556 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 24, 1885. 
mansions in the country. The gardens are situate about a quarter of 
a mile from the Castle, and contain within the walls some six acres of 
highly cultivated and productive fruit and kitchen gardens. A wall 
runs through the middle from east to west, upon the southern aspect 
of which the principal fruit and forcing houses are built, consequently 
all lean-to’s. But to the Grapes. 
Alnwick Seedling. —Culzean has been called the home of this 
fine Grape, and I think it justly deserves the title, as it is here 
grown to a very high state of perfection. The photograph I send 
you may enable you to form a better idea of its grandeur than any 
description I could give. It is grown in a late vinery in company 
with Lady Downe’s and Alicante. Its bad setting qualities of which 
we sometimes hear are here unknown, being found in this respect as 
free as a Hamburgh. As to its keeping qualities its behaviour is 
rather singular. The Vines in this house are at present carrying their 
third crop. The first season they began to shrivel about the end of 
September. The next season they kept fresh fully a month or six 
weeks longer, while this season they are at the present time (Dec. 1st) 
quite plump and fresh, so with increased age this variety may yet 
turn out a late Grape, which in the early spring months would be a 
great acquisition. I may state that the crop was a very heavy one, 
averaging from 21 to 3 lbs. per foot of rod, some bunches being 
over 5 lbs. in weight, and the finish simply superb. 
Madkesfield Court.— Here this grand Grape is also exceptionally 
well done. It occupies an adjoining house to the Alnwick Seedling 
one. To give an idea of the enormous weight of fruit carried by this 
variety I may state that this season, just when beginning to colour, 
from three rods 12 feet long that were thought rather severely taxed 
five bunches were cut which weighed 20 lbs., three of which form 
part of the rather imperfect photograph I send. 
Foster’s Seedling.— Tn the same house this is equally fine, having 
grand bunches 5 and 6 lbs. in weight. This is a great favourite here, 
keeping in good condition from July to November, its rich yellow 
colour, coupled with the peculiar bloom, characteristic of this variety 
when well grown, giving it a fine appearance. It is found a heavy 
cropper, and was here finishing 3 lbs. to the foot of rod in grand style. 
Asis well known, Foster’s Seedling and Madresfield Court are two 
varieties much given to splitting. Here this evil is almost unknown, 
judicious ventilation, with a constant circulation of dry warm air during 
the ripening process, being found a sufficient preventive without resort¬ 
ing to the “ gimlet ” or restricting the supply of water to the roots. 
A seedling raised a few years ago by Mr. Murray was on its trial in 
this house. It is a late black Grape and appears a good cropper, 
forming nice compact bunches of good-sized berries covered with a 
very dense bloom. It is quite distinct from any existing kind, and 
if its trial proves satisfactory will no doubt speak for itself when 
brought before the public. The next house was filled with a fine even 
crop of highly finished Lady Downe’s. At one end of this house 
were two rods of Alicante, which carried some of the finest bunches 
of this variety we ever saw. Many would run 6 and 7 lbs., and 
perfect models in shape. 
Next in order is a Muscat house which, although largely planted 
with this variety, also contains Gros Column, Black Hamburgh, 
Buckland Sweetwater, and Gros Guillaume, the two latter proving 
their liking for warm treatment by their superior finish, the Buck- 
lands displaying a very high golden colour, while the dense bloom of 
the Barbarossa gave its large handsome bunches a magnificent 
appearance. A Black Hamburgh rod was carrying a remarkably 
heavy crop. The length of rod is but 12 feet, and it would have 
over 40 lbs. of fruit, many bunches being 4 and 5 lbs. in weight. 
The npxt house contains a mixed collection, embracing Foster’s Seed¬ 
ling, Black Hamburgh, Madresfield Court, Baisin de Calabre, Mrs. 
Pince, Golden Queen, and Gros Column, all displaying superior 
examples of their respective kinds. The much-derided Golden Queen 
is here seen in grand style, large bunches with a rich golden colour. 
It is a noble-looking Grape when well grown, and should be in every 
collection, being a robust grower, free bearer and setter, and of ex¬ 
cellent flavour, and hangs a long time in good condition. Mrs. Pince 
was also very fine, having very large symmetrical bunches and highly 
coloured. A rod of Raisin de Calabre set off the middle of this 
house with five magnificent bunches ranging from 10 to 12 lbs. each. 
Their great size did not seem to affect their finish in the least, as they 
were large in berry and of a rich golden colour. Another Muscat 
house finishes this fine range of vineries with remarkable examples of 
this high-class variety, bunches 14 to 10 inches in length, and from 
10 to 12 inches across the shoulders being quite common in this house, 
and the finish all that could be desired, being of a rich golden hue. 
The crop was also quite as heavy as any in the other houses, averaging 
quite 3 lbs. per foot. 
Such is a brief description of a few of the most striking varieties 
of Grapes grown at Culzean. Other fruits are equally well grown, of 
which I may have something to say at some future date. If I have 
not trespassed too far upon your space I will conclude with a few 
cultural remarks which may not be out of place. As already men¬ 
tioned, the vineries are lean-to’s, and are all of equal build, 13j feet 
high at back and front sashes 2 feet, length of rafter 18 feet, but is 
not cropped to the top, 3 or 4 feet being left clear of foliage for the 
admittance of light and air, width of border, including outside. 
23 feet, and is well elevated, the bottom being on a level with the 
surrounding ground, the advantages of this plan being higher tempera¬ 
ture and thorough drainage. The soil is a very light sandy loam, and 
could not produce such wonderful heavy crops without liberal feed¬ 
ing, which it undoubtedly receives, Mr. Murray being a firm believer 
in plenty of water and plenty of feeding. At all seasons the borders 
are perfectly hard and firm and matted to the surface with small fibrv 
roots. Hung upon the back wall of each vinery are neatly framed 
tabulated cards containing an accurate account of the progress and 
general management of each house, such as quantity of water given 
and when appliedj different kinds of manure and quantities given, 
number of bunches and average weight carried by each variety, &c. 
As to the quantity of water vigorous Vines in well-drained borders 
require the following may show. From the 1st of February to the 
1st of September of this year the inside borders of six vineries re¬ 
ceived over 30,000 gallons, which does not include the water re¬ 
ceived from having the borders covered with bedding plants in spring 
and heavy dampings two and three times a day throughout the 
summer, besides many drenchings to the outside borders, and this 
quantity was deemed insufficient, but owing to the past dry summer 
curtailing the supply more could not be given. Of manures, many 
kinds have been used boih natural and artificial. Of the latter pro¬ 
minence is given to that wonderful root-producing manure manufac¬ 
tured by Messrs. Thomson of Clovenfords. It is here largely used 
for many things besides Vines with the most satisfactory results. 
The Vines are planted 3 to 4 feet apart, according to variety, over¬ 
crowding being strictly guarded against, the aim being to allow each 
leaf as much light and air possible. Everything thoroughly clean, 
the most scrupulous attention to every detail in-connection with their 
management, wilh plenty of hard work, are a few of the particulars 
accredited for the above-mentioned results.— B. 
[The engravings are from photographs taken by our correspondent 
