FEBRUARY. 
29 
sown when ripe in September, 1865, in pans, and planted out in April, and 
the seed also sown in the open ground in April have done very well, having 
grown wonderfully during the moist weather of September. The frost 
which we had on two or three nights does not seem to have checked them 
at all. And also two beds of seedlings which I left out last winter have 
done very well, but were later in starting and blooming than those planted 
in spring. There is a numerous lot of novelties offered this season. Some 
sixteen or eighteen varieties have been announced by M. Souchet. I have 
ordered three bulbs of each of these, and shall be entirely satisfied if the lot 
gives me half a dozen sorts as good as the gems of the season just passed. 
What the famed Ascot Nurseries of Standish & Co. are about to offer 
in this way I know not, but I cannot refrain from stating that several of 
the flowers raised by Mr. Standish at Bagshot or Ascot pleased me very 
much this last season. I may particularise specially The Colonel, Ensign, 
Lucy Neal, and Carminata—four as distinct and good flowers in their way 
as any in cultivation. 
Finally, I was strongly inclined last autumn to apply the pruning knife 
freely to the list of Gladioli at present in cultivation; however, I thought 
it best to wait a little, and the result shows I was correct in doing so, as it 
would have been very difficult, nay, almost impossible, to have made up the 
classes for the exhibition tables for the early shows commencing on August 
16th, without the aid of such good old standard varieties as Madame Binder, 
Joan of Arc, Archimedes, Isoline, Madame Souchet, Madame de Vatry, 
Due de Malakoff, Comte de Morny, &c. I believe these, and many other 
varieties of the same standing, are still indispensable for those who grow and 
exhibit largely. 
Dublin. James F. Lombard. 
COLOURING OF GRAPES. 
In a paper at page 9 I made some remarks on badly-coloured Grapes; 
I wish now to mention that the berries of white or light-coloured varieties are 
often, though less perceptibly, in the same state. For instance, White Syrian 
and Muscats when badly ripened are bluish green, instead of being of the colour 
of ripe Golden Drop Plums. I need hardly observe that both these kinds 
require more heat than the hardier Grapes; but even with that assistance, 
if their leaves are injured, neither the fruit nor young wood come to proper 
perfection. In such cases extra heat and sunshine will not affect the green- 
coloured berries, nor ripen the soft wood, owing to the want of a proper supply 
of nourishment from injured leaves. This reminds me to notice an error in 
my last paper: it should be wood, not fruit “may remain green until 
blackened by frost.” The other remarks, however, may apply to all other 
kinds of badly-ripened Grapes, and likewise account in a great measure for 
the “shanking” of Grapes before they ripen. Consequently, the great 
object to secure in order to have not only properly-coloured Grapes, but all 
kinds of fruit of proper colour, is to take great care of the health of the 
leaves, without which one may as well expect to see good fruit as to see 
kine grow fat with diseased lungs. 
Having mentioned “ shanking,” I should notice that the White Syrian 
is of very robust growth, but yet when grown in a low temperature it is as 
liable to shank as other tender kinds of weak habit. But not so when 
treated as Muscats should be; then its fruit is excellent, and may keep 
longer than any other of the late white Grapes. In general the bunches are 
