October 16, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
103 
•will attain a length of 3 ft. to 5 ft. The greater part 
of the Gleichenias would also come under this section, 
the principal exception being G. dichotoma, which should 
have just the warmer temperature during the winter 
months. The Gleichenias may truly be called the 
aristocracy among Ferns ; they are the most handsome 
when placed upon the exhibition stages, and are, 
withal, excellent travellers. Such forms as flabellata, 
dichotoma, speluneie, rupestris, Mendeli and hecisto- 
phylla may be grown into large specimens, often 
measuring 5 ft. to 6 ft. high, and 10 ft. to 12 ft. in 
circumference. Greenhouse temperature, as stated 
above, is most suitable for these ; for being natives 
chiefly of Tasmania, New Zealand and Australia, and 
growing in cool, shady positions, it will be readily 
admitted that not much heat is required. They are, 
for the most part, very shallow-rooting plants. The 
why, thread-like rhizomes run quickly over the surface 
of the soil, emitting a quantity of small roots which do 
not strike very deeply into the compost ; for this 
reason these are better grown in pans, using plenty of 
potsherds and charcoal or clinkers in crocking. The 
soil these prefer is loose open peat, with sand, &c. 
Plenty of water must be given, for in such a mixture it 
will pass rapidly through, arid the soil will not become 
sour. The Dicksonias and other tree Ferns must have 
greenhouse temperatures ; of course, shading will be 
given to this section, as to the stove. The syringe 
must be used on the stems of these plants as the roots 
push out all along the length, and moisture thus 
applied assists very much in the development and 
perfect growth of these grand specimens from the islands 
of the Southern Seas. — TV. Swan. 
( To be continued). 
-—- 
Hardening tfoTES from 
•fcOTLAND. 
Quality of Grapes, &c. —We have often read— 
and very lately, too—about the worthlessness of certain 
kinds of fruits, remarks of so sweeping, a character that 
very pliable minds are apt to be misled, and often fall 
into the error of condemning what they havenot been able 
to prove, and never pursue a proper course which would 
give the knowledge sought after, but accept the verdicts 
of some distinguished cultivators, whose experience 
with certain things, when committed to print, show 
that they never have given an impartial trial to the 
fruits they so strongly condemn. We know those who 
years ago have denounced certain Grapes as being 
worthless, but are now growing them extensively, and 
such are also the delight of proprietors who have had 
them served from January onwards, after being ripened 
with a high temperature, instead of having the same 
fruits supplied during September or October. We 
would give as examples the hostile criticisms of Lady 
Downes, Gros Colmar, Barbarossa, Raisin de Calibre, 
Black Morocco and some others of the most valuable of 
late Grapes, which had unfavourable comments passed 
on their quality when seen on exhibition tables during 
the autumn months. 
The same might have been done with some of the 
finest kinds of Pears and Apples, which are not fit for 
use till long after they have had their requirements 
supplied by the trees on which they grew. We read in 
a contemporary, that certain kinds of fruits, such as 
kitchen Plums and large showy late Grapes are realising 
double the prices which are paid for good Hamburgh 
Grapes and Greengage Plums. It is wisely asserted, 
that such facts are by no means a guarantee of quality. 
It is well known that the multitude of casual buyers 
have no idea of quality beyond appearance, and, 
therefore, buy what is of finest exterior. Utter non¬ 
sense is sometimes carried to exhibition tables, and 
while many exhibitors would be cautious how they 
avoided large coarse Cabbages and Potatos, of sus¬ 
picious size, to make up their collections, they would 
not hesitate at placing unripe Gros Colmar, Gros 
Maroc, Trebbiano, and other kinds (in condition quite 
dangerous to eat), and then clamour for the prizes, and 
denounce the judges for awarding them to excellent 
but smaller examples of finely-matured Black Ham- 
burghs, Black Muscats, and others in season, as superior 
to the winter and spring kinds then, as gold is to 
silver. Did space permit, we could give a larger 
catalogue of cases bearing on these points—extending 
over a period of twenty years—which would show that 
tuition, in the merits of fruits generally, has not emerged 
from its infancy since our earliest recollections. 
