September  14,  1899. 
■JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER , 
22& 
The  only  two  notable  absentees  are  Buckland  Sweetwater  anil  Ladv 
Downe’e.  Both,  however,  have  serious  faults  from  an  exhibitor’s 
point  of  view,  therefore  it  is  not  surprising  that  both  were  unrepre¬ 
sented. 
Blade  Hamburgh — Admirers  of  this  old  favourite  will  be  pleased 
to  see  it  occupy  such  a  favourable  posiiion  in  not  only  the  champion 
class  but  throughout  the  show  generally.  No  less  than  sixty-five 
bunches  of  it  were  staged,  including  naturally  many  excellent  exam  pi-  s. 
The  finest  came  from  Mr.  Kirk,  and  were  included  in  his  second  i  rize 
exhibit  in  the  champion  class.  The  bunches  ranged  from  3  lbs.  to 
3£  lbs.  in  weight,  and  showed  high  culture  in  every  way. 
Muscat  of  Alexandria. — This  favourite  amongst  white  Grapes 
occupied  the  leading  position  of  any  Grape,  not  only  in  point  of 
numbers  but  in  quality  also.  One  bunch  staged  by  Mr.  Lunt  require  ! 
to  be  only  a  trifle  larger  in  the  berry  to  render  it  a  perfect  model.  To 
find  any  Grape  represented  eighty-one  times  in  a  possible  355  speaks 
volumes  for  the  variety  and  lor  the  skill  of  exhibitors  in  staging  it  so 
meritoriously. 
In  the  class  for  two  bunches  "of  any  white  Muscat  there  were  ten 
entries.  Amongst  these  only  one  exhibit  was  seen  that  could  be 
termed  really  bad.  The  majority  were  excellent  representations  of 
this  favourite.  Mr.  Lunt's  first  prize  winning  bunches  were  long  and 
tapering,  with  medium  sized  berries  of  exquisite  colour.  The  stcond 
prize  stand,  from  Mr.  Nield,  carried  larger  bunches  and  berries,  but 
less  shapely,  and  somewhat  lacking  that  amber  tint  of  Culour  that  is 
so  pleasing  to  lovers  of  this  Grape. 
Madresfield  Court.  —  This  fine  Grape  occupied  a  high  position 
throughout  the  Show.  One  of  the  bunches  staged  by  Mr.  Kirk  was 
adjudged  only  one  quarter  point  below  maximum.  This  estimate  goes 
strongly  to  show  the  high  opinion  expressed  of  it  by  the  Judges — all 
competent  men.  The  weight  of  bunch  was  about  3^  lbs. ;  the  berries 
were  simply  magnificent,  and  thinned  to  a  degree  of  nicety,  which 
goes  a  long  way  to  render  the  appearance  of  a  bunch  of  Grapes  of  any 
variety  as  near  perfection  as  is  practically  attainable. 
Gros  Maroc. — This  was  represented  by  forty-nine  examples,  many 
of  the  bunches  bearing  enormous  berries,  which  as  a  rule  were  heavily 
laden  with  “bloom.”  Perhaps  the  fiuest  examples  of  this  Grape  in 
the  exhibition  were  the  pair  ot  bunches  sent  by  Mr.  Shingler,  Melton 
Constable  Gardens,  Norfolk,  and  which  won  the  premier  prize  in  the 
class  for  that  variety,  or  of  Gros  Colman.  The  bunches  were  a  trifle 
small  for  the  variety  perhaps,  but  the  berries  were  magnificent.  The-e 
bunches  were  cut  from  a  Vine  carrying  sixty  bunches,  therefore  were 
all  the  more  remarkable.  Gros  Maroc  is  fast  taking  the  place  of  Gros 
Colman  as  an  exhibition  Grape;  it  is  found  to  colour  so  much  easier, 
and  is  superior  to  it  in  point  of  flavour. 
Black  Alicante. — This  was  staged  eighteen  times — a  distinct  decline, 
not  only  in  number  but  in  quality  also.  Neither  the  bunches  nor  the 
berries  was  of  full  size  in  any  exhibit.  Cultivators  are  now  alive  to 
the  deficiency  in  flavour  of  this  Grape. 
Foster  s  Seedling.—  Staged  seventeen  times  was  a  proof  of  its  ea^e 
in  production,  but  as  to  its  quality  the  less  said  of  it  the  better.  F.>r 
an  amateur,  or  those  who  require  a  heavy  crop  of  white  Grapes  early 
in  the  season,  this  variety  is  worthy  of  attention,  and  that  is  all  1  can 
say  for  it. 
Cooper's  Black. — Whatever  it  may  be,  this  Grape  was  grandly 
represented  by  Mr.  Lunt  in  his  prizewinning  collection  ;  a  little  more 
time  would  have  improved  the  colour  close  to  the  stalks,  and  the 
removal  of  a  berry  here  and  there  in  thinning  would  have  given  the 
shapely  bunches  an  even  Vetter  appearance  than  they  pos-essed.  In 
weight  the  bunches  were  from  3|  to  4  lbs. 
Canon  Hall  Muscat. — This  noble  Grape  was  better  shown  than  is 
often  the  case.  Mr.  Goodacre,  in  his  first  prize  for  four  bunches  of 
white,  having  very  fine  examples  of  it. 
