142 VINES AND VINE CULTURE. 



BLACK JULY (6). A round black Sweetwater Grape. Season: 

 first early. Merits : valuable only on account of its earliness. 



SYN. July, Early Slack July, Raisin de la Madeleine. 



VINE. Very free and vigorous in growth, and an abundant bearer. 



FRUIT. Bunches rather long and loose, and sometimes set badly. Berries 

 small, round. Skin rather thick, deep purple, with a fine bloom. Flesh sweet 

 and juicy, not rich, and of no particular character. 



CULTURAL NOTES. Very suitable for planting against a wall in the open air, 

 where it usually ripens freely. 



BLACK LISBON. Alicante. 



BLACK MONUKKA (2). Plate VIII. An oval black Sweetwater 

 Grape. Season : mid-season. Merits : one of the most pleasantly- 

 flavoured of Grapes, particularly agreeable to the palate, and useful 

 to cut up for sweetmeats : but can only be recommended for cultiva- 

 tion as an extra sort where plenty of means are at command. 



VINE. Growth remarkably strong and robust, requiring considerable space. 

 Leaves large, rugose, with a reddish tinge ; the leaf-stalks deep red. A 

 somewhat shy fruiter, young plants seldom cropping well. 



FRUIT. Bunches very large, frequently measuring twenty-four inches to 

 twenty-six inches in length, and broadly shouldered, but of a remarkably regular 

 tapering form, and weighing from three pounds to five pounds. Berries small, 

 long ovate, inclining to be conical, or in shape like an acorn, measuring seven- 

 eighths of an inch in length, and three-eighths of an inch in diameter. It cannot 

 be said to set well, although it is very regular, and the berries are all uniform ; 

 yet there are no perfect seeds, only one or at most two half formed, and these 

 being soft, like the flesh, are, as well as the skins, eaten with it. Skin thin, 

 adhering to the pulp, which is firm, fleshy, not melting, yet very tender and full 

 of juice. In colour it approaches black when well ripened, but is more frequently 

 half-grizzly, and with a thin coating of bloom. 



HISTORY, ETC. The Black Monukka is a Grape supposed to be of Indian 

 origin. It was introduced by the late Mr. Johnson, gardener at Hampton Court, 

 and was by him sent to the Horticultural Society, and planted in the Great 

 Conservatory at Chiswick, where it is now growing. It has been from thence 

 distributed, but is not much cultivated in this country. 



CULTURAL NOTES. Ripens freely under the same treatment as Black 

 Hamburgh, and fruits most freely on young rods from established plants. It 

 requires very little thinning. Some years ago we made some interesting 

 experiments in hybridising this Grape with the Black Hamburgh, and succeeded 

 in raising and fruiting fifteen plants, all of a singular yet widely different 

 character, but none worthy of cultivation. 



BLACK MOROCCO (71). An oval black Vinous Grape. Season: 

 late. Merits : one of the most beautiful of Grapes when well grown, 

 but its uncertain character renders it scarcely worthy of cultivation. 



SYN. Ansley's Large Oval, Morocco, Black Muscadel, HorsforiKs 

 Seedling, Kempsey Alicante, Le Caur. 



VINE. Growth strong and robust ; a very shy cropper. Leaves large, rugose, 

 much cut, with reddish venations and foot-stalks, dying off reddish. 



FRUIT. Bunches large, from twelve inches to fifteen inches long, on very 

 stout foot-stalks, with strong irregular shoulder. Berries long-ovate, very large 



