have been injured in the least, although 
mot sheltered in any way, more than the others which succumbed 
to the influence of severe weather. As my noble employer is 
greatly interested in Conifers, and indeed tiees in general, I should! 
be glad to know if you can detect any difference between the shoot 
sent and those of the variety generally grown. It differs slightly.' 
from smaller specimens we have about the grounds, but that may 
be accounted for by the great disparity in the size and age of’the- 
trees.—H. Dunkin, The Gardens , Warwick Castle. 
[This communication re-opens the question of the synonymity 
or otherwise of Pinus insignis ( Douglas ) and P. radiata ( Don ). The- 
former is so distinct and beautiful that its well-proved tenderness, 
is a great misfortune. Trees of it have thrice in our recollection 
been practically swept out of the country, only a few remaining 
uninjured. A really hardy Pinus of the colour and character of 
P. insignis would be a welcome acquisition, and this appears to 
exist at Warwick Castle. Dr. Hogg has a noble specimen on one 
of his Sussex estates that has passed unscathed through more than 
forty winters. Is the Warwick Castle specimen the true P. insignis, 
or is it P. radiata ? This latter Gordon, in his “Pinetum,” distinctly 
states is hardy, while he describes P. insignis as only “ tolerably 
hardy.” After describing the characters of the leaves of P. radiata 
syn. P. insignis macrocarpa, Hartweg, and stating that the cones 
are “ 6 inches long and 3^ inches broad at the base,” he goes on to- 
say :—“ This beautiful Pine resembles Pinus insignis in some 
respects, but differs very much in foliage and cones ; the leaves of 
P. insignis are much longer and stouter than those of P. radiata,, 
while the cones of P. radiata are nearly three times the size of 
those of P. insignis, and with the scales much more elevated. It 
was first discovered by the late Dr. Coulter in Upper California, in 
latitude 36°, near the level of the sea, and almost close to the beach, 
growing singly, and attaining the height of 100 feet, with a straight 
stem feathered to the ground with branches. He says it affords 
excellent timber, which is very tough, and admirably adapted for 
boat building, for which purpose it is much used at Monterey, 
Mr. Hartweg met with it on the descent towards the sea, on the 
mountains of San Antonio, 60 leagues south of Monterey, forming 
a small wood, extending along the beach, where the deep grass- 
green of its foliage formed a great contrast with the parched-up 
vegetation around it at the time. It is hardy, and well adapted for 
planting near the sea coast.” 
Gordon says the cones of P. insignis are only “ three inches and. 
a half long and two inches and a half wide.” He was Superintendent 
of the Horticultural Society’s Gardens at Chiswick when 
Douglas and Hartweg were collecting, and must have founded his 
observations on actual specimens and obtained his information 
from the fountain head, so to say, and consequently is entitled to 
be listened to. 
The close similarity in appearance of P. insignis and P. radiata 
may have justified subsequent observers in regarding them aa 
synonymous ; but however great the resemblance may be, if trees 
of one succumb to severe frost and those of the other withstand 
it, surely there is a practical and substantial difference. Dr. Hogg 
suspects his tree is the P. radiata of Don and not the P. insignis 
of Douglas , and it is at least possible that the hardy P. insignia 
at Warwick Castle may be P. radiata. We shall be glad if any of 
our readers can supply information on the matter.] 
HOME-MADE WINES AND PRESERVES. 
A very large number of readers of the Journal will have 
experienced a keen sense of pleasure in seeing in your last issue 
an admirable portrait of Mr. Robert Fenn,who has won for himself 
a distinguished position amongst horticulturists of eminence. His 
contribution to your pages, “ As in a Dream,” was delightful 
reading, and articles from his pen have always been practical and 
readable. 
My object now in referring to him is for the purpose of draw¬ 
ing attention to the subject of home-made wines, on the making of 
which both he and Mrs. Fenn are great authorities. I have never 
had the pleasure of seeing his old home at Woodstock or His pre¬ 
sent one at Sulhamstead ; but I distinctly remember his home¬ 
made wines at a great horticultural exhibition at the Aston Lower 
grounds, Birmingham, many years since, when he brought several 
bottles of various wines made by him and Mrs. Fenn at Woodstock. 
Several horticultural friends were invited to taste these wines, and 
a general feeling of pleasure was experienced with these pleasant 
refreshing substitutes for beer, and I have often wondered since 
why the manufacture of pure home-made wines has not been taken 
in hand by some enterprising person or persons, so that the general 
public may be enabled to obtain them at a moderate price. I well 
recollect in the trial of these wines at Aston we tasted some which 
closely resembled good Burgundy, Moselle, champagne, and other 
wines, all pleasant and most acceptable additions to the dinner 
