1S72. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
215 
all over the country. Now what is tho moral to be drawn from all this ? It is the same we 
have had to point out before, and the circumstances of the present year do but add intensity 
to it—more protection ; and that protection must be glass. 
- 3£he Duke of Buccleuch Grape is a new white summer Grape of con¬ 
siderable merit, raised by Mr. W. Thomson, of the Tweed Vineyard, Clovenfords. 
The variety is remarkable for the immense size of the berries, their beautiful 
colour, transparency, and delicate bloom, along with the compact and solid character of the bunch. 
The berries are of an oblate form, and suppoi’ted on stout stalks, and the bunches are com¬ 
pactly branched after the manner of a Black Hamburgh. This variety was raised by Mr. 
Thomson seven years ago, and had established itself so well in his confidence at Dalkeith that 
he decided on planting it largely in his own place. One berry, taken as a fair sample of size, 
when weighed and measured, was found to weigh within a fraction of three-quarters of an 
ounce, and to measure If inch in diameter. Specimens which were recently shown at South 
Kensington were awarded a First-class Certificate on the special report of Mr. Barron, who 
was deputed to examine the growing vines. From this l-eport the following is an extract: — 
“ I visited Clovenfords, and saAv the vines growing thei’e. Mr. Thomson has it planted exten¬ 
sively,—1st, 22 vines in one house at 6 feet apart, two rods to each viixe, the i-est of the 
house being filled with Black Hamburgh, &c.; 2nd, about 40 vines on either side of a span- 
roofed house, at 9 feet apai’t, three l'ods to each vine, the rest of the house being filled with 
Muscats, &c. The whole of these vines wex-e planted in the autumn of 1870. The greater 
poi’tion of the crop (300 lb.) had been cut previous to my visit; thei’e wei’e still, however, 
about 250 bunches hanging, which enabled me to an’ive at a pi-etty good idea of its bearing 
qualities. There was a singular uniformity in the appearance of the whole, both as regards 
the growth of the plants, general productiveness, size, coloui', and general appeax-ance of 
the bunches and bei’ries. In growth it somewhat resembles Canon Hall Muscat, Mill Hill 
Hamburgh, and Golden Champion, the shoots being l’ather gross and generally well ripened, 
the leading shoots being very strong, and thoi'oughly ripened, of about the thickness of one’s 
thumb. I could detect no spot or other blemish on the bei’ries, whereas the Golden Champion 
alongside, although lai’ge and well grown, was much spotted. As to ripening, in comparison 
with the Black Hambui’gh grown in the same house under the same circumstances, it was much 
earlier—evidently some weeks. Few of the Hambui’ghs were ripe or fit to cut, whei'eas the 
most of the Duke had been cut and sent to market a month previously. The Hamburghs 
were, however, overcropped, which tends to retard the ripening. The Muscats under the 
same treatment had not begun to colour, whilst the Duke was dead ripe. Each vine seemed 
to have fruited as freely as a Black Hamburgh, one bunch to each spui', the bunches being of 
a fair average size, of from 1 lb. to 2 lb. each, and some largei’. Grafted on the Muscat, it did 
not seem to do so well. The Grape will evidently not keep long after being ripe, being thin- 
skinned; it is extremely pleasant to eat, the flesh tender and juicy, with a rich sparkling 
acidity, somewhat of the Hamburgh character. The berries ai’e enormously large, round or 
oblate, like the Dutch Hamburgh, and have l-ai'ely moi’e than two seeds in each. I should 
describe it as a very valuable summer Grape.” 
- are glad to liave to note that the charge of the Royal Gardens at 
Frog more has been entrusted to Mr. Thomas Jones, who has been for the last 15 
years in the service of Lord Leconfield, at Petwortli, and who had previously lived 
with Mr. Kelk, at Bentley Priory, Stanmoi’e, and Admiral Vernon Harcourt, at Swinton Castle, 
Yorkshire ; in eai’ly days he had been employed at Ci’ewe Hall, Trentham, &c. Mr. Jones is 
well known as a practical gardener of eminence in his profession. 
-- Hr. Moore has recently fruited in the Glasnevin Botanic Garden the 
Lucuma obovata , a tropical fruit, native of temperate Peru, and cultivated in 
the gardens in Chili. It had fruited this year for the first time probably in this 
country, and appeared to be very little known. 
--- ^The Amaranthus salicifolius , sent out by Messrs. Veitck and Sons, 
proves to be a most useful summer garden plant, when not grown too hot and 
close. The plant is a half-tender annual, and Mr. Denning tells us that it re¬ 
quires to be sown about the first week in April, and ti'eated as a tender annual until the 
middle of May, after which time it may be gradually hai’dened off, and by the middle of June 
planted out-of-doors, where it will l-equire no further care. It will not look very well for 
