401 
TUI', COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN. March 29. 1859. 
STRAW ROPE AS A PROTECTION FOR 
FRUIT BLOSSOM. 
A friend of mine in Northamptonshire, possessing a good 
extent ol fruit-wall (stone), has, for the last ten years, protected 
his trees by poles reared against the wall (standing out from the 
foot of (lie wall from four to six feet, according to the height of 
the tree). Along these poles, at distances of four to six inches, 
ropes, made of oat straw, are run in parallel lines from the tops of 
the poles to near the bottoms. These, after being set up, are 
not removed until the fruit is out of danger. 
He told me, a few days ago, that during the time named, his 
crop has never in any one year failed. lie mentioned one year 
in particular in which (as he was told by the gardener of a gentle¬ 
man in the neighbourhood), he had more wall-fruit than there 
were in two large gardens named together. 
This is so simple and inexpensive, and attended with so little 
trouble, that, at all events, it may be thought worth trying by 
some one. The rougher the ropes are twisted the better.—K. 
THE GENUS xYNCECTOCIIILUS. 
The surprising elegance and richness of the leaves of the genus 
under consideration render it easy to imagine the pleasure im¬ 
parted to anyone who, for the first time, views a collection of 
these plants. We can also readily participate in the regret, that 
their management is still within the means of the comparatively 
few. The expense of the plants, and of their cultivation, which 
is thought necessary, has, doubtless, deterred many of those 
who delight in admiration of the extraordinary in nature from 
attempting such an addition to their collections. In a cultural 
sense, much of the desired success depends upon the knowledge 
of the peculiarities and the geographical positions which they 
inhabit in a state of nature. The regions whence Anocctochiluses 
arc obtained are remarkable for three distinct seasons, in which 
the plants grow, rest, and produce their inflorescence. The first 
season is distinguished by its great heat and excessive moisture; 
the next by a considerable reduction of both; and the third by 
an increased temperature, but devoid of the aqueous character of 
the first period. Upon these facts w T e must base our cultural 
operations. 
As soon as growth commences—which will be about the latter 
end of February, and is the best time to commence the active season 
—they will likewise readily respond to any increase in the supply 
of moisture and heat. In about a fortnight, look over and repot 
such as may require the change, using a compost of good fibrous 
turfy peat, broken very fine, a little decayed wood, and one-third 
charcoal reduced nearly to powder, with chopped sphagnum 
moss, and good sharp silver sand. These should be well mixed. 
Good drainage must be secured, as the escape of superfluous 
moisture from the roots of the plants is a matter of the utmost 
importance. Fill up with broken potsherds and bits of charcoal 
to about half the depth of I he pot; covering these with the rough 
decaying surface of the peat. Fill up round the ball of the plant 
with the compost, prepared in a state as rough as possible com¬ 
patible with good potting. On the surface put a layer of good silver 
sand, powdered charcoal, and moss (Sphagnum obtusifolium), 
chopped very fine, and thoroughly mixed together about one-eighth 
of an inch in thickness. Cover the plant with a clear bell-glass, 
and stand the pot upon a bottom heat about 70°, maintaining an 
atmospheric maximum temperature of 75°, and a minimum of 
from 60 3 to 65°. At the same time provision should be made 
for a supply of vapour, that a moist heat may prevail'as occasion 
may require. A gradual and continual escape of vapour among 
the plants, when in an active state, is every way preferable to the 
disfiguring effects of a rush of steam. 
The spring and the summer management may be summed up 
in a few words a gradually increasing supply of both heat and 
moisture is its leading characteristic, proportioning the supply 
of water to the root in a corresponding manner. During the 
day the glasses must be shaded, and entirely removed for about 
four hours during the evening; this will allow the condensed 
moisture to escape. 
From the month of May till August, the summer treatment 
should prevail. Air may be admitted freely; and if in sufficient 
quantity to agitate the leaves of other plants in the same house, 
so much the better, provided the maximum temperature is main¬ 
tained, and an extra amount of moisture at night is supplied to 
the plants. 
