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CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE CLASSIFICATION OF GRAPES. 



'HE varieties of Grapes are so numerous a large proportion of 

 I them nearly, if not quite, unknown, and so unsuitable also for 

 cultivation in this country, being mainly used for wine making 

 that it is not desirable, even were it possible, to attempt here 

 a complete enumeration of them. We shall, therefore, confine our- 

 selves to noticing such of the different varieties that are or have been 

 grown in this country, and are distinct, or possess some special merit. 

 In a broad sense, the cultivated varieties of the Grape Vine are 

 divisable into two great families or classes, which are very distinct, 

 not only in constitution, but also in foliage and fruit. These are : 



I. The EUROPEAN GRAPES, including all cultivated Grapes of the 

 Old World, and consisting of varieties of Vitis vinifera. 



II. The AMERICAN GRAPES, including those belonging to America 

 or the New World, consisting of varieties of Vitis Ldbrusca. 



There has been no very definite classification of Grapes yet adopted, 

 although the desirability of employing some simple and popular 

 method of grouping the different varieties, whereby those who have 

 only a limited knowledge of the subject may comprehend something of 

 the nature and character of the variety named, is self evident, and the 

 want of it has been long felt. It will be at once admitted that the 

 terms Muscat and Sweetwater are pretty well understood, as conveying 

 a knowledge of the flavour and general character of the respective 

 varieties to which they are attached ; and it is by an extension of this 

 idea that we propose to arrange them into three great classes or 

 sections, characterised by the flavour of the fruit 



1. Sweetwater Grapes. 



2. Muscat Grapes. 



3. Vinous Grapes. 



These principal sections may be subdivided, firstly by the colour 

 of the fruit, which may be 



Black or Purple, 



White, Green or Yellow, 



Red or Tawny ; 

 and secondly, by the shape of the fruit, which is - 



Oval, 



Round ; 

 thus making in all, when complete, eighteen well marked sub-divisions. 



