AUGUST. 
251 
for although the tendency to crack may not be so great when grown on 
a dry soil, yet if the air of the house should at any time after stoning 
become damp, crack they will—at least they do so with me. This 
Grape I have frequently proved to be one of the very best forcing- 
varieties we have. I have had it in fine condition, and quite free from 
bursting, by the end of March. It will stand a strong heat without 
injury ; and as the house was heated by a brick flue, the air would be 
drier than where hot water is employed ; yet 1 have remarked that it 
keeps its foliage green and healthy, and does not suffer so much from 
red spider as many others. There are so many valuable properties 
about this Grape, viz., vigorous growth, and hardiness and pro¬ 
ductiveness, combined with a most delicious aroma in the fruit, 
that I would strongly recommend it as a variety worthy of a house by 
itself; where, planted on a shallow border, with bone-dust as a sub¬ 
stitute for manure, and grown with a dry atmosphere, this Grape 
might be produced in great perfection, and would certainly not be 
excelled by any other sort. If it is to be done well, as it well 
deserves, it must be by some such treatment; for if grown in the 
ordinary way, mixed with other Grapes, nothing, in my opinion, can 
keep it from cracking, and becoming spoiled before getting ripe. 
Vitis. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The appointment of Mr. Henderson to the situation of head gardener 
to the Horticultural Society is one in which we cannot concur ; in 
stating this we by no means wish to disparage Mr. Henderson’s fitness 
for the situation, for since the decease of Mr. McEwen, Mr. Henderson, 
we hear, has managed the place in a most satisfactory manner; and 
the excellent keeping of the gardens the last time we visited them told us 
that Mr. Henderson was a man of ability and energy; but, apart 
from his qualifications, we consider that the Council would have 
acted more wisely had they thrown the appointment open ; indeed, in 
justice towards a number of first-class gardeners they should have done 
so, and through that channel have secured the services of whoever might 
have appeared best qualified for the situation. 
We regret that this was not done; for, however well Mr. Hen¬ 
derson may be fitted for discharging the duties of superintendent, 
we know, by the number of letters on this subject which have reached 
us, that considerable disappointment has been felt by parties who fully 
expected the election would have been an open one, and would have 
allowed them a fair chance for competing; and it would have assured 
the horticultural world that the Council were anxious to obtain the 
best man which a public offer might bring forward. While on this 
subject we may add that there was a feeling existing at the time of 
Mr. McEwen’s appointment that the Council had acted somewhat 
precipitately in his election, and had not allowed other candidates an 
equal chance. When the announcement for a garden superintendent 
was advertised, a certain salary was named, which was felt by many 
