1880 .] 
VINES AND VINE-CULTURE :-CHAPTER XVIII. 
39 
The baskets we use are semicircular in shape, 
and made of small galvanised wire. They are 
15 in. in diameter at the top, and about 7 in. 
deep in the centre. The compost is made 
up of three parts good fibry peat to one 
part good leaf-soil, with a sprinkling of 
coarse Bedford sand. This suits the finer kinds 
—such as Adiantum amabile —well, but for 
some of the stronger-growing varieties, such 
as Polypodium aureum , we find one part good 
yellow loam to be of advantage. 
In filling the baskets we first procure some 
toughish moss from under the trees or any 
shady place in the woods, and pack this close 
to the wires, planting small pieces of the 
fern about 6 in. apart all round, and press¬ 
ing the compost firmly in until the basket is 
full; we then place a larger piece in the centre 
of the basket, give the whole a gentle washing 
% 
with a small-rosed water-can, and hang them up 
in their places. In some cases, we put in plants 
of Adiantum setuloswm, thinking that Adiantum 
amabile might not grow sufficiently well to 
completely cover the basket. We now find 
this to have been a mistake; as one basket 
since filled with that variety alone, and only 
using one good plant in the centre, is now a 
perfect mass of lovely pendulous fronds. It 
has thrown out its creeping rhizomes all over 
the outside of the basket.—H. J. Clayton, 
Grimston Park Gardens , Tadcaster. 
VINES AND VINE-CULTURE. 
Chap. XVIII.— The Varieties of Grapes. 
(Continued.) 
« HE descriptions of the several varieties 
of Grapes included in the synoptical 
table already published (1879, page 
162-3), and of the historical and cultural notes 
proposed to be added, are here continued 
from page 21. 
Auvergne Frontignan (61).—A round 
white Muscat Grape. — Synonyms: Early 
Auvergne Frontignan, Muscat Eugenien, Mus¬ 
cat de Puy de Dome. 
Vine.—Growth free and vigorous, and always 
ripening well; very fruitful. 
Fruit. — Bunches medium-sized, rather long and 
cylindrical in shape, closely set. Berries small, 
round. Skin clear white, a great portion of the 
berries becoming of a deep amber, and when so 
extremely rich and pleasant, with a strong Muscat 
aroma, the flesh crisp and juicy. 
History. —This is one of the many introductions 
of the late Mr. Thomas Rivers, and was much 
esteemed by him. 
Cultural Notes. —Succeeds well for pot-culture, 
and in orchard-houses, or on open walls. 
Season. —Early. 
Merits. —First-class as to flavour, and suitable for 
cultivation as an early, high-flavoured grape. 
Bicane (12).—An oval white Sweetwater 
Grape.— Synonym: Vicane. 
Vine.—Groioth moderately strong, the wood short* 
jointed, with rather prominent buds, light-coloured, 
ripening freely, and moderately fruitful. Leaves 
medium-sized, covered on the under surface with a 
light, thick down. 
Fruit.—Bunches medium-sized, compact, or 
rather short, with broad shoulders, somewhat shy¬ 
setting. Footstalk short, stout. Berries medium- 
sized, roundish-oval. Skin thin and tender, white, 
almost transparent, with a thin bloom. Flesh 
tender, very juicy, with a sweet, pleasant flavour. 
History. —Received at Chiswick from the late M. 
A. Papeleu, nurseryman, Wetteren, Ghent. It fruited 
in 1861-62, and was very favourably reported on by 
Dr. Hogg at the time, as it thoroughly deserved to 
be. It has, however, somehow been lost, and awaits 
reintroduction. The Pause jaune, a large, coarse 
grape, is frequently, but erroneously, called Bicane 
on the Continent, as I have been informed. 
Cultural Notes. —It will succeed admirably in 
any house suitable for Black Hamburgh. 
Season. —Early. 
Merits. —A first-class early white grape, well 
worthy of cultivation. 
Black Alicante.-—A synonym of tbe 
Alicante : which see. 
Black Bordeaux (6).—A round black 
Sweetwater Grape.— Synonym: Early Black 
Bordeaux. 
Vine. — Groioth moderately vigorous and very 
fruitful. 
Fruit. — Bunches medium-sized, closely set. Berries 
small, or under medium size, round. Skin rather 
thick, quite black, and covered with a thick bloom. 
Flesh tender and juicy, sweet, but with no parti¬ 
cular or marked flavour. It greatly resembles small 
examples of Black Hamburgh. 
History, fyc. —Only cultivated in this country in 
large collections, as an early free-fruiting variety. 
Season. —Early; ripening several weeks in ad¬ 
vance of Black Hamburgh in the same position. 
Merits. —Third-rate. 
Black Corinth (9).—A round black 
Sweetwater Grape.— Synonyms : The Currant 
Grape, Zante Currant, Patras Currant, 
Corinthe noire. 
Vine. —Moderately robust and vigorous, matures 
well, and is very fruitful. 
Fruit. — Bunches from four to six or eight inches 
long, tapering, with long, loose shoulders. Stalks 
slender. Berries very small, about the size of peas, 
round. Skin purplish-red. Flesh juicy, sweet, and 
pleasant, and without seeds. 
History, fyc .—This is the Grape producing the 
Currants of commerce, “ currant ” being here a cor¬ 
ruption of “Corinth,” the berries resembling those 
of our Currants in size, &c. This Grape is very 
extensively cultivated in the Morea, Greece, and 
the Ionian Islands, but more especially in the 
districts of Zante, Corinth, and near the town of 
Patras, from whence as much as 75,000 tons of 
the dried fruit have been exported in one season. 
