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Seedling, a black vinous grape, is subject to black spot which 

 appears on the berries as they begin to take colour, and utterly 

 ruins them. It is regarded in England as the very best late keeping- 

 black grape. The native grape of North America does not succeed 



with us. 



Vines are usually classified as early, mid-season, and late, 

 according to the time when their fruit generally matures, and 

 also to the length of time between starting into growth after 

 pruning and the fruit becoming fully ripe. Included in each of 

 these classes we find representatives of all sizes, colours and 



qualities. 



"In the first section are included all the Frontignans — white, 

 black, red and grizzly. When well grown there are few grapes 

 that surpass the Frontignans in flavour. They are, however, diffi- 

 cult to grow well, the fruit is tender; and warm, wet weather will 

 ruin the entire crop when ripening ; both bunch and berry are 

 small and in the desire for large, showy fruit these excellent grapes 

 have fallen into neglect. 



" Foster's white seedling" is another early grape, perhaps the 

 very earliest. It is a prolific bearer and when well grown there 

 are few handsomer grapes. It also sets its fruit well and in thin- 

 ning not less than two-thirds of the berries should be cut out 

 which will enable the remaining berries to obtain a good size, 

 and no weight of crop will be sacrificed. The fruit is very delicate 

 and tender, and when gathered must be carefully handled or the 

 cluster will be spoiled. So soon as the fruit begins to colour all 

 watering should cease. 



" The ' Black Hamburgh,' as its name indicates, is of German 

 origin. This is an early grape of the highest quality. As a 

 general purpose grape it may be said to hold the premier place 

 among black grapes, although for some reason it has fallen some- 

 what out of favour in recent years. If pruned at the same time as 

 Foster's seedling, its fruit will mature three weeks or more 

 later than that variety. It does best under close priming ;the 

 bunches are more compact and the berries larger. It is impatient 

 of heavy cropping ; the lighter the crop the higher, as a rule, the 

 quality and the healthier the vine. 



" Madresfield Court" is a grand grape in everyway. When 

 well grown, which is unfortunately seldom the case, it is almost 

 without an equal. The cluster is not large but the berries, which 

 are a clear purplish red, are very large and oval. Like " Foster's 

 seedling" it is impatient of moisture, and when ripening likes a 

 dry, warm atmosphere. 



" In the mid-season section we have Alnwick seedling," " Gros 

 Maroc," Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat" and " Royal Ascot," all black 

 grapes. In the order of merit I give "Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat" 

 and " Royal Ascot" an equal first place, Alnwick seedling the 

 second, and Gros Maroc the last. The first three are all free 

 bearers, Royal Ascot bears immense quantities of small bunches 

 of big grapes, the bunches seldom weighing over eight ounces. 

 When the fruit is setting not less than 70 per cent, of the berries 



