EUROPEAN GRAPES DESCRIBED. 161 



GROS GUILLAUME (80) Plate XV. A round black Vinous Grape. 

 Season : late ; from Christmas to March. Merits : very handsome in 

 appearance on account of the size of the bunches ; second-rate in 

 quality, excepting when highly ripened. 



SYN. Pennington Hall Hamburgh, Seacli/e Black, etc. 



VINE. Growth very strong and vigorous, rapidly attaining to a great size ; 

 rather uncertain as to fruiting, some plants showing abundantly, others scarcely 

 at all. Leaves large, dying off early, of a reddish colour. 



FRUIT. Bunches enormously large, two feet and upwards in length, and fully 

 more across the shoulders, and weighing from five pounds to ten pounds, and 

 sometimes twenty pounds each ; shoulders broad ; very regularly tapering in 

 form, compact ; free-setting. Berries medium- sized, round or slightly ovate 

 at times. Skin membraneous, of deep black colour, with a fine bloom. Flesh 

 tender or moderately so, juicy, but possessing little flavour, excepting when 

 highly ripened. 



HISTORY, ETC. The better known designation of this Grape is that of 

 Barbarossa, under which name it is to be found in nearly every collection, but 

 according to the best authorities, this is incorrect, the true Barbarossa, it is 

 stated, being as its name would imply a red or grizzly-coloured Grape. 

 Although the true Barbarossa is mentioned in Hogg's Fruit Manual, we have 

 never met with it in cultivation. The Gros Guillaume was first prominently 

 brought under notice by Messrs. Butcher, of Stratford-on-Avon, about forty 

 years ago. It is now in general cultivation, and has several times appeared 

 under new names ; while reputed new and improved varieties have frequently 

 been submitted. 



CULTURAL NOTES. In regard to fruiting, this is one of the most uncertain of 

 Grapes, and much has from time to time been written on the subject. Sometimes 

 only a few, frequently only one bunch is produced by a large Vine, and this is 

 generally a very large one. In other cases, some Vines will produce bunches 

 as freely as the Black Hamburgh. In the large conservatory at Chiswick it 

 fruits with remarkable freedom at all times. It succeeds best treated on the 

 long-rod system. Some remarkably fine examples of this Grape have been pro- 

 duced by grafting on the Black Hamburgh. The largest bunches have been 

 those grown by Mr. Roberts, gardener at Charleville Forest, Ireland, one 

 exhibited in 1877 weighing twenty-three pounds five ounces. It is best suited 

 for a late Grape, and, to ripen it thoroughly well, so as to have it of good quality, 

 it should receive nearly as much heat as the Muscats. 



GROS MAROC (72) Plate XVI. An oval black Vinous Grape. 

 Season : mid-season. Merits : extremely handsome, the berries being 

 covered with a dense dark bloom. 



SYN. Marocain. 



VINE. Growth very strong and robust, the shoots large, but firm and ripening 

 freely ; moderately fruitful. Leaves large, deeply serrated. 



FRUIT. Bunches medium-sized, strongly shouldered, with stout stalks, 

 sets freely. Berries large, ovate in shape, of a very dark plum-colour, 

 with a thick bloom. Flesh firm, yet juicy, with a somewhat disagreeable acid 

 flavour. 



HISTORY, ETC. Introduced in 1855 by the late Mr. Rivers, from M. Vibert, 

 of Angers, this Grape remained comparatively unknown for many years until 

 proper attention was directed to its merits by Mr. T. F. Rivers, who obtained 



