10 Nov., 1916.] Xotes on Portuguese Viae Varieties. 681 



termed a dual purpose grape, or one which is of value as a table grape 

 as well as for conversion into wine. Though not so showy as the large 

 berried grapes in favour on the Melbourne market, in its native Portugal 

 it is largely grown and highly esteemed for table use in the fresh state. 



For wine making it may almost be classed as belonging to the 

 Bastardo type; its wine, though lacking somewhat in colour, is remark- 

 able for bouquet and flavour, though not to quite the same extent as 

 Bastardo. It is, nevertheless, essentially a quality variety, in this respect 

 being an exception to the general rule that table grapes do not yield 

 high-class wine. It is a variety which should prove of interest in 

 northern Victoria as one of the port wine sorts, possessing many of the 

 qualities of the Bastardo without its serious defect of drying up in hot 

 weather. 



Its comparative resistance to phylloxera led to great hopes being 

 founded on it when the vineyards of Portugal were first ravaged by the 



Fig. 13. — Leaves of Mourisco Preto (about one-third natural size). 

 Photo, taken at Boa Vista, Alto Douro, Portugal, in October, 1907. 



insect. Much credence was given to the common fallacy tliat phylloxera 

 was the result of a general weakening of the vines, resulting from 

 repeated propagation by means of cuttings, and that a return to nature's 

 methods (by seed) would ]>ermit the raising of vigorous vines capable of 

 resisting phylloxera. Large areas were replanted with seedling vines, 

 mainly Mourisco, but without avail; the seedlings succumbing as com- 

 pletely as other viniferas, if rather more slowly. 



Mourisco is a very old Portuguese variety, the white variety being 

 mentioned as early as 1712 by Vincencio Alarte.* The red variety 

 seems to have been first mentioned by Lacerda Lobo in 1790. Accord- 

 ing to tradition on tlie Douro, it was one of the most widespread vines, 

 though it lost ground somewliat owing to imperfpict setting. 



• Sr. Pimrti' do OUveira In Ampfluyrnphui. 



