76 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Mat, 
above named. In tlie Amazon district tlie tree 
is always planted near the bouses of tlie Indians, 
whom it supplies witli abundance of wholesome 
food, being almost as much esteemed as the 
cocoa-nut is in the East. The fruit is, however, 
difficult to obtain, in consequence of the spines 
of the stems, which prevent climbing ; the 
Indians, therefore, construct rough stages or 
rude ladders, by which means they mount high 
enough to pull down the bunches of fruit with 
hooked poles. They are eaten either boiled or 
roasted, the flavour being something like that 
of Spanish chestnuts, only oily ; they are also 
ground and made into cakes, which are roasted 
like cassava bread. When fermented in water, 
the meal forms a subacid creamy liquid. The 
wood of the trunk is black and exceedingly hard 
and durable, while the sharp needle-like spines 
are used by some of the tribes for the purpose 
of tattooing their bodies. The species is said 
to be indigenous to the countries near the 
Andes, but is much cultivated in the regions 
of the Amazon and Orinoco. It has long been 
an inmate of our hothouses, where it is con¬ 
spicuous for its elegance.—M. 
STRAWBERRY LA 
SUCREE. 
fcfS^bE find the above-named Strawberry 
GROSSE 
the best variety we grow for early 
crops, and we have now grown it for 
several years, alongside Vicomtesse Hericart du 
Tliury and Keens’ Seedling, both of which are 
reputedly good early strawberries. With us, 
La Grosse Sncree ripens about a week earlier 
than either of these sorts, when grown in the 
same house and under the same treatment. It 
does not show so many bloom-trusses as the 
other sorts named, but it always has enough 
for a crop, and they usually set and swell off 
well. In fact, we find it to set better in dull 
weather early in the season than any other 
variety we have ever grown. The fruit is of 
a splendid crimson colour, fine size, and good 
flavour. Some of the fruits picked the third 
week in March this year weighed nearly an 
ounce each. We grow about 200 plants each 
year, out of a total of 1,400, just for early 
work, following up with larger batches of 
Keens’ Seedling and Vicomtesse Hericart du 
Thury , these three being our main forcing 
Strawberries.—II. J. Clayton, Grimston. 
VINES AND VINE CULTURE. 
Chap. XVIII.—The Varieties of Grapes. 
(Continued.) 
IE descriptions of the varieties of Grapes 
included in our Synoptical Table are 
here continued, from page 41 (1881). 
Grizzly Frontignan (71).—A round red or 
tawny Muscat Grape. Synonyms : Muscat Gris, 
Muscat Eouge ; Eed Frontignan. 
Vine.—Growth moderately strong and free. 
Ripening freely, and usually very fruitful. Leaves 
medium-sized, deeply toothed, dying off yellow. 
Fruit.—Bunches medium-sized, rather long, some¬ 
what cylindrical in shape, but occasionally shouldered, 
generally well set. Berries below r medium size, 
round. Skin thin, membraneous, of a dull red or 
tawny colour on the side most exposed, and paler on 
the shaded side, generally covered with a thin bloom. 
Flesh very firm, with a very rich, pleasant, and de¬ 
cided musky flavour. When kept hanging on the 
vine after being ripe, they are very apt to shrivel, 
but are then exceedingly rich and excellent to eat. 
History, )'c. —This is one of the very oldest of our 
English Grapes, and was formerly cultivated in 
every collection, but is now seldom to be met with. 
Cultural Notes. —The great fault of this Grape 
has always been felt to be its tendency to shank. 
It grows freely, fruits and sets freely, and promises 
well till it approaches ripeness, when it almost in¬ 
variably shanks badly. Requires a warm vinery to 
ripen thoroughly well. 
Season. —Mid-season. 
Merits. —First-rate in quality, but rather small, 
and so uncertain as to be scarcely worthy of culti¬ 
vation. 
Gromier du Cantal (39). — A round red 
or tawny Sweetwater Grape. 
Vine. — Growth very robust and strong; shoots 
gross, but ripening moderately well; moderately 
fruitful. Leaves very large, deeply toothed, dying off 
yellow. 
Fruit. — Bunches large, very broadly shouldered, 
moderately well set; stalks thick, fleshy. Berries 
large, round, or nearly so, on very stout, fleshy 
stalks. Skin thin, pale greenish-yellow on the 
shaded side, and splashed and dotted with dull red 
and brown, with occasional splashes of pink on the 
exposed sides. Flesh thin, very juicy, with a 
pleasant Sweetwater flavour. 
History, fy'c. —About twenty years ago this grape 
was grown in the Horticultural Society’s Gardens, 
Chiswick, and at Trentham, about the same period, 
but it is not now to be met with at cither place, so 
far as I am aware. It has somehow become con¬ 
fused with Do Candolle, from which, however, it is 
quite distinct, being twice as large in berry, but not 
producing nearly so large a bunch. 
Cultural Notes. —Will succeed in any house suit¬ 
able for Black Hamburgh. It is somewhat apt to 
shank, so much so that the bunch is frequently re¬ 
duced to a mere skeleton. 
Season. —Early. 
Merits. —A very distinct and typical grape, but 
scarcely worth cultivating. 
Gros Colman (84).—A round, black Vinous 
Grape. Synonym : Gros Colmar. 
Vine. — Growth very robust and strong, the shoots 
stout, with large prominent buds; very fruitful. 
Leaves large, broad, very downy, often presenting 
the appearance of flagging, and very early in the 
