October  19,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
333 
Isabella  Sprunt. 
What  a  cl  arming  Tea  this  is  for  autumn  flowering,  the  great 
masses  of  pretty  creamy  yellow  biossoms  being  certainly  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  October  pictures  in  the  garden.  Many  of  our  best 
summer  Roses  seem  to  need  the  warmth  to  bring  them  to  perfection, 
but  this  variety  opens  more  slowly  now  and  shows  its  full  beauty  that 
in  the  heat  of  summer  is  very  transient  and  apt  to  be  overlooked.  It 
is  worth  making  a  note  of,  too,  as  one  of  the  best  varieties  for  pot 
culture. — H.  R.  R. 
Roses  in  October. 
When  strolling  through  the  Market  Hall  in  Birmingham  on 
Saturday,  October  7th,  my  attention  was  drawn  to  a  fine,  considering 
the  time  of  year,  stand  of  cut  Roses  supplied  by  Messrs.  Perkins  and 
Sons,  Coventry,  and  Mr.  Alfred  Perkins  remarked  he  did  not  recollect 
ever  having  known  any  in  such  excellent  condition  at  any  previous 
similar  period,  as  several  of  the  blooms  were  good  enough  for  a  summer 
exhibition  board. 
Especially  fine  were  such  as  the  Hybrid  Tea  creamy  yellow 
Madame  J.  Courbet,  and  the  buff  yellow  Tea  Madame  Berard.  Of 
Hybrid  Perpetuals  Paul  Heron,  Sir  Rowland  Hill,  Prince  Camille  de 
Rohan,  Gustave  Piganeau,  and  Etienne  Levet  were  very  good,  and 
fine  examples  of  Charles  Lefebvre,  Madame  Marie  Verdier,  Mrs.  John 
Laing,  Captain  Hayward,  Duke  of  Wellington,  and  Susanne  Marie 
Rodocanachi  were  there — a  striking  evidence,  I  think  it  will  be  readily 
conceded,  of  the  geniality  of  the  season. — W.  G. 
ADVANCE  BLACK  HAMBURGH. 
On  page  264,  September  28th,  “  Westerner  ”  has  advanced  suggestive 
remarks  on  the  question,  ‘‘  Is  Gardening  Advancing  ?  ”  Advancing, 
indeed ;  say  the  croakers,  “  why  it  is  going  back.”  Look  at  the 
miserable  types  of  single  flowers  now  popular  which  the  grand  old 
florists  in  the  “  forties  ”  would  only  view  with  scorn.  No ;  things 
are  not  what  they  used  to  be  ;  England,  and  in  particular  the  horti¬ 
cultural  community  in  it,  is  “going  to  the  dogs.”  How  strange  it  is 
that  men  with  so  many  ideas  in  common  should  view  special  subjects 
through  such  variously  coloured  glasses,  for  the  sturdy  upholder  of  the 
triumphs  of  the  past  will  generally  find  some  youthful  spirit  ready  to 
vigorously  combat  the  assertion  of  the  ancient,  and  thus  lay  himself 
open  to  the  sharp  retort,  “  How  old  are  you  ?  A  fine  example  of 
modern  audacity  indeed  is  yours  to  speak  thus  slightingly  of  the 
‘glorious  achievements’  accomplished  before  you  were  born.”  In 
vain  the  youngster  pleads  that  one  of  the  delights  of  gardening  is 
found  in  the  ever  changing  fashion,  which  swiftly  brings  to  the 
front  some  particular  type  of  flower,  not  perhaps  so  small  and  solid 
as  the  giants  of  former  days,  yet  so  charming  in  its  simplicity,  that 
it  “catches  on”  with  the  artistic  spirits  of  the  day;  then  gathering 
boldness  as  the  rounded  phrases  pass  from  his  lips,  adds — “  and  the 
plants  are  as  grandly  grown  now  as  those  in  days  of  yore.”  The 
ancient  smiles  a  meaning  smile,  pities  the  innocence  of  the  youth, 
perhaps  too  his  ignorance. 
The  above  is  only  a  fanciful  picture  which  arose  in  my  mind  as  I 
nominated  upon  some  of  the  trenchant  remarks  of  a  “  Westerner.” 
