170 SYS'irMATir roMnj.ncY 



Several '•liaractci-s of plant and fiMiit which do not apjiear in 

 the botanical (lescrii)ti()n are noteworthy. The vine is remark- 

 ahle for its ^n-cat vi^or. The roots are small, hai-d, numerous, 

 hranch fi-eely, feed elose to the surface, and do not seem to be 

 well adai)te{l to forcinp: their way throuprh heavy elays. The 

 berries are small, but thei'e are occasioTial varieties with fruits 

 of medium size or above. The clusters are of medium size or 

 above, but if jud«ied from the standpoint of number of berries, 

 mi^rht frecpiently be ealled large. The flavor is sharply acid but 

 free from foxiness or any disagrreeable wild taste. If eaten in 

 quantity, the acidity is likely to affect the lips and the tip of 

 the tonfrue. The flesh is neither puli)y nor solid, and dissolves 

 in the mouth and separates readily from the seed. 



Clinton, Canada, and Bacchus are probably the best-known 

 varieties of the Vulpina type, all of which are black. Quite as 

 well known are Noah, Taylor, Rommel, and Elvira, white grapes 

 which show a preponderance of Vulpina blood. 



The ^Estivalis Grapes 



In no other cultivated species is there as much confusion as in 

 V. cestivaHs. The tyi)e species is distinct and readily distin- 

 guished from the other grapes by the reddish fuzz on the under 

 side of the leaves. The two botanical varieties to which nearly 

 all of the vineyard grapes belong are much mixed. Var. 

 Bourquiniand, known only in cultivation, is probably a group 

 of hybrids of the type species with V. vinifera; var. Linsecomii 

 in some vineyard forms is so similar to ^stivalis as doubtfully 

 to be separated from it, and in others is so distinct as to seem 

 to warrant raising the variety to the rank of a species. 



249. Habitat and botanical characters of V. aestivalis. — The 

 t.ype species is confined to the southeastern part of the United 

 States from New York to Florida and w^estward to the Missis- 

 sippi. In one locality or another in this region it is known as 

 the Blue, Bunch, Summer, Little, Duck-shot, Swamp, Chicken, 

 and Pigeon grape. 



4. Vitis cestivalis, Michx. (Plate XVTI) Vine vigorous, shoots pubescent 

 or smooth; diaphragms thick; tendrils intermittent, usually bifid. Leaves 

 with short broad stipules; leaf -blade large, becoming thick; petiolar sinus 

 deep, narrow, frequently overlapping; margin usually 3- to 5-lobed; teeth 