We note that reference as to the quality of Pines is 
made, and would say that a Queen Pine of prime 
quality weighing 5 lbs. to 6 lbs. is of greater merit 
than a Providence at 10 lbs. to 12 lbs., or even 
Smooth Cayennes at 8 lbs. to 10 lbs. ; and yet we saw 
much dissatisfaction by an exhibitor who tabled a 
Queen Pine, lj lbs. weight, and another kind—green 
as grass, also small—which was quite worthless, while 
his opponent had a pair of excellent fruits, which were 
of more value than all that was in the unsuccessful 
exhibitor’s collection. The Grapes, too, in the success¬ 
ful lot were-made up with such grand kinds as fine 
Dukes, Hamburglis, and Marocs—all excellent. A 
fourth lot, perfectly sound in berry, but stale, were 
cancelled, all balancing at 6 to 4 against the fair 
samples, which had to give way. Some exhibitors 
forget that big Plums, Morello Cherries, and such 
common fruits, however excellent, cannot “floor” 
the higher class of fruits—Pines and Grapes of best 
kinds—which require skill and expense to produce 
them. Often the finest common fruits can be picked off 
trees growing mid, which never had skill expended on 
them, except at planting time, half a century ago ; and 
it would be unreasonable for censors at exhibition tables 
to put them on the same level with those of ten times 
their value, and produced by great skill, patience and 
anxiety. We have had placed before us, by a friend, 
examples of Duke of Buccleuch, Mrs. Pearson and 
Golden Queen Grapes; all three are excellent in 
appearance and flavour, Mrs. Pearson coming next to 
the Duke in quality, because of its wholesome, 
digestible and luscious substance. 
The Queen is firmer in substance, finer in appearance ; 
but were we asked which we would prefer for dessert, 
Mrs. Pearson would be chosen. Palates which are able 
to discern the finest qualities are all loud in praise of 
the Duke, and would eat it almost in preference to any 
other Grape. The fact that there are very wholesome 
Grapes, and others which can be digested but by few, 
will always prompt proprietors to choose certain kinds, 
and have them in their season ; therefore, late unripe 
Grapes, only suitable for use in winter and spring, will 
never compete, except in market, against first-rate 
examples of high-class kinds, thoroughly ripe and in 
their season. 
Just one other shot and I have done. I observe with 
pleasure the remarks of Mr. Crump, Madresfield Court. 
The judgment of one whose experience warrants such 
opinion as given by Mr. C. on the cracking of Madres¬ 
field Grape, p. 92, will be received with weight; and 
judging from the experience of others hundreds of miles 
apart, I would be strongly inclined to endorse the 
causes of “cracking” as adduced by your able corre¬ 
spondent. The first examples which I saw of this 
Grape was at the great provincial exhibition held by 
the Royal Horticultural Society at Leicester ; it was 
then being sent out. I bought a two guinea cane, but 
my success with its cultivation was not great. Others 
to whom I recommended it did it well, experiencing no 
difficulty with cracking or anything else ; and no care 
being taken to avoid any evil proclivity natural to the 
kind, rendered the facts all the more extraordinary. 
Once, when visiting the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
gardens at Chiswick, I saw a Vine of this kind well 
loaded with finely coloured fruit free from cracking, 
and I think there was no heat applied to the 
structure—a house put up on the “ Fountain *” principle, 
but then fallen into disfavour—but abundance of air 
■was kept at front and back, showing how much it 
liked dry airy treatment at colouring time. In addition 
to a dry atmosphere, we would also keep the roots free 
from excessive moisture at ripening time, and also pre¬ 
vent root action from extending beyond the artificially 
made borders. In some low-lying parts much mischief 
is done to other Grapes by causing cracking and 
premature decay as well as Madresfield Court. Mr. 
Ramsay, at Fordel, whose gardening we briefly referred 
to lately, does this kind well. He told me that lie 
cropped heavier than usual, and, certainly, he has 
stuck to his practice this year, as his crop was enormous, 
and we did not see a cracked berry on any of his fine 
bunches. We have acted on the free ventilation and 
dry border system this year, and I think we have not 
cut out more than half-a-dozen cracked berries. Extra 
thinning has been practised, the berries having grown 
to enormous size last year, and so they have done this 
season, with colour very nearly perfect.— M. T. 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
Where Vines are grown in the greenhouse, conser¬ 
vatory, or even in an unheated house as we have before 
noted, the Grapes should now be ripe, and there will, 
probably, be some hesitation, if the crop is a good one, 
as to what would be the best mode of keeping them. 
