Grapes

Vitis vinifera, IMG:p229_1.png:Chinese characters f'u t'ao. The grape is not a native of China but was brought from central Asia by Chang Ch'ien in the second century B.C. The first mention of it in Chinese literature is in Ssu-MA Ch'ien. There must have been several varieties introduced, to account for the number of varieties pow found in N. China. A white grape grown near Hsuan-hua fu is the most expensive of all Chinese grapes, and is only to be had in limited quantities. The berries are much elongated. They can be kept, with care, till February. There are also seedle white grapes in N. China. Purple grapes also are grown, in several \arieties, central Shansi being especially noted for them. One variety, if put in baskets and placed in cool cellars, can be kept for almost the whole year. Vines are always trained over arbors or some such supports, with very long main leaders. After the first frost in October the vines are taken down, pruned and if neces.«ai-y coiled up, and are then buried to protect them from the severe cold of winter. Several.species of wild grape are found, V. amurensis and others. From some a fairly good wine is made. Meyer: Agriculttcral Explorations, etc.; Bret- SCHNEIDER: Botanicoii Sinicum, I, p. 25; IMG:p229_2.png:Chinese characters Polo, c. 37. IMG:p229_3.png:Chinese characters