THE GRAPE. 



whole class requires more heat and a drier atmosphere 

 than is necessary for any other sort ; they nourish best 

 in countries which are often too arid and hot for the suc- 

 cessful cultivation of grapes generally. In southern Spain, 

 and the warm and dry climates of Lima, and similar locali- 

 ties on the western coast of South America, they luxuriate 

 without much care or attention, and produce most abun- 

 dant crops of the finest fruit. Under cultivation, a dry 

 atmosphere during the period of rest, and likewise at the 

 time of the blossoms setting for fruit, is almost indispen- 

 sably requisite ; lacking this in the first place, the embryo 

 flowers do not receive sufficient concentration, and a defi- 

 ciency of the same in the latter instance when they ex- 

 pand, they have not power enough to impregnate healthily. 

 By artificially fertilizing with other varieties, or even by 

 their own pollen, this enfeebled condition is somewhat as- 

 sisted. Where the musky -flavored grapes are preferred, and 

 fire heat is not to be applied, the want may be made up by 

 planting an extra quantity of Frontignans and Chasselas 

 Musque, which is of the same class, and one of the finest 

 quality quite equal in this respect to the Muscats. All 

 of these have the good property of hanging long after 

 being ripe, and are also early varieties. The Chasselas 

 Musque is faulty from its liability to crack when swelling 

 for ripening, but a free ventilation at the time, and a drier 

 atmosphere, will considerably counteract this evil, and 

 when once ripe, it will continue good for a long time. 



To give a long list of native grapes would be only 

 penning a useless array of words, considering there are 

 so few that are of sterling merit. Of late years several 

 enterprising cultivators have done something to improve 

 the present quality by raising seedlings, among whom are 

 Mr. Longworth, of Cincinnatti, Dr. Underbill, of Croton 

 Point, and others ; but so far there is not much progress 



