1868 . ] 
LATE GRAPES. 
Ill 
frame, mount it on a brick or two at eacli corner, and fill it with coarse 
brick rubbish or ashes to within 10 inches of the glass. On this we place 
8 or 4 inches of light soil, into which we plant in November, so that the 
plants are close to the glass ; they are not allowed to be too wet, and are 
never covered with mats or any other material, no matter how severe the 
weather. We give plenty of air in fine weather, and just look after damp. 
In this way our losses are not ten plants in a thousand. 
The beds for raising the plants in March or April should be turned up 
now and then during the winter, and a little fresh soil and manure added. 
I object to too much manure, and after planting we surface with cocoa 
refuse, or potting soil and leaf soil; and during the summer top-dress oiten, 
loosening the surface of the soil when hard, and pegging down the shoots. 
Slightly burying the base of the shoots induces them to throw out side 
shoots, which root and keep up a continuance of bloom. We water with 
a rose pot night and morning in hot weather ; and if I require flowers for 
showing, we withhold rose-pot watering for two or three days before the 
exhibition, or protect the flowers. 
So many are afraid of the Pansy, simply because they do not know how 
easy it is to grow it. I am surprised it is not more extensively used for 
beds and borders, for it blooms so early and continues so long; and who 
says it does not present a very gay appearance ? 
A word about sowing seed. The proper time to do this is from Sep¬ 
tember until the end of October. We sow in frames prepared just as they 
are for the plants, and cover with a mat to prevent watering until the seeds 
are showing through. Then we remove the mat, and admit air. 
Bradford Nursery, Shipley. William Dean. 
LATE GRAPES. 
OUR correspondent, Mr. Hannan (p. 92), says the race for late keeping 
seems to be between Lady Downe’s Seedling and Barbarossa [Gros 
Guillaume]. From the discussion which has been going on, it 
appears that almost every one has a favourite among the few late- 
keeping varieties so much run upon lately. I have been noting this 
subject for some time, and am perfectly convinced that soil and situation 
have a decided effect upon the good keeping and flavour of every one of 
them. I have not the least hesitation in pronouncing Lady Dotvne’s to be 
a useless Grape for a late house. In certain soils it shrivels almost imme¬ 
diately after ripening, and at any time the flavour is poor, while under 
other circumstances it is good, but never equal, either in flavour or hanging 
properties, to Oldacre’s West’s St. Peter’s, which for a general late Grape 
has been too much overlooked of late years, particularly as it has the 
merit of being one of the most free-bearing Grapes we know, and not 
