GRAPE VINE. 67 



pots ; a few pots of it may therefore be introduced among 

 green-house plants in early spring; the almost leafless 

 stems do no injury till the end of May, when some of the 

 more hardy ornamental plants can be set abroad ; and dur- 

 ing the warm months which follow, when the green-house 

 is otherwise empty, abundant crops of these small grapes 

 may be procured. 



The Esperione or Turners Early Black, has the 

 bunches large and shouldered, not unlike those of the 

 Black Hamburgh. The berries are of a fine dark color, 

 with a bluish farina or bloom; the pulp adheres to the 

 skin ; and though neither highly flavored nor melting, it is 

 very pleasant. This grape ripens on the open wall near 

 London. 



The Syrian Grape is remarkable for the extraordinary 

 size and beauty of its bunches ; it is a late variety, and 

 the berries are sweet and not without flavor when properly 

 ripened. This is generally regarded as the kind produced 

 in the valley of Eshcol, a cluster of which was brought to 

 the camp of Israel, swung on a staff between two of the 

 spies; not probably on account of its weight, but (as Dr. 

 Clarke observes) to prevent the berries from being bruised.* 



For an ordinary vinery, the following may be recom* 

 mended-: Black Hamburgh, Red Hamburgh, Black Fron- 

 tignan, Frankenthal, St. Peter's, White Frontignan, White 

 Hamburgh, and White Tokay. For a stove or warm 

 vinery may be particularized the Black Damascus, which 

 sets shyly unless aided, Black Raisin, Grizzly Frontignan, 

 Black Tripoli, Muscat of Alexandria, Canonhall Muscat, 

 and Syrian. For training against the rafters of a green- 



* Bunches of the Syrian Grape have been raised in Syria weighing 401bs.; 

 but in the grape-houses of Europe and America they have seldom been 

 brought to weigh over 10 Ibs. to 19 Ibs. 



