GRAPES. 287 



EAKLY SAUMUE FRONTIGNAN {Mv^cat de Saumur ; Muscat 

 Hdtif de Saumur; Madeleine Musqu&e de Courtiller ; Precoce Musque). 

 — Bunches, small, shouldered, and very compact. Berries, medium 

 sized, round, frequently very much flattened. Skin, thin^ beautifully 

 transparent, white, assuming an amber tinge towards maturity, and 

 marked with tracing of russet Uke the Royal Muscadine. Flesh, firm, 

 rich, sugary, and juicy, with the distinct Muscat aroma. 



A first-rate and very early grape, ripening with the Black July, from 

 seed of which it was raised. The vine is an abundant bearer, and may 

 be grown either in a cool vinery or against a wall in the open air, and 

 it is valuable for pot culture. 



It was raised in 1842 by M. Courtiller, of Saumur, from seed of Ischia. 



EARLY SILYER FRONTIGNAN {Mmcat 5t/^«).— Bunches, of 

 good size, cylindrical. Berries, large and round. Skin, thin, pale 

 green, covered with a thin white silvery bloom. Flesh, very tender 

 and juicy, not very richly flavoured, and with an agreeable Muscat 

 flavour, which is not so powerful as in Chasselas Musque or White 

 Frontignan. 



In the south of Europe it produces a second crop from the young 

 shoots, which is frequency more abundant than the first. 



EARLY SMYRNA FRONTIGNAN (Muscat de Smyme ; Isakei- 

 Daidko). — The bunch and berries are not so large as those of the old 

 White Frontignan ; bunches are well set, about six or seven inches 

 long, not shouldered, cylindrical. Berries, about the size of those of 

 Royal Muscadine, of a fine rich amber colour when fully ripe, and 

 sometimes dotted over with minute rose-coloured dots. The flesh is 

 melting, very juicy, and with a fine brisk Muscat flavour, in which is a 

 distinct taste of orange-flower aroma. 



This is a sort well worth cultivating, and it may possibly succeed out 

 of doors, as it ripens as early as the Royal Muscadine. It belongs to 

 the White Frontignan, and not to the Chasselas Musque class, and 

 shows no trace of cracking in the berries. 



EARLY WHITE FRONTIGNAN (Muscat Primavis).— This has 

 very generally been regarded as synonymous with Chasselas Musque, 

 in consequence of that variety having been received under the same 

 name from the Continent. The true one, however, is a form of White 

 Frontignan ; earlier than it is, and about eight or ten days later than 

 Early Saumur Muscat. It may be distinguished from the White Fron- 

 tignan by the much shorter joints of the wood, and consequent crowding 

 of the leaves, which in the young state are much more red than those 

 of the White Frontignan. The bunches and berries are not larger ; 

 the latter are covered vrith a thick white bloom, and the flavour, which 

 is rich, is not so Muscat. 



EARLY WHITE MALVASIA (Grove-End Sweetwater; Early 

 Lei^mc ; Momas Chasselas ; White Metier ; Burchardt's Amber Cluster ; 



