18 
THE FLOKIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[Febkl'Auy, 
other late Pears, it has ripened long before 
its proper time. 
The fruit may be described as of medium 
size, somewhat in appearance like that of the 
Louise Bonne of Jersey, but much splashed 
with russet, giving it a roughish look. The 
flesh is half melting, somewhat gritty round 
the core, moderately sweet and pleasant. Its 
season of ripening is generally during February 
and March. It is always best in warm seasons. 
—A. F. Barron. 
VINES AND VINE CULTURE. 
Chap. XVIII. —The Varieties of Grapes. 
( Continued.) 
JTJHK descriptions of the varieties of Grapes 
(jin included in our Synoptical Table are 
ExS here continued from page 8 :—■ 
m . 
St. Laurent (59).—An oval white Muscat 
Grape. Synonym: Muscat St. Laurent. 
Vine. —Growth moderately strong; very fruitful. 
Leaves small, rounded, and not much serrated. 
Fruit.—Bunches small, very compact, very closely 
and freely set. Berries small, roundish oval. Slcin 
very thin, of a pale amber-yellow colour. Flesh 
tender, very juicy, sweet, and pleasant, with a strong 
Muscat flavour. 
History, Sfe .—Received from Messrs. Rivers, and 
fruited at Chiswick. 
Cultural Notes. —Well adapted for culture in pots, 
being extremely fruitful; it ripens in good seasons 
on the open wall. 
Season. —Very early. 
Merits. —First-rate in quality; one of the best 
of the small Muscat Grapes. 
Strawberry (99). — A round black Per¬ 
fumed Grape. Synonym : Raisin Framboisier. 
Vine. —Moderately robust and free in growth ; 
young shoots ripening freely, the hark dark brownish 
red in colour; very distinct, and very fruitful. Leaves 
medium-sized, roundish, and but slightly lobed, 
rugose on the surface, very downy beneath -resem¬ 
bling in this character the native American grapes. 
Fruit. — Bunches very small, from 3 to 4 inches 
long, close and compact; freely set. Berries small, 
roundish, sometimes a little ovate. Skin thick, 
membranous, dark purple with a fine bloom. Flesh 
dark, thick or mucilaginous, parting freely from the 
skin, but requiring some effort to secure it in the 
mouth. Flavour a very peculiar mixture of that 
of the strawberry and grape, sweet and pleasant, 
very highly perfumed, so much so that a small plant 
in a house with the ripe fruit on it will fill the air 
with a strong perfume similar to that of ripe rasp¬ 
berries. 
History, Sfc .—This singular grape is generally 
assumed to be of American origin, on account, it 
may be supposed, of the great similarity in the 
leaves, and in the character of the fruit, to the 
native American grapes. It is, however, not so, the 
variety being of European origin. Lady Cave sent 
me some fruit from near Montreux, on the Lake of 
Geneva, and stated that she found it in the market 
at Gray, on the Saone, west of Dijon, which almost 
fixes its nativity to that district. It is grown in 
this country more as a curiosity than for the value 
of the fruit. The late Duke of Devonshire, it was 
said, was very fond of it, and Mr. Paxton had to grow 
the fruit specially for his Grace. During the past 
year (1881) I have met with it at Lord Brownlow’s, 
Ashridge Park, at Lord Rosebery’s, Mentmore, and 
at the Duke of Bedford’s, Woburn. 
Cultural Notes .—Requires no particular care, but 
will fruit, and ripen its fruit well, in any ordinary 
vinery. It does well in a large pot, and this is the 
best way to cultivate it, as it is scarcely worth a per¬ 
manent situation. 
Season. —Mid-season. 
Merits. —Third-rate n appearance and quality, 
but worthy of cultivation for its perfume, and inter 
esting character. 
STRAWBERRY GRAPE. 
Syrian (90).—An oval white Vinous Grape. 
Synonym: Terre de la Promise. 
Vine .—Growth very strong and robust; moderately 
fruitful. Leaves large, downy, deeply-lobed and 
toothed, dying off yellow. 
Fruit.—Bunches very large, loose, from 18 to 24 
inches, frequently more, in length, and having very 
broad, loose shoulders; sets freely. Berries large 
or above medium size, ovate. Skin rather thick, 
greenish-white. Ilesh firm, moderately juicy, sweet 
and moderately rich when well ripened, but having 
no particular flavour. 
History, Sfc .—A very old grape to he found in 
most old gardens, but very seldom planted now. 
Speedily of Welbeck is reported to have grown a 
bunch of this variety which weighed over 19 lb., 
which was the largest bunch on record until 1875, 
when it suffered a double eclipse in Scotland, as 
noticed in our account of the Trebbiano Grape. 
Cultural Notes .—Will succeed under similar 