Muscat  Hamburgh. — This  richly  flavoured  Grape  was  well  repre¬ 
sented  by  Mr.  Lunt  and  Mr.  Goodacre.  As  a  rule  this  variety  is 
better  grown  in  Scotland  than  elsewhere.  The  sport  from  it,  Lady 
Hastings ,  will  no  doubt  oust  its  parent  from  popular  favour,  as 
possessing  its  flavour  in  the  fullest  degree,  and  at  the  same  time  has 
the  noble  appearance  of  Madresfield  Court,  while  it  also  “sets”  with 
ease. 
Duke  of  Buccleuch. — This  beautiful  but  fickle  Grape  was  staged 
in  six  bunches,  the  best  coming  from  Mr.  Kirk.  These,  however,  did 
not  weigh  more  than  lbs.  The  berries  were  a  trifle  uneven,  but 
good  in  colour. 
Mrs.  Pince. — In  no  instance  was  this  good  Grape  staged  near 
perfection,  and,  as  usual,  the  berries  lacked  colour. 
Gros  Colman.  —  This  once  popular  exhibition  Grape  was  only 
staged  twice,  and  then  quite  cf  second-rate  merit. 
Golden  Hamburgh. — This  was  only  staged  once,  by  Mr.  Kirk,  the 
bunches  weighing  about  3  lbs.  each,  with  good  berries  and  colour.  I 
note  that  your  report  gives  this  as  Buckland  Sweetwater,  which  is  an 
error. 
From  the  audit  it  will  be  seen  that  black  Grapes  were  represented 
by  thirteen,  and  white  by  eleven  varieties;  a  fair  proportion. 
The  class  that  impressed  me  as  being  especially  strong  in  numbers- 
and  quality  was  that  for  four  bunches  of  black  varieties.  There  were 
eleven  competitors,  staging  in  all  eight  varieties.  Mr.  Kirk  depended 
upon  those  sterling  favourites  Black  Hamburgh  and  Madresfield  Court,, 
and,  presenting  both  in  grand  condition,  had  no  difficulty  in. 
securing  the  leading  award. 
Taken  altogether  the  Grape  classes  provided  in  themselves  an 
exhibit  worthy  of  the  place,  and  from  an  educational  po  nt  of  view 
were  alone  worthy  of  a  long  journey  to  see.  In  the  composition  of 
some  of  the  classes  I  think  ..n  improvement  might  be  made,  giving- 
more  scope,  adding  variety,  and  consequently  imparting  greater  interest. 
I  may  possibly  make  a  few  suggestions  on  the  subject  in  a  future 
issue. — Edwin  Molyneux. 
DALKEITH  AND  ITS  NEW  GARDENED. 
The  h’storic  home  of  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch,  with  its  great  extent 
of  glass  structures,  has  long  been  famed  in  the  gardening  world,  and  as  a 
matter  of  fact  the  chieftainship  of  the  gardens  is  regarded  as  one  of  the- 
prizes  which  many  an  accomplished  horticulturist  would  be  proud  to  win. 
Fig.  45.— Mr.  James  Whytock. 
Our  announcement  last  week  that  Mr.  James  Whytock  had  been 
selected  out  of  an  enormous  number  of  applicants  as  tho  successor  of  the 
late  Mr.  Dunn  appears  to  have  come  ns  a  surprise  to  not  a  few  of  our 
readers,  and  seems  to  have  been  accepted  by  some  of  them  with  a 
certain  amount  of  reserve.  We  have  so  much  confidence  in  tho  accuracy 
of  the  statement  that  we  venture  to  publish  a  portrait  of  Mr.  Whytock, 
as  it  is  only  natural  that  a  large  number  of  gardeners  should  like  to  see 
what  manner  of  man  he  is.  He  has  certainly  not  taken  any  particular 
pains  to  keep  himself  “  before  the  public  ”  ;  possibly  he  may  have  felt 
that  the  surroundings  of  Earl  Filzwilliam’s  beautiful  seat  at  Coollattin, 
with  the  requirements  of  the  family’,  demanded  his  whole  attention  ;  and 
if  his  services  had  not  been  appreciated  over  a  period  of  twenty’  years 
he  could  not  have  been  so  highly  and  effectively  recommended  lor  the 
position  to  which  he  is  appointed. 
We  have  reason  to  believe  that  other  capable  and  worthy  men  had 
the  strongest  of  recommendations  from  personages  of  almost  the 
highest  rank  in  the  kingdom,  but  the  Duke,  after  summoning  a  selected 
number  of  candidates  to  Dalkeith,  decided  that  the  combination  of 
qualifications  possessed  by  Mr.  Whytock  peculiarly  fitted  him  for  the 
varied  cultural  duties  and  other  requirements  that  are  desired  to  bo 
met  by  the  head  of  the  gardening  establishment.  With  these  the  new 
gardener,  who  is  a  Scotsman,  is  not  unacquainted,  for  he  won  credit  and 
approval  under  the  late  Mr.  William  Thomson  at  Dulkeith  several  years 
ago,  and  we  have  no  doubt  that  the  past  fame  of  the  gardens  will  be  safe 
j  in  his  keeping. 
