CURRENT LITERATURE 



BOOK REVIEWS 



Manual of American grape-growing 



This book by Hedrick' belongs to the Rural Manual Series edited by 

 L. H. Bailey, and, like the rest of the series, aims to cover the field outlined 

 in an up-to-date way. The book is intended to furnish practical working 

 directions to the grower of grapes, whether he uses the native varieties of the 

 eastern regions or the vinifera types of the West. The economics of the crop, 

 as well as considerations of soil requirement, vineyard management, and 

 disease control, are presented with clearness, precision, and even with charm 

 of style. 



The chapters on breeding and domestication are given increased interest 

 by a brief but comprehensive reference to the very unusual history of grapes 

 and grape-growing in America. The general reader is likely to be surprised 

 to learn how many of our standard varieties have been simply transplanted 

 from the places where they were originally found as mutants or very favorable 

 variations from type. The Concord, Catawba, Scuppernong, Herbemont, 

 Isabella, and a host of other varieties are such products of unaided nature. 

 The hard road traveled by those who in the early times strove to establish 

 the European kinds in the East is lightly indicated. It would hardly be 

 possible in a work of this character to deal more fully with the almost romantic, 

 almost tragic, history of the early pioneers in grape culture. The several 

 determined attempts to grow the European grape financed by various wine 

 companies formed by public spirited men, by colonial governments, and by 

 experienced refugees successful in the wine-growing regions of Europe were aU 

 doomed to lingering death, whether located in Pennsylvania, Virginia, or 

 Kentucky. The full story of this phase of our grape history is still to be 

 written. 



The ta.xonomist may be disappointed to find the chapter on " Grape 

 botany" limited to the ii horticulturally significant species. The author, 

 however, is probably right in tacitly considering the relations in the genus as a 

 whole to be the property of the specialist in plant classification, although he 

 complains of the hazy ideas of those who have thus far dealt with the group. 



The book is up to the standard in its mechanical execution. It is abun- 

 dantly supplied with fine half-tone plates of the most important varieties. 



' Hedrick, U. p., Manual of American grape-growing. New York: Macmillan 

 Co. 1919. $2.50. 



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