10 Oct., 1916. 



Portuguese Wine Varieties. 



623 



These earlier writers are also less enthusiastic conceruiug its virtues 

 than later authorities. 



According to Rebello da Fonseca (1791) — 



"' Toiiriga is a vine of copious yield, it ripens early and is said by those who 

 are enthusiastic concerning it {os apaironados d'ellu) that it makes a wine with 

 much colour. Nevertheless, it has been proved that after a certain lapse of time 

 a wine which contains much of this grape becomes much discoloured (later writers 

 dispute this) ; the greatest virtue I recognise in it is its copious production, even 

 in poor soil; it requires, however, the same caution as regards pruning as Tinta 

 Castellam," viz., very short pruning, to two or three spurs, each of three eyes. 



Rubiao (1844) also recommends short pruning for it. Villa Maior 

 is less drastic. He says — 



■ The bunches of this variety are borne always on the five first buds of tiie 

 cane, there being frequently three bunches on each shoot. For this reason the 



Fig. 7. — Leaf of Touriga (nearly half natural size). 

 I'lioto. takrn at Itutlicrglcn \iti(iiltural Station, April l!H:5. 



rod >li(jul(i always he pruned at tlie .seventh eye The second variety of Touriga 

 (Toiirigaol procures its hunclics at the last eyes and ri'ipiin's longer pruning. 



Gyrao (1822) has a higher opinion of Touriga than Rebello da 

 Fonseca. Tic uicntioiis three suh-varietie.s of it, of which that named 

 fiua. or choice, is the best. ('I'liis is the one which has been introduced 

 into Rntherglen.) 



"It re(|nires well exposed and strong soil; it yields an excellent wine with 

 iMutii colour; it is nnnrira. tliat is to say, it only bears well every second year."'* 



• Consclheiro Aguiar (lH6ft) differ*; liP distinctly states tliat ToiiriKa is not Annclra — Rro later. 