Grapes last in condition much better upon the Vines 
than in any other way if they can be properly attended 
to,, but this sometimes is a considerable difficulty in a 
house that is devoted to plants of a miscellaneous 
character. The Grapes require a cool temperature, a 
rather dry atmosphere, and avoidance of evaporation 
from the floor, paths or stages. When plants are grown 
in the same house these conditions can scarcely be pro¬ 
vided against, and, in consequence, the berries either 
shrivel quickly from the heat being too great, or they 
become subject to mould and mildew from the excessive 
atmospheric moisture. It will, therefore, be well to keep 
the plants out as long as possible, and frames can be 
utilised for the purpose, so as to give the Grapes a chance 
of colouring thorougly and perfecting their flavour. The 
finishing is much more difficult than the growing, as the 
plants do not interfere with the success of the Vines in 
the early stages. The bunches must be looked over 
carefully, removing any decaying or mouldy berries ; 
and ventilate the house freely whenever the weather is 
favourable, as this assists greatly in the ripening and 
colouring of the Grapes. 
When it is absolutely necessary to cut the bunches, 
sever them from the Vine with a portion of the wood 
attached, 6 ins. or 8 ins. long, then if bottles be sus¬ 
pended, slightly tilted on one side, and half filled with 
water, the stem can be inserted, and the bunches will 
hang clear. Place the bottle in a room where a cool 
dry temperature can be preserved, not falling below 
45°. Ail the late Grapes will keep for months in this 
way. It will be necessary to empty the bottles oc¬ 
casionally, and refill with fresh water ; also examine 
the bunches frequently, removing mouldy berries. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Continue giving attention to general clearing up, 
rolling lawns and walks when not too wet, and prepare 
the beds that are to be devoted to bulbs for spring 
flowering. It is a good plan to get these bulbs planted 
before excessive wet has saturated the soil, or frost 
comes, and the sites should therefore be selected, and 
the soil dug at once. Choose as warm and dry a 
position as possible ; for if bulbs be placed in beds 
imperfectly drained, or too heavy soil, success cannot 
be expected. The beds should be well raised, and 
consist of rather light vegetable compost; planting the 
larger bulbs about 2 ins. beneath the surface, the 
others nearer the surface, and cover with a thick layer 
of cocoa-nut fibre refuse ; this is better than planting 
the bulbs deeply to render them safe from frost ; but 
the soil must be well pressed around them, or they may 
be forced out of their places during growth. Hyacinths, 
Tulips and Crocuses are the best for formal beds, but 
by all means have some clumps of Crocuses scattered 
about on slopes or under trees on the lawn, together 
with plenty of the bright yellow Winter Aconite, which 
is so charming in early spring, together with Anemones 
of the nemorosa type. — Scolytus. 
-"*->5£<- 0 - 
TOBACCO CURING. 
Many years ago it was customary for gardeners to 
have their annual tobacco patch, and ofttimes it might 
be seen growing as an ornamental plant in the flower 
or shrubbery border.. I used to grow for years a 
sufficient quantity to serve me for fumigating purposes, 
and with tolerable success. Of course, the seed -was 
sown in heat, when large enough pricked out into pots 
and pans, and when larger grown, potted into small 
pots, and treated in precisely the same way as were 
similar half-hardy plants that were raised from 
seed, and destined for turning out after all danger of 
frost was past. In planting out, the plants require 
plenty of room to enable the operator to conveniently 
get amongst them to water, as occasion may require 
him to do so in very dry weather, more especially 
during the early stages of growth, and before the plants 
are thoroughly established. 
Thegatheringof the cropused tobe done periodically— 
i. c ., a first gathering of leaves took place when the lower 
ones had fully matured their growth ; these were care¬ 
fully taken from the plants, generally about three 
leaves—the lower ones—leaving the others to grow 
larger, which they soon do, and are gathered in suc¬ 
cession until the whole crop is secured. 
