VARIETIES OF GRAPES 339 



The vine is suhject to disease. The following description of 

 the fruit is made from grapes grown in the greenhouse : 



Bunches very lar^e, often a foot in lentj:th and weighing several 

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

 compact, oftentimes too compact ; beri'ies very large, round or shghtly 

 round-oval ; skin rather tliick ; dark purple becoming black at full 

 maturitj' ; flesh firm, juicy, sweet and rich ; quality verj^ good or best. 

 Season early in the forcing-house but rather late out of doors. 



Black Malvoise 



(Vinifera) 



This variety is rather widely grown in CaUfornia as an early 

 table-grape and might be worth trying in eastern grape regions. 

 While the fruit is not of the best quality, it is good. The fol- 

 lowing description is compiled : 



Vine vigorous, healthy and productive ; w^ood long-jointed, rather 

 slender, light brown. Leaves of medium size, oval, evenly and deeply 

 five-lobed ; basal sinus open, with nearly parallel sides ; upper surface 

 smooth, almost glabrous ; low^er surface slightly tomentoseon the veins 

 and veinlets. Bunches large, loose, branching ; berries large, oblong, 

 reddish black with faint bloom ; flesh firm, juicy, crisp ; flavor lacking 

 in richness and character ; quality not high. Season early, keeping 

 and shipping but poorlj. 



Black Morocco 



(Vinifera) 



Black Morocco very generally meets the approval of grape- 

 growers on the Pacific slope without being a prime fa^•orite 

 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. Another fault is that the vines are subject 

 to root-knot. The chief asset of the variety is handsome 

 appearance of fruit. This variety is remarkable for the num- 



