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of growth, producing whenever topped a great mass of 
young shoots, which are remarkably brittle. Shoots of a 
light-red colour in summer; greyish in winter. Buds of a dirty- 
white colour; much developed. Rods strong, short-jointed. Leaves 
large; not deeply indented; upper side glossy, under side 
covered with loose down; petiolar sinus open; dies off yellow. 
Fruit bunehes large and long, almost eylindrical, or slightly 
shouldered with a brittle herbaceous stalk, which remains green 
after the ripening of the grape; very regularly but closely set. 
Berries large, round. Foot-stalks thick. Skin of a dull, purplish- 
black colour, with a thin bloom; very thin, thus exposed to burst- 
ing and rotting in damp soil. Flesh tender, juicy, with a very 
brisk, rich or strong vinous flavour, when well ripened, and toler- 
ably good for table. 
Cultural Notcs—A remarkably free fruiting vine wherever 
grown, requiring a considerable amount of heat to ripen the fruit 
thoroughly. On rich, deep, and free alluvial soil, and under irri- 
gation, over 3,000 gallons of grape must have been obtained per 
acre; does not do well in poor and cold soils. On account of the 
brittleness of the stalk no knife is required to pick the crop, which 
is thus gathered in less time. Comes into leaf early, and is, there- 
fore, liable to suffer from late frosts; is subject to the oidiwm; 
pruned short; eultivated for quantity more than quality. The 
grape being juicy, the must represents as much as 66 per 
cent. of its weight; whereas in the case of most other grapes, the 
ratio is 60 to 65 per cent. only. In France, the wine made from 
the Aramon grape is light in colour, and only contains 9 per cent. 
alcohol, and in the plains the average yield is about 800 gallons; 
whereas in Western Australia the average yield is 400 gallons, 
and the alcoholic strength 11 per cent. The wine matures quickly, 
and is generally consumed the year of its making. 
AspiraN (syn. Verdal Spiran)—One of the choice varieties 
of the South of France, where quantity more than quality is 
sought for. Season medium (third period). Merits: second rate; 
produces better wine than Aramon or Mataro. Vine: growth 
rather vigorous; shoots semi-erect, slender, with medium-sized 
joints of a light-red colour; buds slightly downy. Leaves of medium 
size, five-lobed, deeply indented; teeth deep, uneven, which gives to 
the leaf a feathery appearance; upper surface yellowish green and 
smooth; under surface with slight woolly down near the veins; 
petiolar sinus almost closed; and leaves die with a red margin, also 
the stalks. Fruit: bunches crete size, Somewhat shouldered, close 
set, c¢ylindro-conical. Berries: medium size, slightly oval; skin 
rather thick, of a purplish black colour covered with bloom. Flesh : 
very juicy, of a slight acid taste, making it a pleasant table grape 
as well. 
