AMERICAN GRAPES 341 



Vitis labrusca, first represented by the Alexander, has furnished more 

 cultivated varieties than all the other American species together, no 

 less than 500 of its varieties having been grown in the vineyards of 

 the country. There are several reasons why it is the most generally 

 cultivated species. It is native to the parts of the United States in 

 which agriculture soonest advanced to a state where fruits were desired. 

 In the wild, the Labrusca grapes are the most attractive, being largest 

 and handsomest in color — among all grapes it alone shows black, white 

 and red-fruited forms on wild vines. There is a northern and a south- 

 ern form of the species and its varieties are therefore widely adapted to 

 climates and to soils. The flavor of the fruits of this species, all things 

 considered, is rather better than that of any other of our wild grapes, 

 though the skins in most of its varieties have a peculiar aroma, some- 

 what pronounced in the well-known Concord, Niagara and Worden, 

 which is disagreeble to any who are accustomed to the pure flavors of 

 the European grapes. Unfortunately few varieties of this species are 

 adapted to wine-making, as the fruits lack both sugar and acid and 

 impart to wines an unpleasant aroma and taste. All varieties of Vitis 

 labrusca submit well to vineyard operations and are vigorous, hardy and 

 productive, though they are more subject to the dreaded phylloxera 

 than are most of the other cultivated native species. 



Of the many grapes of the labrusca type, at least two deserve brief 

 mention. 



The Catawba, the first American grape of commercial importance, 

 is the most interesting variety of its species. The origin of the variety 

 is not certainly known, but all evidence points to its having been found 

 about 1800 on the banks of the Catawba Eiver, North Carolina. It 

 was introduced into general cultivation by Major John Adlum, soldier 

 of the revolution, judge, surveyor, and author of the first American 

 book on grapes. Adlum maintained an experimental vineyard in the 

 District of Columbia, whence in 1823 he began the distribution of 

 the Catawba. At that time the center of American grape culture 

 was about Cincinnati, and an early shipment of Adlum's Catawbas went 

 to Nicholas Longworth, grandfather of the present bearer of that name, 

 and was by him distributed throughout the grape-growing centers of 

 the country. As one of the first to test new varieties of American 

 grapes, to grow them largely and to make wine commercially from them, 

 Nicholas Longworth is known as the "father of American grape 

 culture." 



The Catawba is still one of the four leading varieties in the vine- 

 yards of eastern America. The characters whereby its high place is 

 maintained among grapes are : great elasticity of constitution, by reason 

 of which it is adapted to many environments; rich flavor, long-keeping 

 quality, and handsome appearance, qualities which make it a very good 

 dessert grape; high sugar content and a rich flavor of juice, so that 



