190 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 10,1887. 
Tbs large Cattleya bouse, which is 109 feet long, reminds one of Mr. 
Sanders’ Orchid house at the late exhibition. The rockwork is arranged 
at each end opposite the doors, and some plants in pots are stood in the 
recesses and projecting parts, while others are planted out in the pockets 
and crevices, and by a careful selection the right, kinds have been 
selected for the positions. Among them are Cymbidium eburneum, Pes- 
catoreas, VVarscewiczellas, and Zygopetalums, which are all in grand 
health, the roots clinging to the stones, from which, no doubt, they re¬ 
ceive their main supply of moisture. Cattleya Trianse was the chief 
species in bloom, of which there are many choice varieties. One was a 
particular fine colour and good form, and in addition had a broad stripe 
of yellow running through the sepals. 
In the Dendrobium house were large pieces of D. Falconeri, D. 
Jamesianum, and quantities of D. nobile and D. heterocarpum in bloom, 
also D. thyrsiflorum, and others. In the East Indian house a large 
plant of Aerides Fieldingi was in flower. Specimen Vandas and Angra- 
cums, Ac., are in superb health. Aerides Lawrenciae, A. Sanderianum 
.and Vanda Sanderiana are grown in numbers. Ondontoglossum citros- 
mum in baskets, Cattleya citrina, Oncidium triginum, Lselia anceps, and 
Trichopilias fill another house. 
A north house contains Odontoglossum cordatum, 0. gloriosum, and 
0. Pescatorei, with the Masdevallias. There arc many large specimens 
of Coelogyne cristata in the various houses, giving a succession of flowers 
for cutting. A large amount of Orchid bloom is required for cutting, 
some of them being taken off almost as soon as expanded. But among 
others in bloom 1 noted many Angracum Leonis, Burlingtonia Candida, 
Ccelogyne cristata, C. c. maxima, C. flaccida, C. Gardneriana, Cj r m- 
bidium eburneum, C. Lowianum, Dendrobium amethystoglossum, D. 
heterocarpum, D. primulinum giganteum, Odontoglossum Alexandra, 
O. Cervantesi, O. Roezli, O. triumphans, and Oncidium Phalnenopsis.— 
G. W. Cummins. 
THE CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO IN ENGLAND. 
Mr. E. J. Beale, F.L.S., read an elaborate paper on the above 
subject before the Society of Arts on the 2nd inst., concluding as 
follows 
“ The successful culture of Tobacco may be summed up in a very few 
words : attentive observation of the rules laid down by English experi¬ 
mentalists, rather than attempting to follow the customs of other 
nations, which are frequently impossible or undesirable in this country ; 
.and the exercise of daily observation, which will often suggest some 
improved system of procedure. 
“ I am favoured with the following report of analysis—so far as 
-completed—of Messrs. Carters’ Tobacco, now being conducted by Dr. 
Bell, at the Laboratory, Inland Revenue, Somerset House, but which 
was not perfected at the time of going to press. 
Virginia (partly cured). 
Per cent. 
N cotine . 42 
A»h. 21-7 
Nearly a maximum. 
/■i Ini a'ted Virginian Tobacco the average 
Per cent. 
Nicoiine . S 
Ash. 18 
“ I have compiled the approximate cost of cultivating an acre of 
Tobacco as follows :— 
£ b. d. 
BeDt of land and building*, including rates, tithes, and taxes, at 
60s. per acre . 8 0 0 
Three ploughing*, at lOe. par acre each time . 1 10 0 
Two harrowings, at Is. per acre each time . 0 2 0 
Nine loads farmyard manure delivered on land . 2 8 0 
Spreading farmyard manure. 0 1 S 
3 owt. Peruvian gu *uo at £12 per ton. 1 16 0 
5000 plants at about 15s. per 1000 . 8 15 0 
Planting ditto—o te man one dty, 3s. 2d.; one boy one day, Is. 3d. 0 4 5 
Two horse-hoeing* at Sa. per acre each time. 0 6 0 
Manual labour, hilling and aide-hoeing twice over at 7a. per acre 
each time . 0 It 0 
Pruning, topping, aud Buckoring at 8 j . per acre . 0 8 0 
Cutting at 5a. per acre, carting to barn and hanging at 12s. 0 17 0 
Firing, two loads wa-te hard wood to be found on the farm (charge 
for labour only). 8 16 0 
Man’s time curing and attending. Ac., t.'O weeks at 15 b . 1 10 0 
Stripping, sorting, bulking, and packing, soy 3200 lbs. at 6?. per 100 lbs. 8 0 0 
£25 7 8 
A’id assuming this to be the cost, anti that the produce is sold at not 
less than Id. per lb., Messrs. Carters’ experiments work out a nett profit 
of from £10 to £21 per acre. The eighteen balance sheets from which 
I derive this information will be found fully set out in a book on 
English Tobacco culture which I have compiled, and shall shortly 
publish, and which Her Majesty the Queen has graciously commanded 
me to dedicate to her. 
