GRAPES. CLASS V. 257 



REMARKS ON THE EUROPEAN GRAPES. 



The foregoing list of grapes comprises the best varieties known, 

 t)f all foreign kinds, all which have been proved, either here, or about 

 the cities of Paris and London, or at the "Garden of the London 

 Horticultural Society. Far superior 'to the American, they yet re- 

 quire more care. The earliest kinds here ripen well only in the city, 

 or in warra situations ; other and later kinds require a house. Thus 

 circumscribed and bound, the long or branching canes are to be 

 .pruned with consummate art, by the system of spur pruning, or by 

 the Thomery mode. In April, these, 1)emg raised, are thrown across 

 -the house, three feet only of the lowermost part being tied up, for 

 the first week, and the part above being bent down to obstruct the 

 sap until the eyes have broken well below, then three feet more 

 is raised, and tied to the rafter for a week, or Until those lower eyes 

 are also well broken; and thus continuing till the whole vine is 

 raised, which usually requires a month. By this management the 

 vine breaks equally, and is productive from summit to base. 



V. 



AMERICAN GRAPES. 



46. ALEXANDER, 



SCHUYLKILL MuSCADEL. 



This vine is a great and sure beater. A large grape, 

 blue or black, somewhat eliptical ; sweet and luscious, 

 when perfectly mature. Major Adlum states that he has 

 made a wine of this grape, which Mr. Jefferson has pro- 

 nounced " worthy the best vineyard in France." Not so 

 suitable for the climate of Boston as the Isabella and Ca- 

 tawba, and by no means equal to them, 



47. BLAND. 



ELAND'S MADEIRA, MAZZEL. 



This fine native grape does not ripen well in our climate, 

 except in favorable seasons ; and is thus described by Mr. 

 Bartram in a letter to Doctor Mease : 



" The bunches are large, branched, and well-shaped, six 

 or eight inches in length ; the berries large, and round or 

 oblate ; when perfectly ripe,, of a dark purple or red wine 

 color ; the juice sweet and lively, having a little musky 

 flavor, with a small portion of an agreeable astringency, 

 somewhat like our best bunch wild grapes, though much 

 22* 



