GRAPE VINES VARIETIES. 



however, are grown in so many different ways, and the tastes of individuals are so 

 various, that a greater number of varieties are needed than may appear desirable or 

 useful in supplying the household or markets with grapes the year round. Some sorts 

 have little to commend them beyond size of bunch, yet these are much appreciated on 

 special occasions, as at parties and exhibitions ; therefore, provision must be made for 

 special as well as general requirements. 



I. CHASSELAS OR MUSCADINE GRAPES. 



Varieties with transparent, juicy, sweet flesh, of a peculiar crackling firmness and rich agreeable flavour, with the 

 aroma peculiar to this class, namely, a blending of the Muscat and Frontignan hence the term Muscadine. 



CHASSELAS VIBERT (White). Bunches cylindrical, 6 to 

 12 inches long, and well set ; berries medium to 

 large, round ; skin whitish yellow, becoming golden 

 amber when quite ripe, thin and transparent ; flesh 

 firm, juicy, sweet, rich, and pleasant ; leaves 

 medium sized, pubescent above and beneath, dying 

 off yellow; vine hardy and prolific ; ripens ten days 

 earlier than the Royal Muscadine ; the best of all 

 grapes for walls ; admirable for an unheated house. 



ROYAL MUSCADINE (Chasselas de Fontainebleau ; White 

 Chasselas). Bunches variable : in firm good soil 

 cylindrical, compactly shouldered ; in loose soil, 

 long and loose-shouldered ; in poor soil small and 



blunt ; free setting ; berries round, in fine samples 

 slightly oval, medium to large when well thinned ; 

 skin greenish yellow, pale amber with russet when 

 highly ripened, thin and transparent, covered with 

 a delicate white bloom ; flesh rather firm, but tender, 

 juicy, sweet, and richly flavoured, with a pleasing 

 aroma ; leaves small, roundish, dying off pale 

 yellow; vine free in growth, excellent in constitution, 

 hardy, and an abundant bearer ; the variety com- 

 monly grown against walls in this country, where 

 it succeeds splendidly ; in a cool house it ripens a 

 fortnight before the Black Hamburgh, and hang* 

 until shrivelled, when the flavour is very rich. 



II. FRONTIQNAN GRAPES. 



The varieties are characterised by roundness of berry, thin skins, firm, crackling, tender flesh, juiciness, 

 sprightly sweetness, very rich Muscat flavour, and delicious aroma. 



JULY FRONTIQNAN (Black). Bunches small, cylindrical, 

 compact, setting freely; berries medium sized, round; 

 skin deep purplish black, with a dense blue bloom ; 

 flesh tender, very juicy, sugary, richly flavoured, 

 with a delicate Muscat aroma ; leaves small to 

 medium, not deeply lobed, rounded, serrated, dying 

 off reddish ; vine free, but moderately vigorous in 

 growth, hardy, and a prolific bearer ; ripens on an 

 open wall with Early Smyrna Frontignan, and 

 succeeds admirably in a cool house. 



MEURTHE FRONTIGNAN (Black). Bunches medium 

 sized, cylindrical, occasionally with a small 

 shoulder, very compact, setting freely ; berries 

 medium to large, round ; thick, slightly warted ; 

 skin deep purplish black, covered with a beautiful 

 blue bloom, thin, with a conspicuous style-point ; 

 flesh very firm, crackling, juicy, sugary, and rich, 

 with a brisk, very delicious Muscat flavour ; leaves 

 small to medium, rounded, not deeply cut, but 

 rather deeply serrated, dying off purplish ; vine 

 moderately vigorous in growth and a free bearer ; 



the finest black Frontignan, succeeding well in an 

 ordinary mid-season vinery, also fairly in a cool 

 house. 



DR. HOGG (White). Bunches tapering, 12 to 18 inches 

 in length, shouldered, rather loose, but freely set ; 

 berries medium sized to large, sometimes 1 inch in 

 diameter, round ; skin clear, thin and membranous, 

 yellowish green, becoming a rich amber when 

 highly ripened ; flesh firm, sweet, with a sprightly, 

 delicious, high Frontignan flavour ; leaves medium 

 sized, rather deeply serrated ; growth vigorous, 

 fruiting freely ; this is the best of the white 

 Frontignan grapes, equalling Chasselas Musque 

 in flavour, and never cracking like that variety ; 

 succeeds in a mid-season house, but requires more 

 heat than the Black Hamburgh to bring out its 

 amber colour and rich flavour. 



EARLY SMYRNA FRONTIGNAN (White). Bunches 

 cylindrical, 6 or 7 inches long, well set ; berries 

 medium sized, round ; skin bright amber when 

 ripe, dotted over with minute russety dots ; flesh 



