February 4, 1S86. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
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COMING EVENTS 
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Royal Society at 4.30 p.h. Linnean Society at 8 P M. 
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5th Sunday after Epiphany. 
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Royal Geographical Society at 8.30 P.M. 
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Royal Horticultural Society—Fruit au3 Floral Committees at 11 a.m. 
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[Annual Meeting at S p.m. Annual Dinner at 6.30 p.m. 
MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA GRAPE. 
0 much has been written^about this Grape that 
it may be thought that nothing new can be 
advanced regarding it. Such may be the case, 
but I would venture to say that the Journal is 
always having added to its numerous readers 
young men just beginning life as gardeners who 
have not read all that has gone before on Vines 
and other horticultural subjects. There are 
also always new readers being added amongst 
the amateurs, and some of them may perhaps find the fol¬ 
lowing notes of use; at any rate I offer them with that hope. 
First of all it may safely be said that Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria is a grand Grape which should be grown by all who 
wish for high-class fruit. It is well worth the additional 
trouble sometimes required to have it in perfection, and those 
who are successful in its culture are always found extolling 
it in every way. 
Mr. Thomson of Drumlanrig, in the Journal for January 
21st, gave some interesting notes on the Muscat and his 
experience with it in some past seasons. For some years 
Muscats proved far from satisfactory at Drumlanrig, where 
all other varieties were to be seen in first-rate condition. 
Mr. Thomson attributes the unsatisfactory condition of the 
Muscats to the want of sufficient drainage in the border, and 
I am inclined to think he is right. The measures he took 
to cure the evil of a too deep and insufficiently drained 
border he describes, and also the yearly improvement that 
has taken place in his Muscats since the border was made 
more shallow and more perfectly drained. The experience 
1 have had with Muscats entirely coincides with Mr. Thom¬ 
son’s. Shallow well-drained borders, where abundant water 
could be given—where, indeed, the surplus water from each 
watering could at once be seen running out of the borders, 
they being quite above the level of the surrounding ground 
—seem to suit the Muscat exactly, provided always abun¬ 
dance of water be given when that is required, whether from 
the borders being inside or in dry weather if outside. 
Nothing is more calculated to prove disastrous to the 
welfare of Muscats than too deep and ill drained borders. 
Much time, labour, and expense have been laid out on Vine 
borders sometimes, which is very ill requited, in regard to 
Muscats at least, for the simple reasons that the borders are 
made without enough drainage and also too deep. Give me 
a shallow border above the level of the ground, an abundant 
supply of water, plenty of good soil and manures to top-dress 
with every spring, and, other things being favourable, Muscats 
will thrive and fruit as freely as can be desired. 
Regarding the varieties of Muscats much uncertainty 
prevails, and men of great skill and experience take entirely 
different views on the matter. Bowood Muscat has never 
been seen by the writer so distinct as to warrant its being 
cultivated under a different name. Indeed the difference was 
more imaginary than anything else, as, knowing that what 
was called Bowood was being looked at, some slight difference 
was thought to be observed, and that is all. Grown side by 
No. 293 .—Yol, XII., Third Series. 
side with other Muscats, I have not noticed it any earlier 
than other varieties. There can, however, be no mistake in 
saying that Canon Hall Muscat is a distinct variety, and 
when successfully grown it is a splendid Grape in appearance 
and in quality. It is, however, extremely fickle, and too 
often rewards its cultivator with a long straggling bunch 
with a few scattered, properly set and swelled berries, and 
this after careful attention and artificial fertilisation. 
In order to attain success in the culture of Muscat of 
Alexandria, in addition to shallow well-drained borders and 
plenty of surface feeding, I would advise that the rods be 
kept so far apart that all the laterals may be tied out at right 
angles to the main stems, so that the foliage may receive 
every chance of catching as much sun as possible, and that 
the wood may be thoroughly ripened, which does not happen 
sometimes, when shoots are too thickly laid in and the leaves 
unduly crowded. 
Never be tempted to crop Muscats too heavily. The 
difference between Muscats which have been cropped so that 
they could finish their fruit well, and others which have been 
overburdened, is so great that nothing should induce anyone 
to overcrop. In the one case well-ripened, well-swelled, and 
perfectly finished Grapes can be had ; Grapes which will 
keep a long time and be a pleasure to eat. In the other case 
want of colour and finish, early signs of shrivelling, and a 
great want of flavour and sweetness result. Some cultivators 
advocate leaving the bunches so free from leafy covering 
that they will get the direct rays of the sun, but I have found 
that this causes scalding at the stoning period, and also turns 
some of the berries into raisins later on. If the Vines are in 
good order and not too heavily cropped, the bunches will 
colour quite golden beneath a moderate amount of foliage, 
and then scalding and roasting into raisins can be avoided. 
As a general rule it is advisable to use artificial fertilisa¬ 
tion to secure a good set with Muscats. When the bunches 
are in bloom they should be brushed over very lightly with a 
feather or foxtail, choosing midday for the operation, at the 
same time endeavouring to maintain a temperature as near 
90° as possible, with a circulation of air when such can be 
safely obtained. On some cold days in spring, when the sun is 
powerful, raising the heat in the houses considerably, and when 
at the same time an east wind is blowing that chills, every¬ 
thing it comes in contact with, it is extremely difficult to 
ventilate houses where Muscats are in bloom, so that a cir¬ 
culation can be maintained without a chilling effect. This 
is one of the many difficulties a gardener has to contend 
with. In dull cold weather pipe heat must be resorted to, 
to maintain a temperature as near 80° as possible, and assi¬ 
duous attention must be paid to the precious Muscats in the 
way of applying the feather or foxtail so that every bunch 
may be caught at the time when its pollen is ripe and ready. 
Nothing is more disappointing than a bad set of Muscats, as 
the labours of a season must then go in a great measure un¬ 
rewarded. 
In comparatively sunless summers it is often very neces¬ 
sary that much fire heat be used in conjunction with a 
judicious ventilation, in order that Muscats may be suffi¬ 
ciently ripened to enable them to keep well. When such is 
the case red spider too often appears. When first observed I 
advise an immediate attack with clean water and the syringe. 
Taken in time the red spider may be checked, but allowed 
to get a hold it is certain to make its mark before being over¬ 
come. Sulphur is thought by some to be effectual in check¬ 
ing red spider, but sometimes it is very doubtful whether the 
maintenance of a dry, or at least a comparatively dry, atmo¬ 
sphere at a time when plenty of moisture is beneficial, is not 
more calculated to enable the pest to thrive, in spite of sul¬ 
phur, than if extra moisture and syiinging were resorted to. 
Mildew, generally the result of a too stagnant and damp 
atmosphere, is another trouble that sometimes affects Muscats 
seriously ; but in most cases it might easily have been 
avoided if due attention had been paid to atmospheric con- 
No. 1949.— Yol. LXX1Y., Old Series 
