42 THE BOOK OF THE GRAPE 



to a point. The grapes are quite black and covered 

 with a heavy bluish bloom, the flesh pulpy and adhering 

 slightly to the skin, and the flavour brisk and pleasant 

 when well ripened. The bunches set very closely and 

 well, whether grown in a cool or heated vinery, and 

 require to be severely thinned forthwith as is always 

 imperative in the case of grapes having short stout 

 foot-stalks. A peculiarity of Alicante is that the 

 bunches frequently cover the shoots from which they 

 spring. The grape is, as the name implies, of Spanish 

 origin, and its popularity is due to the fact that 

 Mr Meredith, when at the Garston Vineyard, Liver- 

 pool, cultivated Alicante extensively and well a fact 

 which led to its being called Meredith's Alicante for 

 many years after that skilled grower ceased to grow 

 grapes. 



Appley Towers was raised by Mr Myles a few years ago 

 at Appley Towers, Ryde. The vine is a good grower 

 and a fairly free fruiter. The bunches are of medium 

 size, even, and tapering ; the berries of good size when 

 well thinned, ovate in shape, and colouring beautifully, 

 being intensely black and covered with a heavy bloom. 

 The flesh is firm and the flavour brisk and pleasant. 

 It is a good autumn grape, and was awarded a First 

 Class Certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society. 



Gros Maroc is a good autumn grape, and is very popular 

 as an exhibition and market grape on account of its fine 

 appearance, the bunches being compact, ranging from 

 one and a half to three and a half pounds, sometimes 

 when specially well done attaining to four pounds. Berries 

 large, ovate in form, purplish black, and carrying a 

 dense bloom. Flesh solid, juicy, brisk and of pleasant 

 flavour. The quality of this grape is greatly improved by 

 grafting or enarching on the black Hamburg stock. It 

 is a very strong grower, the lateral growths being thick, 

 short-jointed and very stiff and brittle (like Alicante and 



