886 THE FRUIT MANUAL. 



culture ; but the bunches are so ill set and the berries so small, that 

 the sort is not worth growing, notwithstanding its rich and sweet 

 flavour. 



EARLY SAUMUR FRONTIGNAN (Muscat de Saumur; Muscat 

 Hdtif de Saumur; Madeleine Musquee de Courtiller ; Precoce Musque). 

 Bunches, small, shouldered, and very compact. Berries, medium 

 sized, round, frequently very much flattened. Skin, thin, beautifully 

 transparent, white, assuming an amber tinge towards maturity, and 

 marked with tracings of russet like the Royal Muscadine. Flesh, 

 firm, rich, sugary, and juicy, with the distinct Muscat aroma. 



A first-rate and very early grape, ripening with the Black July. 

 The vine is an abundant bearer, and may be grown either in a cool 

 vinery or against a wall in the open air, and it is valuable for pot 

 culture. 



It was raised in 1842 by M. Courtiller, of Saumur, from seed of Ischia. 



EARLY SILVER FRONTIGNAN (Muscat Bifere). Bunches, of 

 good size, cylindrical. Berries, large and round. Skin, thin, pale 

 green, covered with a thin white silvery bloom. Flesh, very tender 

 and juicy, not very richly flavoured, and with an agreeable Muscat 

 flavour, which is not so powerful as in Chasselas Musque or White 

 Frontignan. 



In the south of Europe it produces a second crop from the young 

 shoots, which is frequently more abundant than the first. 



EARLY SMYRNA FRONTIGNAN (Muscat de Smyrne ; Isaker 

 Daisiko}. The bunch and berries are not so large as those of the old 

 White Frontignan. Bunches, well set, about six or seven inches long, 

 not shouldered, cylindrical. Berries, about the size of those of Royal 

 Muscadine, of a fine rich amber colour when fully ripe, and sometimes 

 dotted over with minute rose-coloured dots. The flesh is melting, very 

 juicy, and with a fine brisk Muscat flavour, in which is a distinct 

 orange-flower aroma. 



This is a sort well worth cultivating, and it may possibly succeed out 

 of doors, as it ripens as early as the Royal Muscadine. It belongs to 

 the White Frontignan, and not to the Chasselas Musque class, and 

 shows no trace of cracking in the berries. 



EARLY WHITE FRONTIGNAN (Muscat Prim avis). This has 

 very generally been regarded as synonymous with Chasselas Musque, 

 in consequence of that variety having been received under the same 

 name from the Continent. The true one, however, is a form of White 

 Frontignan ; earlier than it is, and about eight or ten days later than 

 Early Saumur Frontignan. It may be distinguished from the White 

 Frontignan by the much shorter joints of the wood, and consequent 

 crowding of the leaves, which in the young state are much more red 



