536 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 23, 1887. 
GRAPES: GROS COLMAR v. 
LADY DOWNES. 
It appears somewhat strange to me that after the 
correspondence on this subject has gone so far, Mr. 
Udale should now turn round and wish me to under¬ 
stand I have entirely missed the point of his article on 
p. 379. He gave me four plain questions, to which I 
have given plain answers ; but he suddenly tells me 
have been crediting him with things which he had 
not thought of. He also says I have avoided his fourth 
query as though it would bite me. I think my reason 
for not answering it is plainly stated on p. 456. But 
I must add further, if for Mr. Udale’s benefit alone, 
that if I lived a hundred miles nearer the vinery in 
question, I might have given him an answer, but 
under the circumstances I rather fancy it would bite. 
If your correspondent will turn to his first com¬ 
munication on the subject he will not find any mention 
made of the treatment of the vinery. I emphatically 
deny that the presence of either of these Grapes ought 
to have been abundant proof that it was a late vinery, 
for I know where Lady Downes is to be found in the 
early vinery, and Gros Colmar in anything but a late 
one. My experience differs considerably from that of 
my opponent in respect to the finishing of the Grapes 
in question ; I find Muscats are improved by being 
ripened in an ordinary Muscat temperature, and those 
I have tried grown in a temperature suitable for Lady 
Downes or Hamburghs; have been deficient in flavour 
as well as colour. Both varieties certainly require a 
long period to finish ; but Lady Downes will attain a 
grand flavour in a much lower temperature. At least, 
this has been my experience. 
After reading my reply to the second question 
carefully again, I fail to see where Mr. Udale gets the 
idea into his head that I am afraid of allowing the 
Muscats fresh air. I should be sorry to assert any¬ 
thing so erroneous. I would respectfully admit that 
the Muscats and Gros Colmars are improved by a 
greater amount of sunheat and light than is required 
by Lady Downes. I again state I have never tasted 
Gros Colmar equal in flavour to w r ell grown Lady 
Downes, the latter being, in my opinion, the 
best late Grape we have. I do not wish to infer for a 
moment that the sample of Gros Colmars that were 
tasted by Mr. Udale were not superior to Lady Downes 
grown in the same house ; far from it. But I feel 
certain if an opinion could be had from all our leading 
Grape growers as to which variety is superior to the 
other in flavour, Lady Downes would win by a large 
majority .—James B. Riding. 
- ->X< -- 
AMATEUR GRAPE GROWING. 
At the usual monthly meeting of the North of 
Scotland Horticultural Society, held in the Upper 
Hall, Christian Institute, Aberdeen, on Friday evening 
the 15th inst., the vice-president, Mr. Grigor, Fair- 
field, in the chair, Mr. James Scott, Deemount, 
Aberdeen, read a paper on “Amateur Grape Growing,” 
in the course of which he described his own experience 
as a Grape grower. He commenced to grow Vines in 
1882 by planting several varieties together. When the 
berries came on, he thinned them carefully and 
sparingly; but mildew shortly afterwards set in. 
Acting on the advice of a friend, he tried sulphur as a 
cure, which speedily put an end to the mildew and the 
Vines as well. He tried a second time in the following 
year with most satisfactory results. His vinery was 
heated in the usual way with pipes, and was particu¬ 
larly well lighted with large panes of glass. He placed 
the wire about 12-ins. from the glass ; but he thought 
that was too near, and recommended that the distance 
between the wire and the glass should be 15 ins. or 
18 ins. 
He prepared the soil with Seasoned manure and a 
coating of pure loam, and took the precaution of wash¬ 
ing the roots of the plants before pdanting them. He 
pruned the Vines about the end of December, and at 
the end of January rubbed off the loose bark. When 
the buds began to swell, he gave the borders a good 
soaking, using cold water. As the result of his system, 
he had grown annually a crop of Grapes averaging 180 
bunches, and weighing 200 lbs. He concluded by 
remarking that he had found Vine cultivation a 
pleasant and interesting amusement, as well as a 
profitable work, since he had always been able to 
secure a profit in the sales of the fruit after paying 
expenses, besides having as many Grapes as he wanted 
for his own table. 
