The leaves are pointed, divided into three distinct lobes, of a pale 

 green. Late spring frosts affect it ; but when nipped, it sends out a 

 second crop of blossoms. The grape matures easily, and makes a 

 passably good red wine. It bears well ; but the stock requires freruent 

 renewing b}- layering, as it does not last many years. 



(3. PEARL GRAPE. 



Le Raisin perle. 



The leaves are dentated, lobed, of a bright greeny the bunches loose, 

 the fruit-stems very green; the berries of quite unequal sizes, but 

 mostly not large ; oval, of a pale pearly green, and full of a rich, su- 

 gared juice. This variety is the staple of a great proportion of the 

 vineyards. It likes a substantial loam, calcarious or marly, with a 

 declivity to the ground. Humidity is most injurious to it during the 

 blossoming; spring and fall frosts are both highly prejudiciable to it ; 

 if once nipped, it does not bear again until the second year after. The 

 grape when full ripe is slightly musky, and the wine it makes, whether 

 white, pale, or red, is generous and excellent. The marmalade too is 

 very rich and fragrant. This variety does not require frequent lay- 

 ering; and when under the pruning knife, the cutting should be 

 made on intermediary shoots, and those not the strongest ones, which, 

 according to their strength, are allowed one or two large doublings or 

 bends, without any fear of their running out to a too great length. 



T. BLI E GIRKIN. 



Cornichon violet. 



The leaves are very large and but slightly scolloped or lobed ; tlie 

 bunches are small and scantily filled ; the grapes long, largest at the 

 base and rather curved or hooked at the apex, like young cucumbers. 

 The proportion of their length to their breadth is as 2^^ or 3^ to 1 . 

 When ripe they are sometimes entirely blue ; but they oftener remain 

 green at one end, which is generally the largest. This is the case in 

 the neighbourhood of Paris where it is hard to find the Blue Girkin 

 perfectly ripe. There is a white variety of the same fruit which ma- 

 tures more easily. The wine of this sort is hard, and requires to be 

 sweetened by a mixture of milder grapes. It thrives in a strong soi5 , 

 well open to the south. 



