AND WINE MAKING. 61 



CHAPTER XL 



THE AESTIVALIS CLASS.— VARIETIES PROMISING WELL. 



Cunningham. — Synonym, Long. Much like the fore- 

 going in bunch and berry, belonging to the southern 

 branch of the mstivalis class. Bunch very compact, 

 heayy-shouldered ; berry smaller than Herbemont, brown- 

 ish red, with blue bloom ; skin tougher and thicker, 

 ripening about the same time. Not so good for the 

 table, but will make a very heavy wine of a Sherry char- 

 acter, while the Herbemout is more like Rhenish wine. 

 The must is very rich in sugar, but also in acid, and the 

 grape very high flavored. A very strong, short-jointed, 

 late grower, ripening not even as well as the Herbemont, 

 and should, therefore, be cultivated only in the South. 

 It succeeds splendidly in France, and is very highly 

 esteemed there for its fruit, as well as its total resistance 

 to Phylloxera. It has heart-shaped leaves, not lobed. 

 Specific gravity of must 110°. 



Lenoir. — Synonyms, Devereaux, Black Spanish, 

 Jacques, Jack Grape. There has been a great deal of 

 confusion about this grape, and it has even been con- 

 founded with the Ohio, or Cigar Box, but I think the 

 above is its true name. It is the same which the 

 French have cultivated as Black Spanish, or Jacques, and 

 value so highly, owing to its success in France ; its entire 

 freedom from Phylloxera, and the excellent red wine it 

 makes. I have been thoroughly sifting the question of 

 its identity, and Mr. Onderdonk, who says it is the 

 best grape they grow in Texas, next to the Herbemont, 

 has been indefatigable in his exertions to help me clear 

 up this matter. It is even more southern in its character 

 than the two foregoing. Bunch very long, loose, shoul- 