Mr. Henderson, Wellwood, in the course of the in¬ 
teresting discussion which followed the reading of the 
paper, alluded to Mr. Scott’s experience with the 
sulphur, which, he said, was a case of the sulphur being 
wrongly applied. If properly used sulphur could not 
be surpassed as a destroyer of mildew. The proper way 
to apply it was to mix it up with water, and paint the 
hot-water pipes with it, afterwards taking care not to 
put on too much fire. It was advisable to use the 
sulphur after the berries had stoned, otherwise it might 
have an injurious effect. Mr. Henderson also held that 
the water used for watering the Vines ought to be at 
least as warm as the soil in which the roots were placed. 
Fresh manure applied to young plants was also, in his 
opinion, objectionable, as tending to produce an undue 
growth of wood and leaves to the detriment of the fruit. 
After the Grapes were cut, a little fire-heat should be 
given to thoroughly mature the wood, and then the 
plants should be pruned as hard as possible. The- 
chairman said that he differed from Mr. Henderson 
with regard to the method of using the sulphur. In 
his opinion the water in the pipes could not be heated 
too much. He also thought that manure should be 
used in forming the border. If he got good strong 
wood the roots would look after themselves. 
Mr. Grigor, Sunnyside, agreed with Mr. Henderson 
in thinking it undesirable to apply manure to young 
Vines. They did not require to be fed much the first 
season or two. After many of those present had taken 
part in the discussion, it was found that the majority 
held that sulphur could be safely used even when a very 
great heat was applied. All the speakers complimented 
Mr. Scott on his success in Vine-growing, and a hearty 
vote of thanks was accorded to him for his excellent 
paper. Mr. John Smith, Devanha House, was admitted 
a member of the society. A vote of thanks to the vice- 
president for presiding terminated a most enjoyable and 
instructive evening. 
-—i-C-c-- 
A PERN NURSERY. 
Various widely distinct subjects are cultivated to 
great perfection and in great quantities in the Dyson’s 
Lane Nursery at Upper Edmonton. Comparatively 
few species, however, are grown considering the extent 
of glass, and the thousands of pot plants that fill the 
numerous low span-roofed houses that cover the 
grounds of the nursery like a village of glass. The 
plants, however, are all of a select nature, owing to 
their being grown solely, or almost so, for market pur¬ 
poses, which exercises a selecting influence upon them, 
so that no weeds or fancy plants, botanical or other¬ 
wise, obtain a footing here. 
Anyone with a knowledge of, or fancy for Ferns, 
cannot fail to be delighted with a visit of inspection, 
for notwithstanding the collections of other things, 
Ferns are the chief feature of the place. House after 
house is filled with thousands of plants in all stages, 
from the tiny green prothallus, the first evidence of 
germination, up to handsome, healthy and shapely 
plants of considerable size. 
Five span-roofed houses running parallel with one 
another are entirely filled with the popular Adiantum 
cuneatum, which (owing to the absence of the inter¬ 
vening partitions between the houses) look like a field 
of a beautiful green colour. Several very useful 
varieties of this species are grown, such as A. c. elegans, 
a form with graceful fronds and small pinnules ; also 
the compact-habited A. c. Pacotti, and the tasselled 
A. c. grandiceps. The Maidenhair Ferns are amongst 
the most popular at present, and accordingly we find 
other well-known and beautiful forms, such as A. 
Farleyense, A. scutum, A. rubellum, A. rhodophyllum 
and others of that class whose young fronds are red, 
pink or purple, and very effective by contrast with the 
matured state. A. curvatum, A. Sanctoe Catherinse, 
A. Veitchi and Williamsi, are also distinct and beau¬ 
tiful, while A. pubescens, and the tawny-fronded A. 
fulvum, with the graceful arching fronds of A. fragrant- 
issimuin, add great variety of character to the general 
appearance. 