I  do  not  intend  to  show  the  folly  of  anyone  attempting  to  combat 
them.  I  am  simply  embracing  the  opportunity  of  adding  a  word  of 
praise  in  support  of  an  old  favourite — the  Black  Hamburgh  Grape, 
which,  like  “  Westerner,”  I  consider  is  still  the  black  Grape  to  grow 
when  only  one  variety  is  wanted,  for  it  can  be  had  in  fine  condition 
over  a  long  period.  During  the  summer  months  there  are  several 
varieties  which  equal  it  in  point  of  quality,  notably  Muscat  Ham¬ 
burgh,  Madresfield  Court,  and  Mrs.  Pince ;  but  these  require  special 
treatment,  and  unless  in  expert  hands  cannot  be  relied  upon  to  give 
such  fine  crops  annually  as  our  old  friend.  Muscat  Hamburgh  often 
sets  badly,  and  it  is  not  everybody  who  can  colour  it  well.  Mrs.  Pince 
has  the  same  weak  points,  and  Madresfield  Court,  though  a  good 
setter,  is  not  a  variety  cultivators  care  to  rely  upon  for  keeping  long 
after  the  Grapes  are  ripe,  great  care  being  required  to  prevent  the 
berries  from  splitting  during  wet  weather.  Black  Hamburgh,  on  the 
other  hand,  keeps  well  during  the  summer  if  a  slight  shade  is  given. 
In  private  places  a  house  of  this  variety  will  maintain  a  good  supply 
for  several  months,  with  the  loss  of  very  few  berries  if  ordinary  care  is 
exercised.  These  points  are  well  known,  and  notwithstanding  the 
many  good  varieties  of  black  Grapes  which  we  now  have,  the  “  ancient 
one  ”  is  still  more  largely  grown  than  any  other  for  maintaining  a 
summer  supply.  Bold  indeed  must  be  the  man  who  would  seriously 
attempt  to  depose  Black  Hamburgh  from  its  unique  position. 
Although  largely  grown  for  use  during  the  summer,  it  has  during 
recent  years  been  much  neglected  in  regard  to  the  autumn  supply ; 
the  more  showy  Alicantes  and  Colmans  seem  to  be  preferred  solely  on 
account  of  their  imposing  appearance.  The  former  is,  I  think,  the  most 
easily  grown  Grape  in  cultivation,  and  unless  anything  is  radically 
wrong  with  the  treatment  it  colours  splendidly  and  carries  a  dense 
bloom.  With  high  feeding  good  Vines  will  carry  enormous  crops 
year  after  year  without  showing  signs  of  weakness ;  it  may  therefore 
be  considered  a  profitable  Grape  to  grow — as  times  go — and  it  is  a 
matter  for  no  surprise  that  it  should  have  been  planted  so  largely. 
In  point  of  flavour  Alicante  is  certainly  not  the  worst  variety  grown, 
but  I  think  no  one  would  seriously  compare  it  in  that  respect  with 
Black  Hamburgh.  The  low  price  of  Grapes  during  the  last  ten  years 
has  brought  them  within  the  reach  of  a  wide  section  of  the  community, 
a  section  which  knows  nothing  of  the  eating  qualities  of  several  of  tbe 
varieties.  Appearance  is  the  sole  feature  by  which  they  judge  ;  but, 
if  I  mistake  not,  we  shall  see  a  change  in  this  respect  in  the  near 
future.  There  are  signs  of  it  already,  for  that  section  of  the  public 
which  has  Grapes  on  their  table  regularly  are  beginning  to  find  out 
that  Grapes  should  be  judged  by  some  other  standard  than  that  of 
appearance. 
By  chance  they  sometimes  obtain  Black  Hamburgh  in  the  autumn, 
and  find  its  flavour  is  so  superior  to  other  varieties  that  when  ordering 
their  next  supply  they  bargain  for  the  same  variety,  often  to  tbe 
consternation  of  the  shopkeepers,  for  although  they  are  deluged  with 
Black  Hamburgh  Grapes  up  till  the  middle  of  September,  atter  that 
time  the  supply  gradually  lessens,  and  during  October  and  November 
they  are  sometimes  at  their  wits’  end  to  know  where  to  procure  them. 
