1868 . ] 
ON KEEPING LATE GRAPES TILL APRIL-MONTHLY CHRONICLE. 
71 
retain the flower longer on the stalk. Its value will probably lie more in 
its capacity to originate, than in w T hat it now is. It is said to have been 
the result of a cross between the Chinese Primula and the Polyanthus, 
the latter having of course been used as the pollen parent. E. D. 
ON KEEPING LATE GRAPES TILL APRIL. 
)N answer to inquiries about keeping Grapes good for a long time, the 
great secret—indeed the greatest secret of all—is that they must be 
well ripened by the end of September, and must be of good colour^ 
and well furnished with bloom. Whatever our friends north of the 
Tweed may say regarding red Grapes being as good as black ones, 
the red ones will not keep long, while those having good colour and 
good bloom will keep well until April. The other points to be attended 
to are, to keep a low temperature and a dry atmosphere, with a little, 
heat in the pipes the last three months of the year; to secure plenty 
of ventilation; and to give a sharp look-out for any tainted berries. They 
should not be looked over less frequently than three times a-week during 
November, December, and January ; after that they are much less trouble, 
as the days get longer and drier. 
The varieties I have at present are, Alicante, Lady Downes’ Seedling, 
and Royal Vineyard, which last seems to be as good a keeper as the two 
first named. With this I send a piece of a bunch of each [fresh and 
good every way: Ed.] , and I feel confident that those left on the Vine 
will be as good the first week in April as they are now (Feb. 17th). By 
that time our first house of Hamburghs will be ripe. 
Knowsley. James Freeman. 
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. 
Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, at the Anniversary 
Meeting, held on February 14th, reported that the subscriptions 
received from Fellows during the past year amount to £8027, as com¬ 
pared with £8176 in 1866, £7975 in 1865, and £7840 in 1864 ; and 
that twenty-five old Fellows, who had resigned, have again become 
members. That the exhibition at Bury St. Edmunds more than answered the most sanguine 
expectations of its promoters, and that a still more decided success is anticipated from the 
show which it is proposed to hold this year at Leicester. That there are now fifty-two 
floricultural and horticultural societies in union, of which twenty-four joined during the 
past year. That notwithstanding all the drawbacks arising from the serious monetary 
depression of the last two years, the revenue for 1867 has considerably exceeded the outlay 
necessary to carry on the Society’s work. That the labours at Chiswick have met with much 
success. M. Bause, the foreman of the floral department, has succeeded in the production 
of an entirely new race of Golden-leaved Caladiums; and in the pomological department 
many interesting trials of varieties of fruits and wegetables have been carried out, including 
one of a valuable collection of Figs, That the success of the Chiswick students is particu¬ 
larly gratifying, and that further aids to their studies will be afforded. That the expenditure 
on last year’s exhibitions was £1727 18s. 3d,, the receipts only £1402 7s. 6d .; so that the 
Society must proceed with caution in again attempting any increase under this head. That 
