THE FLORIST AND POXIOLOGIST 
[Mat, 
68 
London, from its extraordinary size, and fine 
handsome appearance. 4. Alicante : the 
handsome appearance of this Grape, and its 
late keeping and free-hearing properties make 
it a very favourite market variety. 5. Lady 
Downe's Seedling : the remarkable keeping 
properties of this Grape, and its excellent 
quality as a late sort, render it in much 
demand. 6. Madresfield Court: as an early 
sort this variety has of late made its appearance 
in market, and takes -well. Mr. Wilmot, of 
Isle worth, is cultivating it to some extent for 
this purpose. 7. Trebbiano : as a late white 
Grape this is grown to some extent; we would, 
however, recommend White Tokay in prefer¬ 
ence. 8. Duke of Buccleuch: Mr. Thomson, 
who grows this variety somewhat extensively, 
states that he realises a much higher price for 
the fruit than for that of any other sort ; its 
enormous size, fine appearance, and excellent 
quality rendering it a great favourite amongst 
those who know it. 9. Royal Muscadine : 
this as imported from France is sold in 
immense quantities at a cheap rate, but is 
seldom cultivated in this country for the 
purposes of sale. 
No other varieties of Grapes are cultivated 
to any extent, or if so, the sale and demand 
for them is extremely limited. 
YI. Grapes for Exhibition. 
Here again it is appearance that is the first 
consideration, the quality, and even the 
difficulty of cultivation, being to a great extent 
overlooked. For the best six black exhibition 
varieties we would select: 1. Black Ham¬ 
burgh; 2. Alicante; 8. Madresfield Court; 
4. Gros Guillaume; 5. Gros Colman; 6. 
Alnwick Seedling, or Lady Downe's Seedling. 
For the best four white varieties for exhibition 
purposes we select: 1. Muscat of Alexandria ; 
2. Trebbiano; 3. Buckland Sweetwater; 4. 
Foster's Seedling. The most telling of the 
black Grapes is no doubt the Alicante, and 
among the whites the Muscat of Alexandria. 
VII. Grapes for Late Keeping. 
1. The premier place here must be given to 
Lady Downe's Seedling, a variety which, if 
well grown, will keep as long, if not longer, 
than any other. 2. Mrs. Pince: this variety 
keeps well; it shrivels up rather than rots, 
and maintains its rich Muscat flavour to the 
very last, but generally loses colour. 3. 
Alicante : this is the popular variety amongst 
market growers on account of its handsome 
appearance ; it is apt, however, to lose quality 
if kept long. 4. Gros Colman: this variety 
secures the highest price and keeps well. 5. 
Alnwick Seedling: a very excellent keeping 
sort. 6. Gros Guillaume: this is a favourite 
on account of the great size and fine appear¬ 
ance of the bunches, and it keeps well. 
Amongst white varieties there is nothing to 
equal for appearance, quality, or keeping pro¬ 
perties, the Muscat of Alexandria. 2. The 
second place we give to White Tokay. 3. 
Trebbiano : this variety is meritorious also for 
its large bunches. 4. Raisin cle Calabre: this 
variety will perhaps keep longer and in better 
condition than any other sort, but in point of 
flavour it is poor. Late white Grapes are not 
nearly so much in repute as the black sorts ; 
and they are remarkably easily bruised and 
disfigured, so that they are difficult to send to 
market in good condition. 
VIII. Grapes for Early Forcing. 
1. So much is allowed for appearance, that 
even amongst the sorts -grown for the earliest 
supply, the Black Hamburgh, although neither 
the earliest nor the best in quality, is the 
variety generally accepted and relied on. It is 
strange that an inferior, it may be half-ripened, 
bunch of the Black Hamburgh is preferred to 
other smaller, but infinitely superior sorts; 
there is no variety, however, that forces more 
easily, and this is a very great recommenda¬ 
tion. 2. Madresfield Court: this variety is 
at last being put in its proper place as a first- 
class early Grape. 3. Duke of Buccleuch: 
this is truly superb for this purpose, and 
ripens sometimes before the Black Hamburgh. 
4. Royal Muscadine; 5. Fosters Seedling; 
and 6. Ascot Citronelle, are all very excellent 
as early varieties. 
IX. The Highest Quality Grapes. 
1. Muscat of Alexandria: this is decidedly 
the best and handsomest of all Grapes. 2. 
Chasselas Masque : this is by some considered 
too luscious ; could it be grown freely it would 
no doubt be much more in repute, but its 
inveterate habit of “ cracking ” renders it 
