156 THE FLORIST. 



pedicels being short, the berries are very closely set on the bunches. 

 The berries are rather larger than those of the Royal Muscadine, 

 roundish-oval in form. The skin is rather thick, pale greenish white 

 with lighter veins, and overspread witii a white bloom ; when highly 

 matured, it is sometimes faintly tinted with pale amber. Pulp very- 

 juicy and tender, sugary and agreeably flavoured, but not rich. The 

 leaves are large and very little lobed, serratures wide and obtuse ; the 

 upper surface is nearly smooth, lower hispid ; the footstalks likewise 

 are hispid and stained with red. Early in autumn, the leaves become 

 blotched with pale yellow in a peculiar manner. 



Said to have been raised from seed by a Scotch blacksmith. A 

 valuable wall Grape, ripening about the same time as tlie Royal Mus- 

 cadine, and although the bunches are smaller, the flavour excels that 

 variety. I have never seen this sort grown under glass ; but it well 

 deserves a trial in an early house. 



12. Esperione. 



Synonyms, from Horticultural Society's Fruit Catalogue : 

 Hardy Blue Windsor, Turner's Black, Cumberland Lodge, 

 Red Port (of some). 



Bunch resembling that of the Black Hamburgh in appearance, 

 but scarcely so large ; berry large, roundish generally, but varying 

 in form, some being slightly oval, and others a little flattened ; skin 

 thick, deep purplish black in colour, with a blue bloom. The pulp 

 is juicy and tolerably sweet, having very little flavour, and being 

 frequently tainted with a slight astringency. The leaves are middle- 

 sized, variously lobed and serrated, and they frequently acquire a red 

 tint in autumn ; the petioles are dark- coloured, and, as well as the 

 principal veins on the lower face of the leaf, often densely hispid. 



This Grape has been much over-lauded. It is hardy and pro- 

 ductive, and has the further merit of ripening against open walls in 

 good seasons ; but in quality, as a table variety, it is very inferior, 

 and certainly unworthy of a place in a vinery. 



Of the twelve varieties I have described, those most worth}' of 

 cultivation under glass are, Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, and 9 ; and for open 

 walls, Nos. 9 and 11. Besides the two last, the Pitraaston White 

 Cluster, a small white Grape ; the Miller's Burgund}^ a still smaller 

 black Grape, with remarkably hoary leaves ; the Black Cluster, an- 

 other small black sort, and some other varieties of similar early habit, 

 are adapted for wall-culture ; less, however, for the production of 

 table-fruit, than for the purpose of being converted into wine. But 

 as a glass structure suitable for the cultivation of the better kinds of 

 Grapes can now be erected at a moderate cost, and as such a house 

 might in winter be appropriated to other uses, such as the protection 

 of plants for the flower-garden, &c., I would recommend all who 

 desire really eatable Grapes not to trust them to the tender mercies 

 of an English climate, for unless specially favoured in soil and situa- 

 tion, disaj)pointment must be looked for at least every third year. 



In concluding the subject of Grapes, I must explain, for the guid- 

 ance of persons who are inexperienced in their culture, that the 

 distinctive marks mentioned in the foregoing descriptions must not 