“ The concluding words iof an interesting paper, written by an 
American, upon the subject of Tobacco, will fitly conclude the remarks 
I have had the honour to make to you to-night:— 
“ ‘ If you have not a large stock of patience and perseverance, with 
a will to learn and a resolution to keep trying until you succeed, you 
have missed your calling, and had better try something else, for there 
is no royal road to success in Tobacco raising. But if you possess the 
true essentials, have the true and lasting pluck, you will succeed soon 
or late, and, what is better, reap a full reward for honest, faithful 
toil.’ ” 
[Those who wish to possess full details of Tobacco culture and 
preparation in England should procure Mr. Beale’s beautifully finished, 
admirably illustrated, and exhaustive work, a copy of which we have 
just received. It is dedicated to the Queen and published by E. Mirl- 
borough & Co., Old Bailey, London, E.C.] 
GTAPES. 
Your able correspondent, Mr. W. Taylor,called attention a few weeks 
ago to the fact that in growing Grapes for market appearance was 
everything. This is most strikingly borne out by the remarks of a 
correspondent in a contemporary lately. He has been visiting a large 
market-growing establishment and gathering a few facts about the 
different varieties of Grapes grown there for sale. Out of about eight 
of our leading varieties of Grapes we find Gros Maroc heading the list; 
but what strikes one more forcibly is the statement that “ it is worth 
as much again as the Black Hamburgh, and is ready at the same time.” 
To those who are well acquainted with the flavour of the varieties in 
question the statement at first sight seems almost incredible when we 
think the public should choose to pay so much more money for an article 
considerably inferior in quality, but which is a little more taking in 
appearance, but I suppose carries and keeps better. However, so much 
the better for the market grower, for no doubt a much heavier crop may 
be brought to perfection on a Vine of this variety than on the Black 
Hamburgh. Although this variety seems to find so much favour with 
some growers, we find it is not generally the case. A large grower who 
has given it a fair trial has, we believe, almost discarded it in favour of 
Gros Colman, principally on account of its non-keeping properties. 
Alnwick Seedling is another fine-looking Grape which also finds favour 
in the establishment referred to ; it is said to keep fairly well into 
April, and the flavour also is described as very superior. I must say 
that this is quite contrary to my experience with this variety, for last 
year, in spite of every effort, I failed to keep it until November, and at its 
best the flavour was only very moderate indeed. In fact, if it had not 
appearance and the fact of its being an easy Grape to grow to recom¬ 
mend it, I scarcely know who would grow it in a private establishment. 
Buckland Sweetwater is again praised on account of its fine appearance, 
but the writer admits that its quality does not improve by keeping. To 
those who intend planting vineries and want a useful and sure variety 
as a companion to the Black Hamburgh, I would say plant Foster’s 
Seedling ; it has a robust constitution, is a good cropper, of sweet re¬ 
freshing flavour, which improves with keeping. “ The Duke ” I have not 
yet had sufficient experience with to be able to recommend it. I have 
it grafted on Muscat of Alexandria, also Black Hamburgh, as well on 
its own roots. 
Gros Colman in the establishment above referred to, as elsewhere, 
finds more favour than any other Grape ; it seems to possess one feature 
that almost no other black Grape does— i.e., it continues to improve in 
colour almost as long as it hangs upon the Vine. We know an excel¬ 
lent grower who year after year has enormous crops of this Grape on 
his Vines ; and to look at them any time during the months of 
September or October one would almost venture to predict that they 
would never be any blacker, but by Christmas time (when good prices are 
made) they are really very passable both in colour and flavour. It is 
said to colour well grafted on the Muscat of Alexandria. The flavour 
also is said to be much improved when inarched on this variety, a state¬ 
ment which Grape growers will be'quite willing as a body to believe. I 
have a young Vine inarched to a strong branch of the Muscat, and from 
which I cannot doubt it receives much support, but I do not think the 
flavour in this case has been improved in the least. Anything which 
could be done in the way of improving the flavour of this variety ought, 
I am sure, to be taken up with spirit by all gentlemen’s gardeners. 
Our friend, Mr. Stephen Castle’s experience, given on page 62, seems 
to be quite unique. There must be something either in his soil or treat¬ 
ment which suits Alnwick Seedling much better than ours does ; and in 
this, as well as in the assertion that it is not generally a good-keeping 
Grape, I know I shall be supported by first-class growers. In fact, w.th 
ours this last season, being compelled to use them before the Hamburghs 
were over, because they would not keep, I was almost at a loss to know 
what to do. Had the last named been finished the case would have been 
different. The very cold dull season may have had something to do 
with it, but Hamburghs grown alongside of it were good in every re¬ 
spect. They were all quite ripe by the middle of September or earlier ; 
therefore, I should think that soil, climate, Ac., would have much to do 
with it. In appearance it is simply first rate, and does well to point out 
to visitors. I have not yet grafted this variety on the Hamburgh, but 
will do so this season, as I suspect that this is the agent which has 
served to give it such a high place in your correspondent’s .estimation. 
Perhaps he will say if what he has grown and what he praises so much 
are on their own roots. I for one shall be much interested in the 
Editor’s verdict respecting his Alicantes and Mr. Taylor’s Black Ham¬ 
burghs next September. If the theory respecting the flavour of Alicante 
in the month of September become generally established, I am sure 
that there will soon be many more Vines of that variety planted than 
exist at the present, for undoubtedly it is a grand Grape in every way 
were it not for its watery flavour. Ours were coloured the second week 
in September, and have kept plump and good until the present, but still 
there is nothing like the flavour of a ripe Hamburgh.— Wm. Jenkins, 
Aldin Grange, Durham. 
