EUROPEAN GRAPES DESCRIBED. 143 



generally very badly set ; indeed, this is one of the worst setting Grapes grown ; 

 stamens deflexed. Skin thick, reddish brown, becoming nearly black when well 

 ripened, but always paler round the stalk, which is very stout. Flesh very 

 firm, and when well ripened, very rich and piquant in flavour and extremely 

 pleasant. 



HISTORY, ETC. This is a very old Grape, to be met with in old gardens. It 

 is figured in the Pomological Magazine, vol. iii., as Horsforth's Seedling, but it 

 is not cultivated to any extent. Some years ago it gained considerable notoriety 

 at Kempsey through its very successful cultivation, and it was for a time con- 

 sidered distinct, and so received the name of Kempsey Alicante. 



CULTURAL NOTES. Requires artificial impregnation of the flowers to set it 

 properly ; also a good deal of heat to ripen the fruit. 



BLACK MUSCADINE (7). A round black Sweetwater Grape. Season: 

 early. Merits : second-rate. 



SYN. Chasselas noir, Black Chasselas, Chasselas de Fontainebleau 

 rouge hatif. 



VINE. Growth free and vigorous, and very fruitful. 



FRUIT. Bunches of medium size, rather close and compact, well set. Berries 

 small, round. Skin thin, deep purplish black, with a thin bloom. Flesh firm, 

 yet juicy and sweet, resembling the Royal Muscadine ; very pleasant. 



CULTURAL NOTES. Will succeed against a wall in the open air in good seasons. 



BLACK MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA. Muscat Hamburgh. 

 BLACK PORTUGAL. Alicante. 



BLACK PRINCE (3) Plate IX. An oval black Sweetwater Grape. 

 Season: early. Merits: extremely handsome in appearance, and 

 valued on this account, as well as for its free-fruiting properties, but 

 in regard to flavour it is far inferior to Black Hamburgh. It can only 

 be classed as a second-rate sort. 



SYN. Pococtfs Damascus, Cambridge Botanic Garden, Boston. 



YINE. Very free and vigorous in constitution, and very fruitful. Leaves 

 roundish, not much cut, dying off purplish in autumn. 



FRUIT. Bunches very long, frequently twenty or twenty-four inches, with 

 a long stalk, tapering very regularly and gradually from the shoulders down- 

 wards ; sometimes they are almost cylindrical in shape. Berries medium- 

 sized, ovate, always well set. Skin thick, dark purple in colour, with a thick 

 bloom. Flesh dark, juicy, and sweet, but generally with a slight astringency, 

 which is not much relished. 



HISTORY, ETC. A very old variety, to be found in most old collections of 

 Grapes, although we have never met with it in Continental collections. It is 

 seldom planted now. 



CULTURAL NOTES. One of the most free-fruiting and most easily cultivated 

 Grapes in existence, ripening, under the same treatment, a little in advance of 

 Black Hamburgh, always well coloured, even when not thoroughly ripe. It 

 requires to be used soon after becoming ripe, as when allowed to hang the berries 

 soon commence to shrivel. The late Mr. Hill, of Keele Hall Gardens, who was 

 one of the most successful cultivators and exhibitors of this Grape, had it 

 grafted on the Black Hamburgh. It is one of the best black Grapes for the 

 open air. 



