314 Varieties of the Grape. 
difficult to pack on account of the size and rigidity of the bunches. The 
grapes are of an agreeable crispness, but lacking in flavor.’’—A#zodetti. Vine 
quite subject to root knot. 
Verdal; Aspiran Blanc.—‘‘Vine of medium vigor and rather hardy; 
canes somewhat slender and half erect; leaves of average size, glabrous on 
both surfaces, except below near the axils of the main nerves, sinuses well 
marked and generally closed, giving the leaf the appearance of having five 
holes; teeth long, unequal, and somewhat acuminate; bunches large to 
very large, irregular long-conical, without any or with small shoulders, well- 
filled to compact; berries yellowish-green, large to very large, crisp, with 
thick but tender skin, agreeable, but without marked flavor.”—Aioletti. 
Largely grown as a late table grape; in good condition ; insome regions as 
late as November. 
Almeria.—‘ Vine vigorous; leaves of medium size, round, and slightly 
or not at all lobed, quite glabrous on both sides, teeth obtuse and alternately 
large and small; bunches large, loose or compact, irregular conical; berries 
from small to large, cylindrical, flattened on the ends, very hard and taste- 
less.’’—Bioletti. The grape cultivated at the University experiment stations 
under this name is one of the several varieties which are shipped in such 
large quantities from Malaga and Almeria packed in sand or cork-dust. 
The grapes ripen late and attain about 20.0 per cent of sugar. They have 
remarkable keeping qualities. Vine needs long pruning, and is only adapted 
to hot, interior situations. 
There are many other vizzfera varieties which are grown to 
a limited extent either for raisins or for table use. Among these 
are the Canon Hall Muscat, the White Tokay, White Champion, 
Cinsaut, Sabalskanski, etc., for table use; the White and Black 
Corinth, for drying. With grapes, as with other market fruits, 
the planter usually confines his attention to a very few popular 
kinds. 
EASTERN GRAPES. 
Though many of the improved varieties of the grape species 
indigenous east of the Rocky Mountains, and of the hybrids be- 
tween these species and the wizuzfera, have been introduced in 
California, their growth for table fruit is almost of insignificant 
proportions, and does not constitute even a respectable fraction 
of one per cent of our grape area. The popular taste decidedly 
prefers the vzzzfera varieties. There is, however, a variety be- 
lieved to be of local origin, which is worthy of mention, as 
follows :— 
Isabella Regia.—‘‘A remarkable, giant-leaved, and very prolific sport 
of the Isabella, originating by bud-variation with Mr. J. P. Pierce, of Santa 
Clara. The berries, like the leaves, are of extraordinary size, and when 
ripe the fruit is exceedingly sweet and strongly aromatic. It is, therefore, 
acceptable as a showy, perfumed table grape, much liked by some, but 
readily surfeiting those who are accustomed to the vinifera grapes. The 
berries are too soft for shipment to any distance, but, all things considered, 
keep fairly.”’—Aiilgard. 
WINE GRAPES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA. 
Progress is being continually made in the propagation of 
varieties yielding the best qualities of wine, and in the manu- 
