THI VINE, ] 541 



vigorous and fairly productive. The leaves are very broad, 

 rugose, five-lobed, cottony on the under surface, and on 

 its long petiole, which is reddish on its under side. The 

 bunches are large, conical, winged, generally somewhat 

 loose. The berries are round or slightly oval, of medium 

 size, and of a deep violet colour, with a thick greyish 

 bloom. The pulp is juicy, soft, colourless, sweet and 

 slightly aromatic. Produces an excellent wine of good 

 keeping qualities, and of a deep ruby red colour, with a 

 fine aroma. It is also a good table sort. Does well on 

 clayey soiis, but unfortunately is not a steady bearer. 



76. MARSUSA SEUDA TAN-NAHAL or simply TAN- 

 NAHAL. This vine has been long cultivated in Gozo, 

 especially at Nadur and Xghara. It has some characters 

 in common with the Black Malvasia of Candia, but it is 

 clearly an ancient local soedHng, and is very productive. 

 Requires long or half-long pruning. The leaves are 

 broad five-lobed, downy on the lower surface, with a 

 slender greenish leaf-sta-k. The bunches are large or 

 very large, conical and long, compact, and usually 

 winged. The berries are middling, round, black, with a 

 heavy bloom. The pulp is very juicy and sweet, with 

 a faint aroma. It is very early, maturing early in August, 

 and on that account it is exposed to the depreciations of 

 wasps and bees, hence its name. It is a wine grape, 

 yielding a product well coloured and of a mellow flavour. 



77 MARSUSA TAN-NEBBIET. This is quite a recent 

 seedling which originated at rGhassari {Fzddieri}. The 

 vine is very vigorous and very productive, requiring 

 long or half-long pruning. The leaves are small, often 

 asymmetrical, rounded, trilobed or imperfectly lobed, with 

 very acute mucronate teeth, tipped yellow ; deep green 

 and somewhat rugose en the upper surface, smooth on 

 the lower surface, with a slender reddish leaf-stalk. The 

 bunches are very large, conical, winged, compact, with a 

 slender and tenacious leaf-stalk. The berries are very 



