1880. ] 
SELECT WHITE GRAPES.—-VINES AND VINE-CULTURE. 
9 
SELECT WHITE GRAPES. 
[Plate 506.1 
E give in tlie annexed Plate figures of 
four of the most important White 
Grapes, selected, as also were the 
Black Grapes published in Plate 501, by Mr. 
Barron, to illustrate the series of articles on 
Vine Culture now being published by him in 
our pages. The varieties will be fully described 
in their proper places, in the Descriptive List, of 
which the first portion is subjoined. The 
figures are all from the pencil of Mr. Fitch, 
whose drawings have been carefully reproduced 
by M. Severeyns, of Brussels. As in the com¬ 
panion plate, the general contour of the bunch 
is shown by the reduced plain figure at the 
back, while the coloured portion in front shows 
a few berries of the size and appearance they 
present when well grown and fully ripened. 
The varieties represented are the following :— 
Fig. 1.— Muscat of Alexandria, the best 
of all the late white Grapes. 
Fig. 2.—Foster’s White Seedling, the 
most useful of the early white sorts for forcing. 
Fig. 3.—Duke of Buccleucii, the grandest 
of all the summer Grapes. 
Fig. 4.— Dr. Hogg, a new variety, of good 
repute. —T. Moore. 
VINES AND VINE - CULTURE. 
Chap. XVIII.—The Varieties of Grapes. 
G' v g COMMENCE here to give a description 
lb of the varieties of Grapes, adding some 
particulars of their history, and such cul¬ 
tural notes as may be likely to prove useful. 
The numbers in parenthesis after the names 
refer to their position in the synoptical list 
given in Chapter XVII.:— 
Abercairney, or Major Moray’s Grape.—A 
reputed seedling from the Black Hamburgh 
growing at Abercairney, Perthshire, but, with¬ 
out doubt, the same as Alicante: which see. 
Aiibee (35).—An oval, tawny or grizzly 
Sweet-water Grape. 
Vine.—Growth very strong and robust, producing 
large thick wood, which does not always ripen 
thoroughly; moderately fruitful. Leaves large, 
thick, deep green, broadly-serrated. Leafstalks 
reddish. 
Fruit.—Bimches large, averaging from 10 in. to 
12 in. in length when well grown, and weighing 
from 1 lb. to 3 lb., of regular tapering form, with 
large shoulders. Footstalk thick and strong. Berries 
large, always well-set, roundish-oval. Skin thin; at 
first of a dull greenish colour, changing when fully 
and properly ripened to a bright rosy pink on the 
side next the sun. Flesh somewhat soft and squashy, 
and without much flavour. 
History, Sfc .—This grape—as its name, Ahbee, 
which means “watery,” indicates—is a native 
of India. It was sent to the Horticultural 
Society in 1836 by Colonel Sykes, from the Deccan 
(India). It formed one of the first collection of 
Grapes planted in the great Conservatory at Chis¬ 
wick, where its merits were fully tested in 1861-62. 
Its very handsome appearance gained for it con¬ 
siderable popularity, one facetious writer describing 
it as peculiarly suitable for wedding breakfasts, 
alluding to its beautiful blush-colour. 
Cultural Notes.-— There is no record of its success¬ 
ful cultivation elsewhere than that at Chiswick, 
already referred to. The plant there, which fruited 
so well, was growing in a very shallow inside border, 
where the roots were much confined; other plants 
in good soil proved unsatisfactory. It sets freely, 
but apparently requires a considerable amount of 
heat to ripen it thoroughly. 
Season. —Late. Improved by hanging after being 
ripe. 
Merits. —Quite third-rate in quality, but exceed¬ 
ingly handsome in appearance. Scarcely worthy of 
(cultivation. 
Aleppo (36).—A round, variegated Sweet¬ 
water Grape.— Synonym : Cliasselas Panachee. 
Vine. — Growth somewhat slender, producing small 
wood, which generally ripens freely, and is provided 
with large prominent buds; fruitful. Leaves medium- 
sized, roundish, deeply-serrated, with a reddish tinge, 
sometimes striped red and yellow in a singular 
manner. 
Fruit.- — Bu/nches small or medium-sized, somewhat 
loose and straggling, with slender stalks. Berries 
below medium size, round, variously coloured, some 
being green, others black, or striped with black or 
red; frequently a bunch may be all of one colour, or 
one-half black, the other green. Flesh soft, of a sweet 
and pleasant flavour, but of no particular character. 
History, ffc. —This appears to be a very old variety, 
and is known throughout France and Germany. 
Most probably it is the result of a sport from some 
other grape. It has been frequently submitted to 
the Fruit Committee as a new variety. 
Cultural Notes. —Has the reputation of requiring 
heat, but I believe it will succeed in any ordinary 
vinery. 
Season. —Ripens early; lit only for immediate use. 
Merits. —Quality third-rate; worthy of cultivation 
only as a curiosity. 
Alicante (74). An oval, black Vinous 
Grape.— Synonyms : Abercairney, Black Ali¬ 
cante, Black Lisbon, Black Portugal, Black St. 
Peter’s, Black Spanish, Black Tokay, Meredith’s 
Alicante, &c. 
Vine. — Growth very strong, vigorous and free. The 
young growing shoots densely coated with down, 
giving them a whitish appoarance, the ripened 
shoots being also downy, and especially so round the 
buds, which are large and prominent, and of a dark 
purplish colour; ripens freely and well; moderately 
fruitful. Leaves very large, deep green, thick and 
soft, covered with down on the under side, giving 
them a silvery appearance; they remain long corn 
