GRAPES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA 



369 



The last six named are grapes of popular eastern types. They 

 are of exceedingly small commercial importance and are chiefly 

 grown in Southern California : not because eastern varieties are 

 better suited to local conditions there than in other parts of the 

 State but because there are more people who enjoy them. 



In order to characterize our leading table grapes, descriptions 

 will be quoted from the best available local authorities, as follows : 



Early Block July, syns. Madeleine, Madeline Noir, etc. "Leaves rather small, 

 light green above and beneath ; bunches small and compact ; berries small, quite 

 round; skin thick, black, covered with a blue bloom; flavor moderately sweet, 

 but not rich nor perfumed. The earliest grape, and chiefly valued for dessert on 

 that account." Hyatt. 



White July; syn. Luglicnga. 'V'me strong-growing and sensitive to frost; 

 leaves of medium size, deeply five-lobed, dark green, glabrous on both sides, 

 sharply toothed, the terminal tooth of each lobe very long and acuminate ; 

 bunches of medium size, well filled ; berries of medium size, oval, at first green, 

 becoming yellow with overripeness, with thin skin, crisp, firm flesh, and agreeable 

 flavor." Bioletti. The Luglienga, which means July grape, is one of the earliest 

 grapes known. 



Early Madeleine; syn. Madeleine Angevine. "Moderate, grower, with long- 

 jointed, brown wood; leaf medium, deeply lobed, dark green above, tomentose 

 below; young points reddish, woolly, slender; bunch medium, compact, shoul- 

 dered; berry medium, oblong, yellowish green, transparent, rather thick skin, 

 sweet and juicy. Vine a shy bearer when frost is prevalent." Husmann. 



Chasselas Dore; syn. Fontainebleau, Sweet-water. "A rather vigorous grower, 

 with medium or somewhat slender canes of a reddish-brown color; young shoots 

 of garnet color, nearly or quite glabrous; leaves rather below average size, a 

 little longer than wide, glabrous above and nearly so below, except for a few 

 hairs on the main nerves, with well-marked sinuses, the petiolar one often closed, 

 the petiole long, rather slender, and rose-colored; bunches of medium or over- 

 medium size, conico-cylindrical, shouldered, more or less compact ; berries medium 

 to large, with firm but tender skin, small seeds ; of delicate flavor and texture, at 

 first crisp but becoming soft with full maturity. The grapes are of a clear green 

 color, tinged with a beautiful golden bronze where exposed to the sun." Bioletti. 



Chasselas Rose. Fruit resembling foregoing, except that both bunch and 

 berries are usually smaller, and flavor is more pronounced. 



Chasselas Victoria. "Vine vigorous, very short- jointed and brittle, and bears 

 well with short pruning; wood grayish yellow, thick and strong; leaf light green, 

 deeply lobed and shining ; young shoots with numerous laterals ; bunch very large 

 and heavy, often weighing five pounds, shouldered, very compact; stem brown, 

 very thick; berry medium, round, pale lilac, purple, with lilac bloom, juicy, vinous, 

 refreshing." Husmann. 



Palomino; syn. Golden Chasselas. "The vine quite largely grown as "Golden 

 Chasselas" is undoubtedly identical with the Listan, or Palomino." Hilgard. 

 Vine a fair grower ; wood close-jointed ; leaf medium, oblong, deeply lobed, bright 

 green above, grayish green and tomentose below ; stem short, young points with 

 reddish tint and woolly ; bunch large, conical, rather loose and shouldered ; berry 

 round, full medium, sometimes flat, pale green with yellowish tinge ; thin skin, 

 juicy and sweet, resembling Chasselas." Husmann. 



Black Mahoise. "Vine a strong grower; wood long-jqinted, rather slender, 

 light brown; leaf medium size, oval, rather evenly and deeply five-lobed; basal 

 sinus moderately open, with parallel sides, upper surface smooth, almost glabrous, 

 lower surface lightly tomentose on the veins and veinlets ; bunches large, rather 

 loose, branching ; berries large, oblong, reddish black with faint bloom ; flesh 

 juicy, flavor neutral." Hilgard. Widely grown as an early table grape. 



