226 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
room to develope themselves. The young plants afford the Conifers all ne¬ 
cessary shelter without obstructing the sunshine. 
When planted in young plantations the young trees should be kept well 
thinned out as they advance in growth, so that the Conifers may have a fair 
chance of developing themselves. 
Stourton. M. Saul. 
MADRESFIELD COURT GRAPE. 
This splendid new Grape was exhibited to the meeting of the Fruit 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society held on the 20th of August, 
and was most deservedly awarded a first-class certificate. The bunches ex¬ 
hibited weighed from to 2 lbs. each ; they were beautifully and regularly 
grown, and quite of the same form as those of the Muscat of Alexandria— i. e., 
long and tapering, and well shouldered. The berries are large, longish oval, 
like those of the Muscat, jet black, and covered with a fine bloom like that 
on the fruit of Black Alicante. The stalk of the bunch is rather fine, erect, 
and of a reddish purple ; that of the berry is stout and warted. The skin 
is tough and membranous ; the flesh is firm and very juicy, rich and ex¬ 
cellent, and has a distinct Muscat flavour. The leaves, which are bristly, 
deeply lobed, and serrated, have reddish stalks and midribs, like those of 
the Esperione. 
It is a seedling, and was raised by Mr. Cox, gardener at Madresfield 
Court, Great Malvern, who has furnished the following information respect¬ 
ing it:—“ The Grape in question was raised some five years ago, and was 
the only one of a quantity of seedlings which, after fruiting, I considered 
worth saving. The parents were Muscat of Alexandria and Black Alicante, 
crossed both ways. I am therefore in doubt as to which kind produced the 
seed from which the present seedling was raised. The plant is of robust 
growth, and short-jointed, and the eye is prominent, and rather more 
pointed than that of the Muscat. The fruit sets as freely as that of the 
Black Hamburgh, and ripens a fortnight later than that variety, and a like 
period earlier than that of the Muscat of Alexandria.” 
Judging by specimens of this seedling which have been exhibited during 
the past two seasons, it promises to be one of the finest Grapes yet intro¬ 
duced. For flavour it is nearly if not quite equal to the Muscat of Alexan¬ 
dria ; in appearance, size, colour, and form, it is all that can be desired; 
and there is a freeness about the bunch, like that which belongs to the 
Black Hamburgh, that betokens affine constitution, and capability of being 
grown to a large size. The stout stalks of the berry, and its tough leathery 
skin, are also sure indications of its good keeping qualities. Of all Grapes 
in cultivation, Mrs. Pince’s Black Muscat comes nearest to it. 
A. F. B. 
AN EPITOME OF PANSY CULTURE. 
To grow the Pansy successfully for exhibition purposes, the course of 
treatment briefly sketched out in the following remarks, and 'which can be 
filled up according to circumstances, should be followed. 
In the month of July, and again in October, select healthy cuttings, 
and plant them in a cool part of the garden. A north border is the best 
situation for them, and they should be put under glass, in order to keep 
heavy rains from rotting them; but this covering should not be a close 
