542 [ THE VINE. 



large, oval or roundish, yellowish green to waxy yellow, 

 dotted and marbled rust, with little bloom, and with 

 many small seedless berries maturing with the rest. The 

 rind is thin and tender, and the flesh is melting, juicy, 

 sweet, with a very delicate flavour. It is a fine table grape, 

 and one of the earliest, well deserving of propagation. 



78. MELLIEHIJA or TAL MELLIEHA. This is a 

 local seedling which originated at Melleha about 25 

 years ago, and is now largely grown at Melleha, Chain 

 Tuffieha, Uardia and Gneina, and is also often grown for 

 trailing on pergolas. The vine is very vigorous, with 

 long trailing canes of a reddish brown colour, with long 

 internodes, and requires half-long or long pruning. The 

 leaves are large, deep green, almost entire or hardly 

 lobed, with large and very acute teeth, perfectly smooth 

 on both surfaces, with a stiff reddish pink petiole almost 

 as long as the blade, and with reddish nerves on the 

 lower surface of the blade and often also on the upper 

 surface. The bunches are generally very large, long, 

 winged or doubly winged, rather loose, and often some- 

 what shanked. The berries are of the largest size, as 

 large as those of Ghageu tar Rdum, elliptical, deep 

 purplish black, with a fine bluish bloom. The pulp is 

 greenish, and rather soft, juicy, sugary, with a fine 

 aromatic flavour. Matures la:e. It is a most beautiful 

 table grape, suitable for pergolas, and keeps well. It is 

 also mixed with other grapes for the press. 



79. MIGNUNA BAJDA, often called Catlana. (Fr. = 

 Polle blanche, Gros Plan, Fol, Fou). This well known 

 vine has a vigorous semi -erect habit, with long stout 

 canes, and is very productive. It has broad leaves, with 

 3 to 5 lobes, obtusely toothed, dark green, with a thick 

 cobweb on the lower surface, and with a thick reddish 

 leaf-stalk, green and swollen at both ends. Requires 

 short or half- long pruning. The bunches are small or 

 medium in size, conical, usually compact, with a short 



