GRAPE. 



223 



Varieties requiring more or less artificial heat, 



9. Black Hamburgh, — Is a grape, which, from 

 its excellence and prolificacy, has found its way into 

 every collection. The bunches vary in size and 

 weight, according to the crop and mode of training, 

 from one to four pounds ; but seldom the latter, 

 except on the alternate long-shoot method of ma- 

 nagement. The bunches are shouldered ; berries 

 slightly oval, and of a good size ; colour, when well 

 ripened, nearly black, and covered with a fine 

 bloom. The pulp is rather firm and grateful to the 

 taste, the juice being vinous and plentiful. The tree 

 is one of the best bearers, consequently profitable to 

 the growers ; and, when cultivated in a house which 

 only protects it from frost, the fruit will hang on the 

 tree, if required, until Christmas. 



This grape, with another nearly as good, was in- 

 troduced into this country, by a Hamburgh merchant 

 of the name of Warner, about the beginning of the 

 last century ; and which has been such a boon to 

 this country, that the introducer's memory should 

 have been perpetuated by calling the grape by his 

 name. But it has chanced otherwise, no doubt un- 

 intentionally. 



It is scarcely possible to write of this grape, with- 

 out adverting to the famous tree of this sort at 

 Hampton Court. Its history has been so often be- 

 fore the public, that it is unnecessary to take up the 

 time of the reader with it here.' Suffice it to observe, 

 that it extends and filis nearly two hundred feet of 