This  point  I  have  noted  during  the  last  two  years,  and  have  laid  my 
plans  accordingly,  with  the  result  that  I  have  now  a  fine  house  of 
Hamburghs  just  ripe,  and  find  no  difficulty  in  disposing  of  them  while 
the  markets  are  glutted  with  Alicantes. 
My  opinion  is  that  market  growers  might  with  advantage  return 
to  the  faith  of  their  fathers,  and  plant  this  variety  for  supplying  the 
markets  during  October  and  November.  It  is  not  everyone  who 
knows  what  heavy  crops  it  will  finish  well  if  liberal  feeding  is  given, 
for  it  has  been  too  common  a  practice  to  jump  at  the  conclusion  that 
when  the  Grap1  s  do  not  colour  well  heavy  cropping  is  the  cause. 
I  grant  this  may  be  so  in  many  instances,  because  the  Vines  are 
deficient  in  root  action,  or  are  not  well  fed,  but  I  am  convinced  that 
the  most  potent  cause  of  deficiency  of  colour  in  black  Grapes  is  giving 
too  much  fire  heat  and  maintaining  too  dry  an  atmosphere  during  the 
ripening  period.  This  somewhat  sweeping  assertion  may  perhaps 
draw  out  adverse  criticism  from  north,  south,  east,  and  west.  If  it 
does,  let  us  hope  it  will  be  for  the  mutual  benefit  of  “Journal  ”  readers. 
In  private  establishments  there  are  still  many  who  cling  to  the 
ancient  practice  of  having  a  good  supply  of  Black  Hamburghs  during 
the  autumn  months,  as  in  their  case  employers  speedily  detect  a 
change  in  the  variety  sent  to  table  when  the  new  comer  lacks  the 
exquisite  flavour  of  the  one  which  preceded  it ;  and  in  many  other 
instances  gardeners  would,  I  think,  do  well  to  extend  the  period 
during  which  they  send  this  fine  Grape  to  table.  Discarded  favourites 
have  a  knack  of  coming  to  the  front  again  ;  and  I  predict  that  the 
Black  Hamburgh  Grape  will  once  again  reign  in  its  former  glory 
during  the  autumn  months. — Midlander. 
CINCHONA  OFFICINALIS. 
It  is  seldom  that  specimens  of  [any  of  the  species  of  this 
valuable  medicinal  genus  are  found  in  gardens,  although  some  are 
decidedly  ornamental  in  character  if  well  grown,  besides  being  of  the 
greatest  interest  to  people  generally,  from  the  fact  that  it  is  to  certain 
members  of  this  family  that  we  are  indebted  for  the  quinine  of 
commerce.  At  Kow  several  species  are  cultivated  in  the  Mexican 
bouse,  and  at  the  present  time  the  one  under  notice  is  in  flower.  It 
is  a  native  of  Peru,  where  it  is  said  to  attain  a  height  of  30  or  40  feet. 
At  Ivew  the  specimen  has  formed  a  bush  4^  feet  high.  It  has  deep 
green  ovate  leaves  8  inches  long,  with  a  deep  red  midrib.  Ine 
flowers  are  borne  in  large  terminal  panicles  from  the  side  branches  , 
they  are  tubular,  about  half  an  inch  long  by  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
across  the  mouth,  pink  in  colour,  with  the  edges  of  the  petals  beauti¬ 
fully  fringed. 
Like  several  of  the  other  Cinchonas,  the  leaves  of  this  one  colour 
most  brilliantly  before  falling.  Travellers  in  South  America  state  that 
no  more  effective  scene  can  be  imagined  than  that  of  a  Cinchona  forest 
just  before  the  fall  of  the  old  leaves,  the  colour  of  the  foliage  bein^ 
orange-scarlet.  The  subject  of  this  note  supplies  the  crown  baik  of 
commerce,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  important  members  of 
the  genus.  It  has  been  known  under  a  number  of  names,  no  less 
than  five  synonyms  being  given  in  the  “  Botanical  Magazine,  where 
it  is  figured  t.  5364. — W.  D. 
