The ITALIA, also known as Italian 
Muscat, is a hybrid originating near Rome, 
Italy. Imported about ten years ago, it has 
been bearing commercially in California 
for the past four or five years on a limited 
acreage. Both berries and bunches are large, 
and it bears much more heavily than the 
old Muscat of Alexandria. A beautiful am- 
ber color when ripe, with a delicious Muscat 
flavor. It has been grown in various districts 
of the State, sufficiently to prove that it 
has a wide range of adaptability—doing well 
in soils and climates where the older Muscat 
will not succeed. 
Its adaptability, heavy bearing tendencies 
and delicious flavor make it a most desir- 
able variety for both commercial and home 
garden planting. 
Fruit from the limited acreage in bearing 
has received immediate acceptance on Cali- 
fornia markets, at excellent prices. The skin 
is quite tender, and the fruit must be care- 
fully handled in picking and packing as it 
has a tendency to discolor if bruised. Can 
be successfully shipped to Eastern markets 
if properly handled. 
Definitely, one of the best of the new 
varieties. Ripens late August to early Sep- 
tember. 
THE QUEEN is a magnificent ap- 
pearing new red grape, originating at Davis, 
California, and is a hybrid between Muscat 
Hamburg and Thompson Seedless. Both ber- 
ries and bunches are large and beautiful in 
appearance. It bears so heavily that the 
flower clusters must be reduced at the time 
of blooming in order to grow fruit of the 
highest quality. It gives good results when 
properly grown. It follows the Red Malaga 
in ripening and matures slightly in advance 
of Tokay. If not overcropped, the fruit ships 
very well and keeps well in storage, being 
much better in this respect than the Tokay. 
It has a larger berry than the Tokay, and the 
cluster is exceptionally well formed and pro- 
duces uniform berry size. Small plantings are 
in bearing in the Parlier area of Fresno 
County and southern Tulare County. It has 
a rather tough skin, which partly accounts 
for its good shipping and storage qualities, 
and has surprisingly good eating qualities 
when fully mature. 
This variety requires further testing to 
truly evaluate its worth, but it has so many 
good qualities it stands a good chance of 
finding its place among the top-ranking 
table grapes in California. 
