This in all respects extraordinary grape was raised by Mr. Thomson, gardener to his Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, at Dalkeith Palace. "It was," Mr. Thomson states, "raised about five years ago from a seed taken from a grape that was a cross between the Champion Hamburgh and the Bowood Muscat." The bunches are large, of a slightly tapering form, and heavily shouldered. The stalk of the bunch is stout and fleshy; that of the berry stout and waited. The berries are extra large, obo-vate or ovate, slightly pointed; in some instances almost round ; the skin is thin; the color clear pale yellow or golden, inclining when fully ripe to deep amber on the most exposed side. The flesh is firm, yet remarkably juicy and tender; the flavor rich, somewhat of the character of the best ripened Black Hamburghs, but exceedingly luscious and agreeable. In short, the fact of its emanating from the source already mentioned is in itself a guarantee of its great excellence.

The plant is remarkably free and robust in growth, and very prolific, requiring exactly the same sort of treatment as the Black Hamburgh. The leaves most nearly resemble those of the Muscat; they are Slightly lobed and very deeply and sharply serrated, and the leaf-stalks have a reddish tinge.

This is indeed a noble grape, and one which will take the highest rank among white varieties. It supplies a desideratum which has long been felt, viz., the possession of a white grape of easy culture like the Black Hamburgh, which latter is, par excellence, the very best constitutioned grape in cultivation, the gardener's sure and trusty friend. The berries of this new acquisition are of the very largest size, resembling in that respect huge Canon Hall Muscats, while the bunches are as large as those of the best variety of Hamburgh, the Victoria, or Frankenthal.

Three bunches of this splendid new variety were exhibited at the meeting of the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, which took place on the 6th of July, where it was unanimously awarded a first-class certificate. It may be added that this fine grape has passed into the hands of Messrs. Osborn, nurserymen, Fulliam. - B., in Gardener's Chronicle.

Golden Champion Grape #1

In a former issue we gave an extract from the English Gardener's Chronicle on the subject of this new grape, and we now find a fine illustration in the Florist and Pomologist. We have seen larger bunches of grapes, but not berries. Those of the Golden Champion are enormous; our cut shows the size of two of them. The editor remarks: " This new fruit is one of the grandest acquisitions of recent years. Free and robust in growth, hardy and prolific in habit, magnificent both in berry and cluster, and exquisite in flavor. It was raised by Mr. W. Thomson, of Dalkeith, some five years since, from a seed taken from a grape that was itself a cross between Champion Ham burgh and Bowood Muscat".

Fig. 105. - Golden Champion Grape.