1882 .] 
THE DRYDEN NECTARINE.-WHITE TOKAY GRAPE.-MEDINILLA MAGNIFICA. 
81 
THE DRYDEN NECTARINE. 
[Plate 563.] 
N my note-book I find the following entry : 
“Dryden, a very large and delicious 
Nectarine, ripe August 16,1871 ; raised 
from a stone of the Dagmar Peach.” 
As I never form a decided opinion from the 
first fruit of a seedling, I did not at once 
jump to the conclusion that “Dryden” was 
going to turn out equal to the “ John Dryden,” 
but the name was given to be withdrawn if 
not found worthy. I have, however, seen no 
reason to alter my opinion ; successive entries 
have but confirmed the first. When well 
grown the Dryden Nectarine is a very fine 
and well-flavoured fruit, much larger than the 
ordinary race of Nectarines, of which the 
Elruge is a type, possessing a distinct and 
remarkable flavour, derived from the mixture 
of the Stanwick Nectarine with the various 
sorts which the orchard-house gives the means 
of cultivating. — T. Francis Rivers, Saw- 
bridgeworth. 
WHITE TOKAY GRAPE. 
HILE agreeing with Mr. Fleming that 
this is one of our best late Whit 9 
Grapes, I cannot endorse his opinion 
as to the cause which has led to its 
growth being discontinued ; neither do I think 
the unkind cut which he has given to my old 
friends the Black Grapes can ever reinstate the 
Tokay in the favour of the present generation 
of growers, since they have to produce, pre¬ 
serve, and bring forward a plentiful supply of 
really good “ bags of water,” from the time 
old Hamburghs give out, until new ones come 
in. Rather must we look for the cause of the 
falling-off in our affection, to the altered state 
of affairs brought about by cheap glass, simpli¬ 
fied forms of heating, and last, but not least, to 
the preference which consumers give to plump, 
pulpy fruit, at a guinea or more per pound, as a 
sort of set-off to the “ dry and brown ” raisin¬ 
like fruit which they can always buy at the 
Italian warehouse. 
Within the last few years Grape-growing 
has made rapid strides, and where formerly 
mediocre Grapes were grown by the hundred¬ 
weight, good ones are now produced by the ton. 
Every good sort has a house to itself; and if 
those of the intense heat-loving section are not 
grown separately, they are kept side by side, 
where their good or weak points are found out 
by contrast. In this way Tokays were planted 
by the side of Muscats, and after giving suffi¬ 
cient fire heat to finish off the latter—still 
one of our very best winter Grapes, the former 
were found wanting in colour and the faint 
smack of Muscat flavour; and as few people 
cared to sacrifice a house of winter Pines, 
Tokay vines have been considerably reduced 
to make room for kinds which can be cultivated 
at less cost. 
To grow the Tokay Grape well, the vines 
should always have a warm corner to them¬ 
selves ; and the borders should be inside the 
house and well drained, to admit of liberal 
feeding with diluted liquid through the grow¬ 
ing season ; but the compost, consisting of 
good turfy loam, charred wood or prunings, 
and bone dust, should never have solid manure 
in it, as it induces a gross growth at the out¬ 
set, and encourages worms, which very soon 
render the whole mass pasty and fibreless, and 
the internal border is condemned as a failure. 
A good late white Grape which can be grown 
and finished in moderate heat will be found 
in Mrs. Pearson, and although it is smaller 
in the berry, it is excellent in quality, and 
producing as it does long taper bunches, 
through which the air can pass freely, it is 
well adapted for hanging after it is ripe. It 
is a good grower, shows an abundance of 
bunches, which set well under Hamburgh 
treatment, and judging from my slight ac¬ 
quaintance with it I am inclined to think it 
will prove a valuable variety for use through 
the early spring months.—W. Coleman, East- 
no r Castle Gardens. 
MEDINILLA MAGNIFICA. 
HIS splendid stove shrub, though per¬ 
haps one of the most gorgeous amongst 
flowering exotic plants, is but seldom 
met with in ordinary collections. It 
is probable that the space necessary to grow a 
good specimen may be a consideration, and a 
reasonable objection with many growers. 
Some years ago I remember sending you 
an account of a large plant we then had, 
which bore a multitude of its drooping clusters 
of blossoms ; that plant grew in a tub placed at 
the epd of one of our pine stoves. The plant 
F 
