418 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



Fruit ripens in October, ships and keeps well ; clusters very 

 large, long, broad, tapering, single or double-shouldered. Berries large, 

 firm, oval, very dark purplish-red, covered with lilac bloom, very 

 persistent ; skin thick, adheres strongly to the pulp ; flesh pale green, 

 translucent, meaty, very juicy, tender, vinous, musky, sweet, rich ; very 

 good to best ; seeds separating easily from the pulp, large. 



MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA 



This is possibly the leading table- and raisin-grape of the 

 Pacific slope. From the literature or from a visit to vineyards, 

 one cannot make out whether one or several varieties are grown 

 under the name. Probably there are several strains grown under 

 the distinctive name "Muscat" which applies to these sweet, 

 light yellow, musky grapes. This is one of the standard 

 sorts to force indoors but requires too long a season for out of 

 doors in the East. The following description is compiled : 



Vine short, straggling, bushy, sometimes forming a bush rather 

 than a vine, very productive ; wood gray with dark spots, short- 

 jointed. Leaf round, five-lobed; bright green above, lighter green 

 below. Bunches long and loose, shouldered ; berry oblong, light 

 yellow and transparent when fully mature, covered with white bloom ; 

 flesh firm, crisp ; flavor sweet and very musky ; quality good. Season 

 late, the laterals producing a second and sometimes even a third crop. 



NIAGARA 



(Labrusca, Vinifera) 



Niagara (Plate XXVI) is the leading American green grape, 

 holding the rank among grapes of this color that Concord main- 

 tains among black varieties. It is, however, a less valuable 

 grape than Concord, and it is doubtful whether it should be 

 ranked much higher than several other green grapes. In vigor 

 and'productiveness, when the two grapes are on equal footing as 

 to adaptability, Niagara and Concord rank the same. In hardi- 

 ness of root and vine, Niagara falls short of Concord ; it cannot 



