274 
THE PLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
GEAPES: THEIE PECULIAE DEFECTS. 
S OME time ago (p. 55) I sent you a short paper on this subject, in which I 
ventured to deprecate the too frequent practice of planting several varieties 
¥ of Grapes in the same house, without any, or at least without due regard 
to their characteristic defects, and in many instances without a thought 
whether the like treatment would be equally suited to each kind. The result, 
as might reasonably be expected, is often partial, and too frequently complete 
failure; whereas, if only one kind, or only those kinds had been planted which 
are known to succeed under precisely the same treatment, the result would have 
been, in all probability, perfectly satisfactory. My experience has induced me to 
believe that the more closely these (to some persons minor) details are attended 
to at the commencement, so, in proportion, will be our success. Especially do 
these remarks apply to those varieties of Grapes which possess peculiar tendencies, 
such, for instance, as the Madresjield Court Black Muscat, Mrs. Pincds Black 
Muscat., and Chasselas Musque. 
Two years ago I visited one of the best fruit establishments in the kingdom, 
where, in a very large new vinery, hung some of the finest fruit of the Madresjield 
I 
Court and the Black Hamburgh that I ever saw. They were not quite ripe, but 
were magnificent, both in bunch and berry. Three weeks after the time of my 
visit nearly every berry of the Madresfield Court was cracked and worthless, and 
the flavour quite insipid ; but not so with the Hamburghs, which were perfect 
in every respect. If I had not previously seen and tasted the former variety in 
the most splendid condition, I should have been tempted to concur with the freely- 
expressed and decided opinion of my friend, the gardener, that it was a washy, 
deceptive, worthless grape. One thing was, however, quite evident, that the 
conditions which suited the Hamburghs admirably, were not at all suited to the 
Madresfield Court. But those persons who have grown the latter variety in a 
cool vinery, where the roots are thoroughly under subjection, and can be kept 
moderately dry just previous to the commencement of, and during the process of, 
colouring, and where a brisk, dry atmosphere can be maintained through the 
period of ripening, believe it to be one of the most superb grapes in cultivation. 
The characteristic defect or peculiarity of this magnificent grape therefore 
appears to be to absorb too much moisture during the ripening process, conse¬ 
quently, if a close, moist atmosphere is maintained the berries are particularly 
liable to crack. If, in addition to this, the roots are in a wet border, the evil is 
increased, and the flavour is perfectly insipid. The only grape which I have 
proved will succeed under the same method of treatment as this is the Golden 
Champion, when it not only loses its defective speck in the berry, but shows and 
sets its fruit as freely as the Hamburgh; it also finishes with exquisite colour and 
and flavour. 
The peculiar defects of Mrs. Pineds Black Muscat appear to be, that of not 
setting freely or swelling its berries regularly, and also of not colouring perfectly. 
