406 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLE MAN, September 28, 1858. 
Mr. Melville also sent specimens of a Seedling 
Blade Grape, raised from the Champion; but they had 
suffered so much from the length ot time they were on 
their passage, that the Meeting preferred reserving their 
opinion until they should see this variety also in a more 
perfect state. 
Mr. Rivers brought a dish of the Prolific Sweet¬ 
water, grown in Prance, under tlie names of Gros 
Goulard, and Froc La Boulay. This is a long-bunched 
White Grape, with a thin skin and nice flavour, the berry 
much resembling, in size and form, that of the Budcland 
Sweetwater. It appeared to set well, and was considered 
a useful variety, worthy of being more generally grown. 
Some branches were exhibited, showing the results of 
some interesting experiments of ringing the bark of the 
wood while young : with this variety very slight dif¬ 
ference was observable between the bunches and berries 
on the branches so treated and on those which had grown 
naturally; but Mr. Rivers described, that on branches so 
treated of the Muscat of Alexandria, growing in the 
same house (a cold vinery), the berries were swelling and 
ripening much faster than on those which were not 
ringed. 
Mr. Rivers exhibited, from the same house, Chasselas 
Yibert, a variety of the Sweetwater section,—all of 
which are called Chasselas in Prance,—very nearly re¬ 
sembling the Prolife Sweetwater in size, and form of 
bunch and berry, but attaining a warm amber colour 
when fully ripe, similar to that oil Muscat of Alexandria. 
The skin was thin; flesh sweet and juicy ; seeds few; 
leaves more deeply serrated than the common Sweet¬ 
water. It was said to be one of the earliest and hardiest 
of its class, and to ripen as w T ell on the often wall as in a 
cool vinery. These two varieties, with the Budcland 
Sweetwater, were considered well suited to displace the 
old shy-setting, straggling-bunched Sweetwater, as more 
worthy of cultivation. 
Mr. Rivers also brought a dish of Early Place: 
J uly, oi' Morillon Hdtif, from a board fence, with a west 
aspect. This, though small, and not of first quality, is the 
earliest, and one of the hardiest of Grapes, suited for 
out-door cultivation. It is not so much know r n in this 
country as it deserves ; for Vines are often planted in or¬ 
namental gardens for the sake of their foliage; and early 
hardy kinds, which will generally produce eatable fruit, 
had better be used for the purpose than any other. 
Melons.—M r. C. W.Mounsdon, gardener to Gf.H ol¬ 
land Ackers, Esq., of Moreton Hall, near Congleton, 
sent a Seedling from Munros Green-flesh, hybridised 
with Golden Perfection, reporting it to be a strong grower, 
free setter, and great bearer; the fruit ranging in weight 
from 2^ tt>3. to 5 tbs., and of a high quality in point of 
flavour. The fruit sent weighed 3|fbs., was handsome 
in appearance, much resembling its male parent; flesh 
white; but the flavour was very deficient. This fruit, 
however, w r as one of the second crop, which is always 
least to be depended on for flavour. 
Peaches. —Of Seedlings, Mr. Veitch, of Exeter, sent 
several, grown on a south wall, which all partook of the 
Syrian Bitter-lcernelled character, although two of them 
were called English Seedlings. No. 3, called Syrian 
Bitter-kernelled, was a variety having crenated leaves, 
with globose glands; flowers not described; fruit melt¬ 
ing ; very deep-coloured on the sunny side; flesh very 
juicy, and almost white to the stone, which was small; 
flavour of fair average quality, but not sufficiently re¬ 
markable to become worthy of cultivation, unless it is 
likely to prove useful in point of season, in which respect 
it is stated to be “ a fortnight later ” than Royal Georye. 
It is desirable that it should be brought before the Society 
again next year, as the fruit was small; but this was 
attributed to their probably being the first the plant had 
produced. No. 4 was the next best ; a free-stoned 
Peach, larger than No. 3, and more juicy, but inferior in 
flavour. No. 8 was juicy and sweet, but a clingstone, and 
not, seemingly, late enough to make it useful, in spite of 
this defect. 
Jonathan Clarke, Esq., sent a Seedling from a 
tree grown as a standard in the open garden. The fruit 
was not large ; but, for the circumstances under which it 
had been grown, the flavour was very fair ; flesh melting. 
Something must be attributed to the remarkable fineness 
of the past season; but it has been several times ex¬ 
pressed, that it is desirable to encourage the production 
of an improved race of hardy Peaches and Apricots, 
which should, as standards, produce good crops in average 
seasons; as the fruit would be valuable for preserving 
purposes, if its flavour did not quite qualify it for dessert. 
Mr. Rivers brought a Seedling, which was a 
curiosity, being a free-stone, midseason variety, and 
having been raised from Pavie de Pompone, which is a 
clingstone, and the latest Peach known. The flesh was 
remarkably juicy and sugary, and altogether a variety of 
good promise; tree producing large flowers, and leaves 
with globose glands. 
Mr. Kemp, gardener to Henry Drummond, Esq., of 
Albury Park, near Guildford, Surrey, sent a Seedling, 
said to grow larger in the above locality than Noblesse, 
and to endure wet weather better than any other variety ; 
the soil being described as unfavourable for Peaches 
generally. The fruit was large, handsome, and well 
grown, although the specimens sent were said to be the 
last of the crop, and less fine than those first gathered. 
In appearance and quality, as well as in the above par¬ 
ticulars, it was considered closely to resemble the Belle- 
garde ; but the flowers were described as small, and the 
leaves sent were coarsely serrated,—resembling in these 
respects the Royal Charlotte. A desire was, therefore, 
expressed to see it again next year, accompanied with 
other varieties grown under the same circumstances; as, 
unless it proved to be specially suited to such as were 
ungenial, it would not be an acquisition as a mere mid- 
season Peach, in that it was not superior to the usual 
good varieties under favourable circumstances. 
Mr. Vallance, gardener at Farleigh Castle, near 
Bath, sentspecimens of a Seedling raised by Mr. Pike, 
a farmer in the neighbourhood. It was described as 
growing against a wall, in common soil, not having been 
grafted, and little attended to in regard to pruning and 
training, but very hardy, and bearing abundantly. The 
fruit was very good, and very closely coincided with the 
Royal George, in colour, flavour, season, flowers, and 
leaves; and, therefore, w r as not likely to be worthy of 
propagation, unless it appeared, on sufficient evidence 
next year, to be hardier than Royal George in that dis¬ 
trict, less subject to mildew, or in some other way superior. 
A quality not unworthy of notice, which this Peach 
is said to possess, is that of not ripening its fruit all at 
once, but so as to produce a continuation of season from 
the same tree. The first ripe fruit were gathered August 
20th, and the last are expected to hang till the 20th of 
September. 
Amongst other kinds, Mr. Lane exhibited Pucelle 
de Malines, a variety which deserves to be brought 
more under general notice. It is usually in Peach-houses 
or on walls ; a delicious, melting, white-fleshed Peach ; 
those exhibited, however, w r ere not quite in its best state, 
and somewhat over ripe. 
A collection of Peaches was sent by Mr. Wighton, 
of Cossey Hall, near Norwich. 
Nectarines. —Mr. Veitch, of Exeter, sent a Seed¬ 
ling, grown on a south-east wall. Leaves crenated, 
with reniform glands; flowers not described; fruit 
bitter-kernelled, half clingstone ; small in size, round, 
verj r juicy, and in flavour rich and vinous. This w as 
considered a promising variety, which the Council 
w r ould like to see again next season. 
Mr. Rivers brought tw o Seedlings, Nos. 4 and 6, 
