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localities are unsuitable for its cultivation. Grapes ripen fairly 

 early, but the buds burst late, thus escaping spring frosts. Re- 

 quires a good deal of heat to bring it to maturity. Does best in 

 well-drained soils of good consistency. The wine is better on the 

 hills than on the plains, is generous, keeps well, spirituous, 

 possesses a rich dark colour, but is a little coarse and harsh. 

 Sometimes the wine is of a bluish colour when the grapes have been 

 allowed to get over-ripe. 



CABERNET SATJVIGNON (syn. Petit Cabernet). One of the 

 choicest red varieties of France, making the high-class Medoc wine. 

 Season: mid-season (third period). Merits: of the highest as to 

 quality, but giving a small crop. Vine: growth vigorous when 

 young, somewhat spreading, but on unsuitable soil grows weak with 

 age ; shoots of a dark-reddish mahogany colour, of medium thick- 

 ness, long joints ; buds medium size, downy. Leaves very 

 characteristic, medium sized, as long as they are broad ; five-lobed ; 

 the indentation or sinus deep, rounded, and overlapping towards 

 their extremities in such a way as to make the leaves appear as if 

 they were pierced with fine holes ; teeth sharp and uneven ; upper 

 surface of a dark-green colour, smooth and glossy, but uneven ; 

 under surface covered with close, short down. Fruit : bunches 

 medium size, conical, slightly shouldered, and rather loose, slender 

 peduncle. Berries, small, round, on along and slender foot- stalk, 

 which turns red as the grape ripens. Skin thick, hard, and black, 

 covered with a fine blue bloom when ripe, apt to fall off when over- 

 ripe. Flesh hard and juicy, with peculiar flavour, which is common 

 to the Cabernets. 



Cultural Notes. Requires long rod pruning ; rather subject to- 

 o'idium and antkracnose, and should therefore be grown on perfectly 

 well-drained soil. Soil best suited is a rich loamy soil mixed with 

 gravel. Does well also on ironstone gravel underlying a rich loam, 

 whether light or heavy, and not so well on limestone soil or on heavy 

 marl. Does better when grafted on a stronger stock, such as Mataro,, 

 or better still, on American phylloxera- proof stock. Suitable for 

 the cooler districts. It forms in the Bordeaux district of France 

 the foundation of the first growths of the world-renowned Chateau 

 Lafite, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour, etc., where it is blended 

 with Malbeck, Merlot, and Verdot. Blended with Malbeck and 

 Shiraz, and other good sorts, it makes a most suitable wine for either 

 the local or the export market. The wine, which possesses a deep 

 and brilliant ruby colour, is rather harsh at first, but mellows down 

 with each racking. Keeps very well, and is remarkable for its 

 bouquet. A good average yield would be 150 gallons to the acre. 



CABERNET G-ROS (syn. Cabernet Franc, Carmenet). This 

 variety differs but slightly from the Cabernet Sauvignoii, from which 1 

 it is difficult to be distinguished. Season : a little earlier than 

 previous one (second period) . Merits : very nearly as good as 

 Cabernet Sauvignon. Vine : growth vigorous. Shoots : semi-erect, 

 of a paler colour, grey, yellowish-red. Leaves : medium ; similar to 



