570 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 Sept., 1916. 



" Thus treated, wines result which are rich in sugar, fruity, and preserve a 

 delicate bouquet. As regards Beaume strength, Bastardo heads the list of red 

 grapes just as Gouveio does that of white. Both these sorts should enter into 

 the making of the best Ports, as they formerly did, because they give regularly 

 musts of an average of 15 deg. Beaume. 



'■ Bastardo is in some districts grown as a table grape on account of its very 

 early ripening. 



'■ The following is the Ampelographical description given by Sr. Duarte de 

 Oliviera : — 



[ ine. — Strong; stem cylindrical; bark reddish-brown; adherent, detaching 

 in short strips. 



Buds. — Large, swollen, stumpy, with large thick scales; young leaves 

 yellowish-green above, silky-white with small prominent veins beneath. 



Canes. — Strong, cylindrical, erect, with reddish sepia striations ; internodes 

 of very variable length (6 to 12 cm.),* but rather short than long; knots 

 small; tendrils numerous, short, stout. 



Leaves. — Large, as broad as long, of medium thickness, soft, light-green 

 and glabrous above, light silky tomentum and paler colour beneath; five- 

 lobed ; upper lateral sinus of little depth, narrow and sometimes closed; 

 lower lateral sinus generally not very marked ; petiolar sinus deep, closed or 

 almost closed by the two lobes which overlap ; veins prominent ; teeth large, 

 alternate ; those at the extremity of the lobes always more developed ; stalk 

 long and of medium thickness. Some days before vintage the leaves assume 

 a reddish tint, in a similar way to the French Teinturier (Tinto), though 

 much less intense. 



Fruit. — Bunches numerous, small, medium to large on vigorous stocks; 

 cylindro-conical, often with short wings; capable of shrivelling (becomes 

 raisins) in the sun in a dry season ; stalk very short, upper half woody ; 

 pedicels thick, very short, with a large swelling ; brush (core) shorty red in 

 the centre, and detachable with difficulty; berries ellipsoidal, exceedingly 

 tight, superimposed and sometimes flattened by compression; black, with 

 glaucous .reflections; flesh juicy, crisp, very sweet, and agreeable to the 

 palate; skin hard; pips per 100 berries— 20 with one, 52 with two, 24 with 

 three, and 4 with four each." 



♦ Equal to 2-3 to 4-7 inches. 



(To be continued.) 



LUCERNE FOR HORSES. 



According to information gained by the Kansas Agricultural College, 

 and detailed in a bulletin on tbe subject, there seems to be an almost 

 universal opinion among horsemen, and especially among those that are 

 raising heavy horses, that no grass or combination of grasses equals or 

 even approaches the value of lucerne, alfalfa as it is called, as a pasture 

 for horses. It is maintained that from an economical point of view 

 it has no equal, as it will furnish so much more feed per acre than any 

 other grass. It will not only pasture more horses, but it will produce 

 horses of greater weight, larger bones, and stronger muscles. "Ahorse 

 that has been reared in an alfalfa pasture and fed a light ration of 

 alfalfa pasture, all winter," says the bulletin, " makes one of the finest 

 horses to be found in any market to-day. To produce a horse of the 

 highest type, with the cleanest bone, the best-developed muscle, the best 

 temperament, and the greatest action and finish, nitrogenous feed must 

 be used, and in no other feed can this most essential element be found 

 more cheaply than in lucerne." 



