January 20,1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
45 
flowers, all size and no height to speak of. The effect of large 
discs at from 12 to 18 inches from the ground was very striking. 
They looked all head and no body, like the “ demons ” in a panto¬ 
mime, and I found that the plants had been raised in pots in a cool 
house, and afterwards planted out in line. They were laid flat and 
pegged down at their full length, along part of which further 
roots were afterwards emitted. The main heads turned short up 
and when these suns were set there was a long succession of moons 
and stars from the side shoots.—F. D. Horner, Burton-in-Lonsdale. 
MUSCAT GRAPES SHRIVELLING 
Anything that can help to keep Muscat Grapes from shrivelling is 
most important to all growers of that grand variety. I have seen a fine 
■crop, beautifully coloured, wood well ripened, and foliage everything 
that could be desired, begin to shrivel in October, and though they were 
not allowed to hang long enough to shrivel seriously ; had they been 
wanted to keep till February or March—as they can be kept when 
all things are right—I fear they would have shrivelled considerably. In this 
case I think the shrivelling was caused by stopping the application of 
water both to the roots and about the paths, &c., too soon. The danger of 
■damping has to be combated, and moisture should be withheld from 
Muscats at the end of September and in October when the weather is 
dull and damp, but in bright dry weather moisture should not be 
entirely withheld. It is extremely disappointing to see Muscats which 
are well finished in every way, and which are looked to to afford a supply 
for the dessert table in February or March, begin to shrivel in autumn, 
and in nine cases out of ten dryness is the cause. 
Where Muscats are grown amongst other late varieties, and perhaps 
not afforded that amount of light and heat that they need to bring 
them to perfection, little surprise need be felt when they show early 
signs of shrivelling ; but when all conditions have been favourable to 
perfect ripening, it is felt that something else must be blamed when 
they shrivel prematurely. Exposing the bunches to the full blaze of 
the sun, though calculated to deepen the golden hue of the berries, is 
also likely to assist in shrivelling them. 
I prefer a fair amount of foliage retained as long as it will remain on, 
and gradually removed when showing signs of decay, plenty of air, and 
at the same time more moisture, both at the root and in the atmosphere, 
than is commonly given. No other white Grape can compare with 
Muscat of Alexandria when well grown and kept under conditions 
favourable to it. When November is entered on it may, as a rule, be 
said that all moisture should be withheld ; but even then, should the 
house be a very dry one, the situation exposed, and the weather dry and 
sunny—as we do sometimes have it even in dark November—I should be 
inclined to give a little moisture, but great care would be required to be 
exercised in so doing.— S. 
At last the mystery is solved—at least, so we are informed by Mr, 
W. Iggulden —and without fully committing myself to all he states, I 
consider the thanks of Muscat growers should be recorded in his favour. 
With my Grapes shrivelling did not take place where I should have 
expected it—on the top shoulders of the bunches, but at the lower 
portion of the bunch. 1 have a few of these bunches still in hand, and 
though not so rash as to say that they are improved by keeping, I can 
-say, after five weeks’ cutting, the deterioration is very slight, and I 
shall now hope to find these few faulty bunches as good at the end of 
another five weeks. In a previous article I called the attention of your 
readers to the fact of my largest bunches, which bunches were produced 
on young rods, as being the first to shrivel. I have now to record 
another fact to support this theory—unripe wood. Last week I was 
called in to look at a few Alicante Grapes hanging on the Vines. The 
bunches, the smallest ones on old rods, were perfect, just right for 
keeping; on the same Vine on young rods, where the largest bunches 
were hanging, not one of these was fit to keep, being shrivelled and 
their beauty gone. This only tells us that it is the ripe wood that must 
grow the keeping Grape. 
Without doubt I shall keep Mr. Iggulden’s theory as to damping 
well in mind another season, though I do not think this is the only 
cause of shrivelling. For instance, at one end of my little Muscat 
house some bunches growing over an open tank at the warmest end were 
perfect and are so now. Then, again, at the opposite end over another 
tank are bunches which very early gave signs of shrivelling. These two 
examples do not agree. I cannot at this date speak positively, but as I 
am always afraid of red spider, we damp freely, even using troughs, but 
whether I reduced damp too soon I cannot now say. 
As Lady Downe’s is one of the first to shrivel it is now an open 
question as to the same cause producing this. I am positive my Muscats 
had sufficient water at the roots. In the case, however, of Lady Downe’s, 
I fancy they might have done with a little more. Unsettled, changeable, 
and sunless days sometimes keep me from being too free with water, as 
I do not like at colouring time to have a very moist atmosphere when 
closing the house. To supply water and have a very damp atmosphere, 
then for the sun to suddenly appear, is a certain cause of cracked 
berries. With me both in span and lean-to’s my greatest damage 
occurred at the middle of the rods. I am inclined to think that, other 
conditions being favourable, the larger the house the less fear of 
slirivelling. Then, again, the greater distance Vines are trained from 
the glass the better. 
