NOMENCLATURE OP GRAPES. 73 



are not put down as distinct, and I have therefore considered 

 them as the same. 



Most of the French vines which have been sold here, as the 

 white and the golden chasselas, have proved to be identically 

 our common white muscadine, or early white sweet water. 



There is a sub-variety of this grape, called La Blanquette, 

 or La Donne, common in the vineyards of Gironde, Dordogne, 

 and Charente, which is a good eating fruit, but the wine is 

 similar to that made of this. I have seen in the grape houses 

 at Boston, apparently two varieties, varying considerably in 

 the size of the fruit, the larger distinguished by some as the 

 royal muscadine, and by others, considered synonymous with 

 the smaller one. It is possible, that culture and the lessening 

 the number of bunches made the difference ; but I am of opin- 

 ion that they are distinct, and that the larger is the kind just 

 described, and the smaller the early white muscadine ; a point 

 which may be decided by close examination of the foliage. Be 

 that as it may, this is one of the very best grapes for forcing in 

 houses to supply our tables, and one of the most easy to suc- 

 ceed with by open culture. 



I also met with a variety at Charlestown, (Mass.) called by 

 its possessor golden chasselas, whose joints were much closer 

 than the common sort, and which made less wood ; in regard 

 to these differences, there could be no mistake, as the two 

 kinds grew near each other. This, as well as the others, I 

 have under culture in my experimental vineyard. 



As this variety makes but little wood, it is therefore diffi- 

 cult to increase ; the berries are larger than the common kind, 

 of fine flavour and appearance, and are stated to ripen two 

 weeks before the other. It differs also from the common sort, 

 in having large and small berries on the same cluster, and a 

 gentleman, distinguished for his knowledge on the subject, in- 

 sists that it is the true golden chasselas of the old French 

 authors, and not at present readily obtained in France. Indeed 

 I have only met with this variety in two gardens in our country. 



Some English authors mention the royal muscadine, as pro- 

 ducing bunches weighing six or seven pounds ; but I must 



10 



