11 Sept., 1916.] Notes on Portuguese Vine Varieties. 567 



Gyrao (1822) also mentions Bastardo as producing a good wine of 



little colour — 



"On stiff soil it rots easily, on liot hillsides it dries up; hence it is only 

 suitable for soils of medium strength on the flanks of the higher hills {Nas 

 encostas dos monies). . . . Bastardo gives a wine of the most delicate flavour; 

 for this reason everybody buys it to eat, nevertheless its wine is soft (molle) and 

 of very little colour, for which reason only a portion of it should enter into a 

 wine." 



According to the same author, Bastardo would seem to be a good 

 variety for making white Ports — 



" From nearly all the vineyards of Penaguiao, especially tlie older ones where 

 there is much Bastardo, a great quantity of wine could be obtained similar to 

 the Tokay of Hungary, which finds its waj to Odessa in small quantities, as it 

 has to make the transit by land. This wine is much appreciated there, and if 



Fig. 6. — Leaves of Bastardo (about one-third natural size). 

 Photo, taken at Quinta da Boa Vista, Alto Douro, Portugal, in Octol)or. 1907. 



the owners of Penaguiao were to produce something similar, well and judiciously 

 made, it could also be sold, perhaps even in England, at 100,000 reis per pipe." 



The Visconde de Villa Maior (1865-9) has written a good deal con- 

 cerning this vine. 



" At Vesuvio it is planted separately, as it should be, on account of its being 

 very early in its ripening. It ought to be before other varieties and separately 

 as a special wine." 



He enumerates tlie leading vineyards in which it is largely grown, 

 stating tliat it is well known tliroughout the whole of Portugal as being 

 the earliest of tliose grapes which are suitable for table purposes, ripen- 

 ing in most seasons in the beginning of July. Tt is also the basis of a 

 specially choice wine which completes and perfects itself at a very early 

 age. He describes two sub-varieties of this vine which are lield in little 

 esteem as being inferior and semi-sterile. This sooins to indicate that 

 Bastardo is a variety prone to deterioration, and which is capable of 