I was very pleased to see that Mr. Pratt still so nobly upholds the 
fame of the Longleat Vines. I shall never forget the sight myself. I 
remember Muscats being grown in very narrow upright houses—houses 
that get hot very quickly and cool quickly. Last summer to save the 
foliage shading had to be resorted to, with the results that only a few 
are fit for keeping. I can well understand at late autumn, when 
looking more for ripening of both fruit and wood, that the water supply 
or atmospheric damping being somewhat neglected, especially after our 
very late summer. Some of my best Muscats were only cut last week 
on account of foliage still hanging. This is contrary to the record of 
Mr. Gibson. I have never yet found that early finished Muscats keep 
so well as the later ones. At the date of writing the contrast is very 
striking, highly coloured early fruit not comparing so favourably as the 
later ripened ones. How they will stand in March I know not.— 
Stephen Castle, I Vest Lynn. 
THE ROYAL JUBILEE AND THE ROYAL 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
I wish to say, as a British gardener, how much I appreciate the 
remarks on raising funds to provide a home for the Royal Horticultural 
Society, under the above heading at page 25. The Society has become 
entangled in difficulties through no fault of the Council or any of the 
Fellows. I believe the suggested scheme may be practically worked out. 
The sum of £10,000 may seem a large amount to collect in a few months, 
but it is really not so when we consider the large area over which sub¬ 
scriptions would be spread—the whole of Great Britain and Ireland. 
Every gardener with a spark of loyalty to his Sovereign and devotion to 
his profession ought to subscribe something to provide suitable head¬ 
quarters for such a Society as this. In fact, it is borne in upon me that 
the gardeners will do it if they are approached in the right way. They can 
place a circular in the hands of their employers, urging at the same time 
the importance of the work. They can subscribe themselves and collect 
a few sixpences and shillings from the under gardeners. Further, there 
are always some well-to-do amateurs who manage their own gardens in 
the neighbourhood who come to the gardener for advice. These gentle¬ 
men “ pick the brains ” of the professionals unmercifully and gratui¬ 
tously. Here would be a golden opportunity for such to identify them¬ 
selves with a work that would be held in everlasting remembrance. 
The subject having been opened in the pages of the Journal, let it 
be discussed fairly as its merits deserve. I, for my part, would think .it 
a great honour to have a share in such a work. “ We have all so many 
calls upon us, especially at this season.” It is the old story, you know. 
I remember some years ago taking the responsibility to find a sum of 
money for a school, and amongst others called upon an old gentleman 
who could well afford a guinea. He began, us usual, to enumerate all 
and sundry calls upon his purse ; but my time was precious, so I had to 
cut him short with, “Yes, yes; I know you have; but you must give 
me £5 for this purpose, as I have so many calls to make.” That he 
would not; he would give a guinea, but not a farthing more. It was 
all I wanted and as much as I expected. I am sure we will be called 
upon, we gardeners, to collect for this building, and the above is given as 
a hint to collectors. Give what you can afford yourself, and do not give 
up with the first refusal. 
Many gardeners could give to such a purpose as this if they were 
more prudent. More than twenty-five years ago a most intelligent 
gardener told me that his wages were £50 a year, and that he spent £20 
of it on whiskey. I asked him if the whiskey did him any good. “ No,” 
he said, “ it does me a great deal of harm ; but I like a dram, and I 
dinna drink it a’ mysel’.” I would like to say here, if I may be allowed, 
that half the young gardeners who started well with me have failed 
through being too fond of the “ whusky.” I have not failed exactly, 
having only had one head gardener’s place, and I have not tasted 
“ whuskey ” for twenty-five years. If this fund is started I will sub¬ 
scribe my guinea to it and ask the young gardeners under me to help.— 
F. R. H. S. 
Would it not be ppssible for the Royal Horticultural Society to 
join hands with Kew and hold the Scientific, Floral, and Fruit and 
Vegetable Committees at the Royal Gardens, which are within easy 
distance of London, and could no doubt find room for all the meetings, 
the Fruit Committees being held at Chiswick from May to December ? 
The Horticultural Society possesses an invaluable establishment at 
Chiswick, and it seems almost in the natural fitness of things that the 
two gardens should be associated. The Lindley Library would also be 
well lodged at Kew. 
Why should not all the metropolitan and provincial flower, fruit, and 
vegetable shows be organised, regulated, and managed by an association 
of nurserymen and seedsmen of the United Kingdom through a com¬ 
mittee ? London now offers buildings well adapted for the metropolitan 
shows, and the provinces are well able to provide equal advantages. The 
Royal Horticultural Society would then become purely scientific and 
practical.—T. Francis Rivers. 
WATERTIGHT ASHPITS.—FIRE BARS—COMBUSTION 
The omissions which Mr. Burton notes in the articles of others aleo 
characterise his own writings. Progress is his object; it is also mine 
and we may advance a step if he supplies us with information about the 
