130 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ September, 
large berry with only three seeds go wrong ; 
and in rarer cases still, I have found them do 
so when none of the seeds have been in contact 
with each other. 
The conclusion I have come to in regard to 
this matter is, that while* large berries with five 
seeds are most liable to go wrong, especially 
when two of the seeds are in close contact, 
they are not alone so, and the cause must be 
sought for elsewhere. 
This disease must not be confounded with 
what resembles it a good deal, namely, the 
scalding of the berries by direct exposure to 
the sun, the remedy for which is very simple 
—shade and more air. 
Gros Colmar .—This is a free-growing vine, 
that fruits abundantly, but it, too, has its 
peculiarities. In certain soils it is very difficult 
to colour well, and in others the foliage puts on 
a peculiar bronzy and decayed-looking aspect, 
indicating that some constituent of its proper 
food is absent. It is most liable to become so, 
when planted in light soil. Its greatest draw¬ 
back, however, is that it is very difficult to 
colour well, and takes a long time to do so. 
A Inxoick Seedling .—This otherwise fine Grape 
does not always set well under the most careful 
treatment. I saw a house of it last year at 
Olive House, Alnwick, in excellent condition ; 
every bunch perfect, many of them from 3 lb. 
to 5 lb. in weight, as black as sloes, and I 
felt disposed to extend its cultivation here. I 
had inarched vines of it on various stocks a 
year before, and had in 1880 four bunches of 
small' size, every berry of which had set to per¬ 
fection. These vines made extraordinarily fine 
canes that season, and this spring they showed 
an immense amount of fruit. I took every 
known precaution to induce them to set, 
but failed to set more than a few berries 
in any one bunch. The bunches when 
in bloom developed a peculiarity I have only 
seen in one case besides, namely, in the Canon 
Hall Muscat. Each embryo berry had a very 
small drop of liquid on the point of the female 
organ the moment the cap dropped off, and 
this seemed to prevent the legitimate action of 
the pollen. In using an ostrich feather to 
disperse the pollen, it got quite wet and sticky ; 
some bunches I did not touch, but these met 
with the same result. On one very weak vine 
this liquid did not appear, and in its case the 
berries set. I am satisfied that great vigour in 
the Vine will result in the presence of the 
liquid, and when it appears, the fruit will not 
set well; therefore, moderate vigour, as in the 
case of Mr. Bell’s vines, seems to be what 
should be aimed at, in the case of this excellent 
grape. 
There are many other grape-vines that have 
their peculiarities, but I fear I have already 
occupied too much of your valuable space, to 
be able to refer to them at present.—W. 
Thomson, Tweed Vineyard , August 
VINES AND VINE CULTURE. 
Chap. XVIII. —The Varieties of Grapes. 
(Continued.J 
HE descriptions of the varieties of Grapes 
included in our Synoptical Table are 
here continued, from page 77. 
Gros Maroo (77).—An oval black Vinous 
Grape. Synonym: Marocain. 
Vine.—Growth very strong and robust, the shoots 
large, but firm, and ripening freely; moderately 
fruitful. Leaves large, dowmy, deeply serrated. 
Fruit.—Bunches medium-sized, strongly shouldered, 
with a stout stalk, setting tolerably freely. Berries 
large, ovate in shape, of a very dark plum-colour, 
with a thick bloom. Flesh firm, yet juicy, with a 
very brisk, sprightly, and exceedingly pleasant 
flavour. 
History, fyc. —Introduced in 1855 by the late Mr. 
Rivers from M. Yibert of Angers, this grape has re¬ 
mained comparatively unknown until the past year 
or two, when proper attention has been directed to 
its merits by Mr. T. F. Rivers, who obtained for it a 
First-class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural 
Society. It has been much confused with Gros 
Damns Noir and Black Morocco, from which, how¬ 
ever, it is quite distinct. 
Cultural Notes. —Excepting by Mr. Rivers, I am 
only aware of this Grape having been largely culti¬ 
vated by Mr. Ward, at Bishop’s Stortford. It is 
somewhat difficult to establish, and also to propa¬ 
gate, but when once established it grows vigorously. 
Season. —Late. 
Merits. —First-class in quality and appearance. 
Grove-End Sweetwater (15).—An oval 
white Sweetwater Grape. Synonyms: Early 
White Malvasia, Early Leipsic, Burchardt’s 
Amber Cluster, Early Ivienzheim. 
Vine.—Groivth free and vigorous, although not 
robust; free-fruiting. 
Fruit. — Bunches small, from 6 in. to 8 in. long, 
loose or straggling, setting freely. Berries small, 
ovate. Shin thin, very clear and transparent, 
greenish-white, becoming amber when fully ripe, 
and retaining a thin bloom. Flesh very tender and 
juicy, with a remarkably sweet, rich, and pleasant 
flavour. 
History, life .— This grape is so named from Grove 
End, St. John’s Wood, the residence of a Mr. Atkin¬ 
son, who imported it and grew it under that name, 
as described in the Transactions of the Horticultural 
Society in 1821. It was subsequently grown at 
