lb, 



Chap. X. VINES. 333 



Van Mons 6 reared a multitude ot varieties from the seed of one vine, 

 which was completely separated from all others, so that there could not, 

 at least in this generation, have been any crossing, and the seedlings pre- 

 sented " les analogues de toutes les sortes," and differed in almost every 

 possible character both in the fruit and foliage. 



The cultivated varieties are extremely numerous; Count Odart says that 

 he will not deny that there may exist throughout the world 700 or 800, 

 perhaps even 1000 varieties, but not a third of these have any value. In 

 the Catalogue of fruit cultivated in the Horticultural Gardens of London, 

 published in 1842, 99 varieties are enumerated. Wherever the grape is 

 grown many varieties occur : Pallas describes 24 in the Crimea, and Burnes 

 mentions 10 in Cabool. The classification of the varieties has much per- 

 plexed writers, and Count Odart is reduced to a geographical system; but 

 I will not enter on this subject, nor on the many and great differences 

 between the varieties. I will merely specify a few curious and trifling- 

 peculiarities, all taken from Odart's highly esteemed work, 7 for the sake 

 of showing the diversified variability of this plant. Simon has classed 

 grapes into two main divisions, those with downy leaves and those with 

 smooth leaves, but he admits that in one variety, namely the Eebazo, the 

 leaves are either smooth or downy; and Odart (p. 70) states that some 

 varieties have the nerves alone, and other varieties their young leaves, 

 downy, whilst the old ones are smooth. The Pedro-Ximenes grape (Odart, 

 p. 397) presents a peculiarity by which it can be at once recognised 

 amongst a host of other varieties, namely, that when the fruit is nearly ripe 

 the nerves of the leaves or even the whole surface becomes yellow. The 

 Barbera d'Asti is well marked by several characters (p. 426), amongst others, 

 " by some of the leaves, and it is always the lowest on the branches, sud- 

 denly becoming of a dark red colour." Several authors in classifying grapes 

 have founded their main divisions on the berries being either round or 

 oblong ; and Odart admits the value of this character ; yet there is one 

 variety, the Maccabeo (p. 71), which often produces small round, and large 

 oblong, berries in the same bunch. Certain grapes called Nebbiolo (p. 429) 

 present a constant character, sufficient for their recognition, namely, " the 

 slight adherence of that part of the pulp which surrounds the seeds to the 

 rest of the berry, when cut through transversely." A Bhenish variety is 

 mentioned (p. 228) which likes a dry soil ; the fruit ripens well, but at the 

 moment of maturity, if much rain falls, the berries are apt to rot; on the 

 other hand, the fruit of a Swiss variety (p. 243) is valued for well sustain- 

 ing prolonged humidity. This latter variety sprouts late in the spring, 

 yet matures its fruit early; other varieties (p. 362) have the fault of 

 being too much excited by the April sun, and in consequence suffer from 

 frost. A Styrian variety (p. 254) has brittle foot-stalks, so that the 

 clusters of fruit are often blown off; this variety is said to be particularly 

 attractive to wasps and bees. Other varieties have tough stalks, which 

 pl-ce, resist the wind. Many other variable characters could be given, but the 



foregoing facts are sufficient to show in how many small structural and 



e ' Arbres Fruitiers,' 1836, torn. ii. p. 7 0dartj , Ampelographie Univer . 



290. selle,' 1849. 



V 



