THE VINE. ] 509 



and agrees well with most soils. The leaves are broad, 

 five-lobed, usually assuming a purplish tint along the 

 margin long before autumn, slightly hairy or cottony on 

 the under surface. The bunch is Icng-sta'ked, fairly 

 largo of a conical shape, and loose or even shanked. 

 The b Tries are oval or a cark violet black colour, well 

 covered with bloom, becoming transparent a few days 

 before they begin to show colour. This is an excellent 

 vine for the production of highly coloured table wines of 

 good cuality, which keep well and improve with age. 



6. Bezzula bajda (It = Pizzutello di Gattinara or 

 Uva lunga). This vine is native of Upper Italy, and is 

 of medium vigour, but fairly productive, with large light 

 green foliage, of roundish slupe, imperfectly five-lobed. 

 The bunches are small or medium in size, branched or 

 winged. The berries are very large, elliptical, elongated, 

 often slightly curved, with a very thin adherent rind. 

 The colour is greenish waxy white or yellowish. The 

 pulp is firm, but tender, juicy and moderately sweet. 

 The seeds are small, generally one or two. Matures at 

 Mid-August, and does not keep long. This is one of 

 the finest grapes for the table, with a mild aromatic 

 flavour, and is very suitable for ampelotherapeutic 

 treatment, but is rather scarse, probably owing to its 

 capricious production. 



7. BEZZULA RATBA. (\\..-=mennai>acca bianca, men- 

 navacca, or visfiarola). This vine is rather frequent in 

 the vineyards of Dmgli and Rabato, also at Fiddien and 

 Zebbieh, being frequently confused with Insolja ta Geru- 

 salem or Bennestw^ and less frepuently with Insolja 

 hadra tal-ibjar. The plant is very vigorous and highly 

 productive, but the berries are much subject to rot ; 

 requires half-long or long pruning. The leaves are 

 large, deep green, smooth on both sides, deeply divided 

 into five lobes. The bunches are large conical, winged, 

 more or less loose and shanked. The berries are large, 



