VARIETIES OF GRAPES 411 



few vineyard varieties for general usefulness. The description 

 is compiled. 



Vine vigorous^ healthy, productive; wood short-jointed, grayish-brown, 

 dull, dark. Leaf, medium to large, slightly oblong, with large deeply-cut 

 compound teeth; basal widely opened, primary sinuses narrow and shallow; 

 smooth on both sides with scattered tomentum below, bright green above, 

 lighter below. Bunch divided into many small distinct lateral clusters, 

 shouldered, loose, sometimes very loose. Berries of medium size, round, 

 purple or almost black with heavy bloom ; skin thin, flesh firm, crisp, juicy, 

 sweet, rich and delicious. Seeds rather large and prominent ; season late. 



635. Black Morocco very generally meets the approval of 

 grape-growers on the Pacific slope, without being a prime 

 favorite for either home use or commerce. The grapes are not 

 high enough in quality for a home vineyard, and, while they 

 ship well, are hard to handle because of the large size and 

 rigidity of the bunches. The chief asset of the variety is hand- 

 some appearance of fruit. Black Morocco is remarkable for the 

 number of second-crop bunches which it produces on the laterals. 

 The following description is compiled : 



Vine very vigorous, productive. Leaves medium to small, very deeply 

 5-lobed; the younger leaves truncate at base, giving them a semi-circular 

 outline, with long sharp teeth alternating with very small ones; glabrous, 

 or nearly so, on both sides. Bunches very large, short, shouldered, compact 

 and rigid. Berries very large, round, often misshapen from compression; 

 dull purple, lacking color in the center of the bunch; flesh firm, crisp, 

 neutral in flavor, lacking in richness; quality rather low. Season late. 



636. Black Hamburg is an old European sort, long the main- 

 stay in forcing-houses in Belgium, England, and America, and 

 now popular out-of-doors in California. The grapes are excel- 

 lent for the table and keep well, but the tender skin does not 

 permit their being shipped far, especially when grown out-of- 

 doors. Bunch and berry are as beautiful as in any grape. The 

 vine is subject to disease. The following description of the 

 fruit is made from grapes grown in the greenhouse : 



Bunches very large, often a foot in length and weighing several pounds; 

 very broad at the shoulder and gradually tapering to a point; compact, 

 oftentimes too compact; berries very large, round or slightly round-oval; 

 skin rather thick; dark purple becoming black at full maturity; flesh firm, 

 juicy, sweet and rich; quality very good or best. Season late. 