Through the winter, the rule to be observed is, to keep those 
plants which have completed tlicir growth quite dormant, end 
those which are still in activity (a state to be regretted, but not 
always to be prevented), gently growing. 
One of the main objects to be attained, in order to simplify 
the management of these pets, is to adopt their seasonal actions 
to the chango of our climate,— i.e., to complete their growing 
periods, so as to have them in a state of repose during the worst 
of our winter; and every endeavour should be used to induce 
the desired state of rest. 
The following are six of the most distinct and beautiful, and 
which may be procured at a moderate cost of any of the large 
metropolitan nurserymen :— Ancectochilus argenteus, A. Loivii, 
A. setaceus , A. striatus, A. xanlhopbgllus, A. Loblii. —J.R. 
TANTON, Gardener to II. O. Nether cote, Esq., Moulton Grange, 
Northampton. 
FRUITS ADAPTED TO THE VARIOUS 
LOCALITIES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
(.Continued from page 383.) 
GRAPES. 
Brack Hametircih (Hampton Court ; Hue veil's Black 
Hamburgh; Merrick's Victoria; Bed Hamburgh ; Vic¬ 
toria ; Warner’s Hamburgh ; Blauer Trollinger; Frank- 
enthal; Maroquin d’ Espagne).- —Bunches large, broadly 
shouldered, conical, aud 1x01 set. Berries round, in¬ 
clining to oval. Skin thin, but membranous, deep blue- 
black, covered with blue bloom. Flesh rather firm, but 
tender, very juicy, rich, sugary, and highly flavoured. 
This highly-popular grape succeeds under every form 
of vine culture. It ripens against a wall, in favourable 
situations, in the open air. It succeeds well in a cool 
vinery ; and it is equally well adapted for forcing. The 
vine is a free bearer ; and the fruit will hang, under good 
management, till January and February. 
Black July (Early Black July; July; Madeleine; 
Madeleine Noir; Morillon Half; Baisin Precoce; Be 
St. Jean; August Trau.be; Jacob’s Traube). —Bunches 
small and cylindrical. Berries small and round. Skin 
thick, deep purple, covered with blue bloom. Flesh 
street and juicy, hut not highly flavoured. Its chief 
recommendation is its great earliness, and the facility 
with which it ripens against a wall in the open air. The 
flowers are tender, and, consequently, unless grown in a 
cool vinery, the hunches are loose, and the berries thin; 
but when protected, the plant produces close, compact 
bunches, and is an excellent bearer. Although this is 
the earliest grape, it is not so highly flavoured, as Black 
Cluster and Miller’s Burgundy. 
Black Lisbon. See Black Evince. 
Black Lombardy. See West’s St. Peter’s. 
Black Morillon. See Black Cluster. 
Black Morocco. See Morocco. 
Black Muscadel. See Morocco. 
Black Muscadine (Black Chasselas; Chassclas Noir). 
—Bunches medium sized, compact. Berries about medium 
sized, round, inclining to oval. Skin thick, deepi purplish- 
black, covered with blue bloom. Flesh juicy, sweet, 
sugary, and richly flavoured. When well ripened, this 
is an excellent grape, and has a trace of musky aroma in 
its flavour ; but, to obtain it thus, it requires to be grown 
in a warm vinery. 
Black Muscat of A lexandria (Bed. Muscat of Alex¬ 
andria). —Bunches large and shouldered. Berries large 
and oval. Skin thick, dark reddish-purple. Flesh firm 
and crackling, with a rich, sugary, and musky flavour. 
A first-rate grape. The berries are rather smaller Ilian 
those of the White Muscat of Alexandria, but arc equally 
rich in flavour, and ripen more easily. It may be grown 
either in a warm vinery, or a hothouse ; hut the latter is 
not indispensable. 
Black Ralestine. See Black St. Peter’s. 
Black Portugal. See Black Prince. 
