1868. ] 
MADRESFIELD COURT BLACK MUSCAT GRAPE. 
265 
MADRESFIELD COURT BLACK MUSCAT GRAPE. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
fHE Grape we now figure is one worthy of the warmest commendation 
both in regard to its appearance and quality. It was raised by 
Mr. Cox, gardener to the Earl of Beauchamp at Madresfield Court, 
Great Malvern, some half dozen years since, and was selected as the 
best of a hatch of seedlings obtained from the Muscat of Alexandria 
and the Black Alicante intercrossed in both directions. It proves to he a 
Grape of excellent quality, setting its fruit as freely as the Black Ham¬ 
burgh, than which it takes about a fortnight longer to ripen. 
The Vine is of a robust constitution, producing short-jointed wood, with 
prominent pointed eyes. The fruit-clusters are large, regularly tapered, 
and handsomely shouldered. The berries are large, of a longish oval shape, 
like those of the Muscat, perfectly black, and covered like those of the 
Alicante with a fine thick bloom. They are attached by stout warted foot¬ 
stalks. Their skin is tough; and their flesh is firm, juicy, and rich, with 
a fine, luscious, muscat flavour. The leaves are bristly, deeply lohed, and 
serrated, with reddish stalks and midribs. 
With such qualities as those just indicated, it is not surprising that the 
Madresfield Court Grape should have won a first-class certificate when ex¬ 
hibited before the Fruit Committee in August, 1867, and that it should have 
been designated as a splendid new Grape. In truth it comes in as a very 
useful auxiliary to the few thoroughly good Grapes already in cultivation, 
nearly if not quite equalling the Muscat of Alexandria in quality, and 
indicating, by its stout firm footstalks and leathery skin, that it will rank 
amongst those especially useful kinds which hang well after they have 
reached the ripening stage. 
Messrs. J. & C. Lee, of Hammersmith, are the fortunate holders of this 
pomonal prize, and to them we are indebted for the opportunity of pub¬ 
lishing the annexed figure. M. 
THE HELIOTROPE. 
OBSERVE at p. 248 an interesting article by Mr. Forsyih, on this 
fine old plant, and I wish to add a few additional remarks on its 
culture in the gardens here. In the summer of 1867 I found that a 
«jjp plant of H. peruvianum had taken possession of a corner in a peach pit; 
it grew at a surprising rate all through the summer and winter, and 
furnished an immense supply of cut flowers. This plant had been accident¬ 
ally raised from seed, or some small cutting had been inserted between 
the stonework and soil in the pit. Every gardener knows the value of 
3rd Series.— i. n 