Another feature of importance is exhibited by several 
exceedingly useful forms of Pteris, characterised at once 
by their beauty, their long-lasting qualities and utility 
for general decorative purposes. Pteris cretica Mayi is 
a dwarf compactly-habited crested form, whose pinnules, 
with the exception of a narrow margin, are of a silvery 
white colour. This variety is grown in surprising 
quantity, and the same may be said of P. serrulata 
cristata compacta, another crested and densely bushy 
plant. The general decorative effect, and the healthy 
vigorous appearance of these two can hardly be too 
greatly eulogised. P. cretica albo-lineata cristata is 
also produced in smaller quantity, together with the 
green and robust-growing P. umbrosa, with conspicuous 
reddish brown sori. The bronzy—sometimes almost 
red—young fronds of P. aspericaulis were very con¬ 
spicuous, together with the red, green and white 
P. tricolor, the green and white P. argyrea, the parti¬ 
coloured P. nemoralis variegata, P. tremula, and its 
certificated variety P. t. flaccida. The pleasing way in 
which many of these are associated together in ordinary 
or ornamental pots or baskets reflects great credit on 
the taste of Mr. Henry B. May, the proprietor. Tall- 
fronded forms have some of the dwarfer bushy ones 
inserted with them, so that a fine effect is produced by 
the combination, and one calculated to take the popular 
fancy. Doryopteris palmata and Pteris nemoralis 
variegata are thus associated, while Adiantums are 
united with others. 
Several Gymnogrammas are grown, including a dwarf 
white-powdered heavily-crested form of G. Wetten- 
halliana. Great variety of character was exhibited by 
different species of Nephrolepis, such as N. tuberosa, 
N. acuta, N. Duffi, and N. davallioides furcans. 
These were grown in various ways—as basket or pot 
plants, or planted out. Great variety and effective¬ 
ness was created by a considerable number of the most 
popular and beautiful Davallias, mostly grown in 
baskets and hung up near the glass. D. canariensis, 
in two forms, was grown in pots ; and the large red- 
stalked pale-fronded D. Mooreana looked handsome 
grown in 48-sized pots. The colour, scaliness, and 
length of the rhizomes offer endless variety of cha¬ 
racter independent of the fronds, and serve as a means 
of distinguishing the species, especially when hung up 
in baskets. The choice nature of the species grown 
may be judged by the mere mention of D. Mariesi, 
D. bullata, D. elegans, D. disseeta, D. Griffithiana, 
the graceful D. Fijiensis plumosa, and the leathery- 
fronded D. Tyermanni, with long rhizomes densely 
covered with white scales. 
It would be impossible, in the space at our disposal, 
to do justice to a tithe of the useful decorative subjects 
grown ; but we cannot forbear noticing a houseful of 
Calceolarias in 48-sized pots, in excellent health, ex¬ 
hibiting many beautiful spotted and self-coloured 
flowers, and almost fit for market. Amongst Car¬ 
nations, we noticed the fine yellow Pride of Penshurst, 
the paler Andalusia, pink Miss Joliffe, the old Clove and 
its white variety. Great quantities of the Tea Rose 
Niphetos, and the hybrid perpetual General Jacque¬ 
minot, are grown. Mr. May has recently been ex¬ 
tending his area of glass—notably, Azalea and 
Camellia houses—and he is to be commended upon the 
healthy flourishing condition of his plants in general, 
which come under the immediate supervision or care 
of his attentive and energetic foreman, Mr. A. Hemsley. 
-- 
THE OLD HORSE CHESTNUT 
AT PINKIE HOUSE. 
Scotland can boast of having produced some grand 
specimens of Beech, Larch, Scotch Fir, Oak and other 
trees ; but amongst the most noteworthy must be 
classed the Horse Chestnut at Pinkie House, [Midlothian, 
the residential estate of Sir John D. Hope, Bart. 
The specimen referred to, and which is illustrated 
on the next page, stands at the top of the flower 
garden, immediately in front of the dining and drawing¬ 
room windows. It is a noble object at any season for 
the eye to rest upon, with its massive limbs spreading 
horizontally and then bending downwards to theearth, 
forming a natural canopy or arbour nearly 300 ft. in 
circumference. This ancient monarch was planted 
about 300 years ago, and was originally one of seven ; 
but two others only now remain to keep the giant 
company. 
I regret to say a sad calamity befel this fine tree 
during one of the many heavy gales with which Scotland 
has been visited lately. The largest limb of the tree 
succumbed to the stress of the blast. Up till the time 
of the disaster the tree was in full vigour and looked 
as if it would continue so for years to come. It is 
almost unnecessary to add that this unexpected catas¬ 
trophe is much regretted by all the members of the 
Hope family.— D. P. L. 
