1880 . 
THE GLADIOLUS IN 1880. 
1G5 
/— 
Season. —Late ; requires great heat. 
Merits. —Remarkably handsome, and of excellent 
quality, but inferior to Muscat of Alexandria for 
general purposes. 
Catawba (98).—A round black American 
grape, belonging to the species Vitis Labrusca. 
—Synonyms: Numerous, but practically un¬ 
known in this country. 
Vine. — Growth very free and vigorous, although 
not robust, the shoots being long and slender. 
Leaves deep green, rugose, dying off reddish. Very 
fruitful. 
Fruit.—Bunches small, short, well set. Berries 
small round. Skin thick, reddish at first, but be¬ 
coming nearly black when fully ripe, and with a 
very heavy blue bloom. Flesh greenish, somewhat 
glutinous, and with a strong musky perfume, which 
ia known as “ foxy;” sweet, but not pleasant. 
History. —This is one of the best known varieties 
of the American grapes, which are peculiar to that 
country. They are of a character very different 
from the European section which has sprung from 
Vitis vinifera, and are largely cultivated and 
esteemed in America as dessert fruit, as well as 
for wine. 
Cultural Notes. —Not cultivated in this country, 
excepting as a curiosity or ornamental plant. They 
have the reputation of not being subject to mildew, 
and have on this account been recommended to be 
used as stocks for the European grape, with the 
object of warding off that malady. Having tried 
this experiment, I am able to pronounce it non¬ 
efficient. 
Season. —Mid-season ; open air. 
Merits. —Worthless in this country. 
Champion Hamburgh. —A synonym of Mill 
Hill Hamburg : which see. 
Champion Hamburgh Muscat. —A synonym 
of Muscat Champion : which see. 
Chaptal (23).—A round white Sweetwater 
Grape. 
Vine. — Growth free and vigorous, the shoots always 
ripening well. Leaves medium-sized, dying off yel¬ 
low. Very fruitful. 
Fruit. — Bunches large, or above medium-sized, of a 
long, tapering form, with generally one large shoulder ; 
always well set. Berries medium-sized, round. 
Skin pale straw, nearly transparent. Flesh firm, 
juicy, fairly sw r eet, and pleasant, but not rich. 
History, Syc. —This has been grown for a good 
many years at Chiswick, and at Trentkam, by the 
late Mr. Fleming, where it was much esteemed, but 
it is not in general cultivation. 
Cultural Notes. —Requires much the same treat¬ 
ment as Royal Muscadine, a large-bunched coarse 
variety of which it greatly resembles. 
Season. —Mid-season. 
Merits. —Second-rate. 
Charleswortii Tokay. — A synonym of 
Muscat of Alexandria : which see. 
Ciiasselas. —A synonym of Eoyal Musca¬ 
dine : which see. 
Ciiasselas de Falloux. —A synonym of 
Chasselas Eose : which see. 
Chasselas de Florence (21). —A round 
white Sweetwater Grape. 
Vine. — Growth free and vigorous, the shoots slen¬ 
der ; but always ripening well, and very fruitful. 
Fruit. — Bunches long, medium-sized, well sot. 
Berries small, or below medium, round. Skin thin, 
transparent, pale straw, or nearly white, with a 
great portion of them assuming a violet tinge, and 
some cinnamon-brown. Flesh firm, sweet, and very 
pleasant. 
History. — Grown in the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s collection, and received from Messrs. 
Baumann, of Bolwiller. 
Cultural Notes. —Resembling the Royal Musca¬ 
dine in all respects but the coloration of the 
berries. It also requires the same treatment. 
Season. —Early. 
Merits. —Second-rate. 
Ciiasselas de Fontainebleau. —A synonym 
of Eoyal Muscadine : which see. 
Ciiasselas de Jerusalem. —A synonym of 
Black Hamburgh : which see. 
—A. F. Barron. 
THE GLADIOLUS IN 1880. 
f HE present season has been very favour¬ 
able for the well-doing of this popular 
flower—I say popular from the annually 
increasing demand for bulbs, and for the cut 
spikes for the purpose of decoration. It may 
be truly said that this fine autumn flo-wer has 
now become naturalised to this climate, up¬ 
wards of twenty acres of land being devoted 
here to its culture. 
A great deal has been written from time to 
time on the “ disease ’’ and “ degeneration ’’ of 
this flower, and on the unsuitableness of our 
climate for its cultivation. Firstly, the so- 
called “ disease ” is a misnomer—being nothing 
more or less than exhaustion—and, I believe, 
has pretty well died out, although so much has 
been written about it. Secondly,“degeneration,” 
which is now said to be the cause of failure, 
is equally absurd. The first French hybrids 
that were raised by Souchet thirty years 
ago, viz., Mons. Blewit, Mons. Vinchon, and 
many finer sorts of more recent date, as 
well as many raised and sent out by myself 
fifteen years ago, viz., Accius, Julia, Brennus, 
Lady Bridport, Agrius, and many other grand 
flowers, are as healthy as they were the first 
year. Many of these have been finer this 
year than I have ever before seen them, some 
attaining the height of six feet. Thirdly, the 
cause of failure set down to our unfavourable 
climate is also equally absurd, as it is well known 
that our culture is more extensive than any on 
the Continent, and our English-raised sorts sur¬ 
pass in form and substance all others in commerce. 
A few hints on the culture of this flower 
may be interesting to the general readers of 
