THE GRAPE. 



513 



air, and somewhat about this should be the average of mid-day tempera- 

 ture. 



To insure a good crop of Grapes, we are satisfied that they must have 

 — plenty of heat — plenty of air — plenty of moisture — severe thinning of 

 bunches — and severe thinning of berries. The vines, also, must be pruned 

 often, and kept free ; the wood never crowded. Great attention must 

 be paid to the airing of the house, which must be done gradually, that 

 there may be at no time a sudden change in the temperature. 



"With such attention, and the prerequisite of a rich border, on a dry 

 subsoil, good crops of fine Grapes are always to be obtained. The vines 

 require much moisture until they have completed their last swell, when 

 the moisture should be withdrawn. 



Insects and Diseases. When properly grown under glass the Grape 

 is a very vigorous plant, liable to few diseases. The bleeding which 

 often hajDpens at the commencement of growth, usually ceases without 

 doing harm when the foliage begins to expand. If excessive, it may be 

 stopped by a mixture of three parts of cheese-parings and one part lime 

 applied to the wound. The red spider, which sometimes infests vineries 

 kept at a high temperature, is usually destroyed by coating over the 

 flues with a wash of quick-lime and sulphur, after which the house must 

 be kept closed for half a day. The smaller insects which occasionally 

 prey on the young shoots are easily kept down by syringing the parts 

 affected with a solution of whale-oil soap. 



Varieties. There are in the catalogue a vast number of names of 

 Grapes, many of which belong to the same fruit. But there are really 

 only twenty or thirty varieties which are at all worthy of cultivation in 

 gardens. Indeed, the most experienced gardeners are satisfied with a 

 dozen of the best sorts for their vineries. 



We will describe some of the finest foreign Grapes that have been 

 introduced. 



Aleppo. 



Switzerland Grape. 

 Striped Muscadine. 

 Variegated Chassela3. 

 Raisin Suisse. 



Raisin d'Aless. 

 Chasselas panache. 

 Maurillan panache. 

 Maurillan noir panache. 



A very singular Grape, the berries being mostly striped with white 

 and black in distinct lines. The foliage is also prettily striped in 

 autumn. 



Bunches rather below medium size. Berries medium size, roundish. 

 Skin thin, striped with white and dark red, or black. Flesh juicy, 

 and of a rich and excellent flavor. 



Black Lisbon. 

 Black Palestine. 

 Meredith's Alicante. 

 Alicantenivein. 

 Schwarzer Spanischer. 



Alicante. 



Black St. Peters. 

 Black Spanish. 

 St. Peters. 

 Blauer von Alicante. 



Black Portugal. 

 Black Valentia. 

 Espagnin Noir. 

 Sanct Peter's Traube. 



An excellent late variety, which is large and showy, and hangs well. 



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