NOMENCLATURE OF GRAPES. 



The shoots of this vine are very peculiar on account of die 

 grayish appearance of the bark, and for their delicacy and 

 smallness ; but they are produced in such profusion, and are so 

 thickly covered with foliage, that where the vine is left without 

 pruning, the fruit is almost totally* obscured from the sun. The 

 leaves are smooth, light green, and very shining, not lobed but 

 regularly indented ; they are small compared with those of 

 most other vines, seldom exceeding two and a half to three 

 inches in the greatest diameter, and in fact it may be said that 

 the whole aspect of the plant is of a peculiar character, bear- 

 Ing no resemblance to any other species. The blossoms ex- 

 pand in June, and later than those of any other vine I am ac- 

 quainted with ; the berries, which ripened with me the past 

 season for the first time, were as round as a bullet, of a light 

 green hue even when at full maturity, and of the size of the 

 largest chasselas ; the skin is very tough and rather thick ; the 

 seeds green ; the juice is abundant, very sweet and pleasant, 

 ^nd of peculiar flavour, and when ripe entirely free from any 

 pulp. It is a pleasant fruit for the table, and judging from 

 the skin, I should suppose it could be kept a long time in per- 

 fection for eating. The clusters are never large, but very 

 numerous ; the berries are very loosely and separately set, 

 which greatly aids their perfect maturity. The fruit did not 

 fully ripen with me the past season until the 1 5th of October, 

 but the vines had been left without pruning, and the clusters 

 were hidden from the sun. I think by judicious pruning, and 

 by training the branches separately, so that the fruit would 

 be more exposed, it would ripen much sooner. 



This vine may be readily distinguished from the black va- 

 riety by the colour of the tendrils, which are green. All its 

 advantages considered, it promises, at no distant day, to form 

 the basis of innumerable vineyards in different sections of the 

 country. I have not, however, hitherto considered it as suit- 

 able for this latitude ; but I am now fully convinced that it 

 may be cultivated here also with success, though I scarcely think 

 it would ripen its fruit, sufficiently early much further to the 

 norfh. 



