46 THE BOOK OF THE GRAPE 



was specially treated for fruiting the following year. 

 One vine of Gros Guillaume thus treated ripened three 

 bunches which together weighed thirty pounds, and 

 were jet-black in colour. 



Mrs Pince, I believe, is the only late black Muscat 

 grape in cultivation in this country, and a truly valuable 

 and high-class late grape it is, too. It is a strong and 

 vigorous grower, the shoots and foliage being very dis- 

 tinct and easily recognised from other varieties without 

 the bunches being present to assist in the work of 

 identification. The under side of the wrinkled and 

 reddish-veined leaves are covered with down ; bunches 

 large, tapering down to a fasciated point generally ; 

 berries moderately large when properly thinned, ovate, 

 and supported by stout verrucose foot-stalks, the skin 

 being thick, bluish-black, and carrying a dense bloom 

 when well finished ; flesh firm, rich, and full of flavour 

 of a pronounced Muscat taste. Bunches range in weight 

 from one and a half to five pounds each, according 

 to the vigour of the vine and the number of bunches 

 left for a crop. Three bunches shown on one occasion 

 by the author at the Crystal Palace September Fruit 

 Show weighed thirteen pounds, the heaviest bunch 

 being five pounds, and were awarded First Prize. 



There is no record of the pedigree of Mrs Pince's 

 Black Muscat. All that is known of its history is that 

 the seed was sown by the late Mrs Pince, then con- 

 nected with the Exeter Nurseries, shortly before she 

 died. The vine was fruited in 1863, the bunches being 

 submitted to the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society the same year were awarded a First 

 Class Certificate. 



Lady Dowries Seedling is a well-known round black 

 grape of long keeping quality, the bunches and berries 

 keeping sound and plump to the end of March, at which 

 time the writer has more than once sent it and new 



