902 
Novembee 29, 1913. 
THE 
GARDENERS’ 
MAGAZINE. 
THE TWEED VINEYARDS, 
CLOVENFORDS. 
Nestling among tbe hills, about three 
miles from the ancient town of Galashiels, 
is Clovenfords, and close by the railway sta¬ 
tion, sheltered on all sides, are the Tweed 
Vineyards, established nearly half a century 
ago by the late Mr. William Thomson, after 
he had for many years been head gardener to 
the Duke of Buccleuch, at Dalkeith Palace. 
The place is aptly named Tweed Vineyards, 
for grape-growing has all along been the 
chief speciality of the firm. In the early 
days pineapples were also grown, but the 
time came when pine-growing had to be re¬ 
linquished in order to meet the growing de¬ 
mand for the grapes that readily won a 
widespead reputation for superior quality. 
berried black varieties, and as the thousands 
of bunches grown at Clovenfords are readily 
disposed of, the system of cultivation adopted 
obvioiLsly provides the necessary quality and 
‘"finish.” 
It is quite apparent to anyone who care¬ 
fully notes all there is to be seen in the 
establishment, that a wonderful amount of 
care and attention is bestowed upon the 
vines, and minute details are not over¬ 
looked. Mr. D. Calderhead, who has had 
the care of the vines for about thirtv years, 
knows the peculiarities of each variety, and 
thus one finds; that in some cases new wood 
is constantly being laid in to replace old, 
and the temperature at finishing time is re- 
wnere tney find 
their acquired knowledge of grape cul¬ 
ture a useful asset. Thus it is that through¬ 
out Scotland, and also in a good many place® 
in England, one meets men who can look 
back with satisfaction to a pleasant and pro- 
htable sojourn at Clovenfords. 
It must not be supposed that grapes alone 
are grown here, for in few nurseries are 
palms grown in such quantities. Several 
houses are devoted exclusively to them and 
they are to be seen in all ages and sizes, from 
the tiny seedling just starting into active 
growth, to tall, stately specimens ten 
twelve, and more feet high, the demand for 
the larger sizes being constant, while plants 
in five-inch pots are disposed of in huge 
quantities. Kentia Belmoreana and K. Fos- 
teriana are alwa\^s useful, and the extremely 
beautiful Phoenix Roebelini has of late vears 
become very ix)pular, and it receives com¬ 
mensurate attention in these nurseries 
Araucaria excelsa is another decorative plant 
that the Messrs. Thomson do well, and the 
crested nephr.olpis, adiantums, Asplenium 
nidus, and other ferns are to be seen in 
:OLO 
avere 
A PORTION OF THE TWEED VINEYARDS, CLOVENFORDS. 
The houses are lofty, well built structures, 
and the vines are full of health and vigour, 
cleaji, and free from either diseas-e or insect 
pests. One vinery 200 feet long contains 
about fifty vines of Muscat of Alexandria, 
which are thirty-six years old, and they 
produced this season a magnificent crop of 
about 700 bunches, weighing from about 
two pounds to over six pounds per bunch. 
Another grape of high quality that is grown 
in considerable quantity is Duke of Buc¬ 
cleuch, which, when well finished, is of bright 
amber colour, and exceptionally rich in 
fl.avour. Buckland Sweetwater is grown, 
but it has not the quality o£ the last-named! 
As might be expected. Black Hamburgh is 
largely cultivated, and the crop this season 
was somewhat above the average in weight. 
Appley Towers and Lady Downe’s are repre¬ 
sent^ by a number of strong vines in full 
bearing, but the variety that is grown in 
greatest quantity of Gros Colmar. Its chief 
points are good cropping qualities, handsome 
appearance, and a skin texture that enables 
it to travel without damage. The flavour 
of Gros Colmar, when well grown and 
finished, is superior to that of other large- 
gulated to suit the variety in the house. 
These, as every grape grower knows, are 
points which have a direct influence on 
flavour, and one is not surprised to learn 
the Clovenfords grapes are in such de¬ 
mand among the leading fruiterers of Edin¬ 
burgh and Glasgow that the whole crop, run¬ 
ning to about 15,0(X)lbs. per season, is dis¬ 
pose of without having to market any in 
England, although in the earlier years of 
the firm’s existence goodly quantities were 
sent to London. One variety that deserves 
mention, but one not so often met with 
as its merits would warrant, is Cooper’s 
Black. Some of the bunches of this grape 
are very handsome, and, having put the 
flavour to the test, we can testify to its 
thoroughly good quality. It makes large- 
berried, high^houldered bunches, which 
carry rich bloomand, although the skin is 
not tough, the fruit travels well. 
A system has for many years been in 
vogue at Tweed Vineyards of maintaining 
its staff of assistants by means of young 
journeymen gardeners, who, after a stay of 
a couple of years or so, have gained experi¬ 
ence that enables them to talre positions in 
large quantities. Tomatoes also are largely 
grown for market, and meet with a ready an 
sale in the neighbouring towns. tie 
At one time the late Mr. Win. Thomson, 2 ii 
jun., son of the founder of the firm, and -^ totl 
father of Mr. W. H. Thomson, the present 
managing director of Messrs. W. Thom^n 
and Sons, Lim., possessed an extensive ^ 
collection of orchids, in which he took a very Q 
keen interest, but at present these plants r in 
are confined to batches of coelogynes, cypri- 1 
pediums, odontoglossums, etc., for the supply th 
of cut flowers. 
Readers of tha The Gardeners' Magazin* 
are familiar with the name of Thomsons 
Vine, Plant, and Vegetable- Manure, and not a -t, ^ 
few are fully acquainted with its great value 
as an aid in the successful culture of botn y 
fruit crops and ornamental plants. Conse- . ! 
quently there is full justification for a refer- ott 
ence to it, because the health and pro- ^ 
ductivoness of the grapes, melons, cucum- .can 
bars, and tomatoes, and the luxurian stills 
growth of the palms bear excellent j 
testimony to the value of the manure, 
which is regularly used for all crops grown ^ 
in the establishment. Visitor. 
