242 



THE GEAPE CULTURIST. 



long as we allow some particular characteristic to be our 

 guide, instead of the whole, we shall never settle the 

 question. One person admires a large grape, while 

 another cares nothing about size, but wants sweetness ; 

 while still another accepts acidity as less cloying than 

 too much of the saccharine ; but these are only matters 

 of taste, and do not affect quality ; for quality in a grape 

 is essentially a compound, while taste is simple. 



Some of the requisites of a grape of first quality, 

 and belonging to our indigenous species are : 1st. A 



FIG. 96. 



FIG. 97. 



FIG. 98. 



FIG. 99. 



FIG. 100. 



FIG. 101. 



large amount of sugar. 2d. A large amount of acid. 

 3d. A brittle, tender pulp ; if it is nearly a liquid so 

 much the better. 4th. No strong distinctive flavor. 

 5th. Large and moderately compact bunch. 6th. Large 

 berry. 7th. Small seeds. 8th. Berries adhering firmly 

 to their peduncles. 9th. Thin skin, but sufficiently 

 tough to prevent bursting. 



These characteristics refer more particularly to table 

 grapes, as wine grapes may possess particular characters 



