I 
1874 . ] 
THE GOLDEN CHAMPION GRAPE.-AZAEA MICROPHYLLA. 
219 
very favourably compared with the best of tbe standard kinds, being of a re¬ 
freshingly sweet and vinous flavour. It has one other peculiarity—the wasps, &c., 
do not seem to attack it as they have done all other kinds, with unwonted con¬ 
stancy this season. Altogether I must heartily recommend this variety to all 
intending purchasers.— William Earley, Valentines. 
THE GOLDEN CHAMPION GEAPE. 
’HE prospects of this fine grape seem to be looking brighter of late, a goodly 
number of samples having been exhibited during the present season. One 
lot, however, particularly worthy of notice, consisted of three bunches ex¬ 
hibited lately at Banbury, by Mr. Finlay, gardener to Colonel North, of 
Wroxton Abbey. The bunches were large and handsome, and the berries very 
fine ; there was not a single spot observable. The heaviest bunch weighed 51 lb., 
and the three together could not be less than 14 lb. Three berries which were 
plucked off were found to weigh oz. 
The remarks of a contemporary last year showed that the examples then shown 
by Mr. Finlay, at Banbury, were of excellent quality, and judging from the vigour 
and fimmess of the growth of the vines, I have no doubt but fine grapes will be 
produced for some time to come. 
When Mr. Finlay started to grow this vine, his success was of but a moderate 
character ; it was then cultivated on its own roots, but it was afterwards inarched 
on a Black Hamburg, and the result has been thoroughly satisfactory, since it has 
produced crops fine in appearance, as well as of excellent quality. I also observed 
at Banbury, among other creditable productions, excellent bunches of that well- 
abused grape, Madresfield Court. The berries were large, and black as jet, with 
a dense coating of bloom on them. These also were from Wroxton Abbey.—M. 
Temple, Blenheim. 
[A correspondent of the Gardeners' Chronicle has stated recently that the 
Golden Champion Grape is being done well this season by Mr. Vickery, Woodend, 
near Chichester. This gentleman has fifteen bunches upon a rod, all of moderate 
size, ripened to a good golden colour, and free from “ spot.” To assist them in 
ripening off, Mr. Vickery keeps the house very dry, and has half-severed each 
fruiting lateral, to, as he says, limit the flow of sap to the bunches. The result 
is good, to whatever cause attributable.— Ed.] 
AZAEA MICEOPHYLLA. 
[NE of the neatest of evergreen shrubs known, and one which will be most 
welcome in our gardens, as it is nearly or quite hardy in our climate, is 
the above-named Azara. It has, in fact, stood out unharmed ior the 
past five years at Coombe Wood, in Surrey, where it is cultivated by the 
Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea, to whom we are indebted for the figures. 
The Azara microphylla is a native of Valdivia, where it is found at an elevation 
of 3,000 ft. It has received a First-class Certificate from the Koyal Horticultural 
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