126 DUE COMMON" FEUITS. 



occupy in each canton only one-third of the ground which 

 had hitherto been allotted to them a decree which even 

 then fell heavily indeed on districts which had hitherto 

 been devoted exclusively to vine-growing. Since that 

 period no later government has been so unwise as to in- 

 terfere with the natural course of demand and supply in 

 this particular, and the vine has been suffered to nourish 

 unmolested wherever Nature has provided it with a fitting 

 habitat. 



Wine grapes are not considered fit for the dessert, the 

 kinds appropriated for the latter use having firmer flesh 

 of sweeter and more agreeable flavour, and containing 

 fewer pips in proportion to their size. The sort most 

 esteemed in the Paris fruit market is the Chasselas de 

 Fontainelleau, a grape of fair size, both as regards the 

 bunches and the berries, which are yellow, tinged with 

 red on the exposed side, and with skins so thick as to 

 make a noise when they are crushed by the teeth. The 

 large family of Muscat grapes so named, not, as might. 

 be supposed, on account of the musky flavour which dis- 

 tinguishes them, but because the berries are particularly 

 attractive to flies (muscce), a reason which caused the 

 Romans to name them vitis apiaria are also very general 

 in France, and by Du Hamel and many other authors are 

 ranked as the best of grapes, but they are sweeter and less 

 refreshing than other kinds, and distinguished too by a 

 peculiar scent and flavour, which does not allow of their 

 being partaken of very plentifully, and renders them ab- 

 solutely unpleasant to many tastes. 



A common grape in some parts of France, under the 

 name of Raisin des dames, is the little Corinthe* the same 

 species which in the Greek islands furnishes us with the 

 currants of commerce. Growing in long straight bunches, 

 of fair medium size, and either white or purple, on very 

 vigorous and productive trees, the individual grapes are 

 no larger than peas, but are considered very agreeable in 

 flavour, and are entirely free from pips ; while in a sub- 

 variety, the Petite Corinthe, the berries are but half the 



* See Plate IV., fig. 3. 



