190 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



in the southern half of the continent. In eastern Europe and 

 western Asia, the vines must be protected just as they must be 

 protected here. It seems almost certain that from the many 

 sorts selected to meet the various conditions of Europe, we shall 

 be able to find kinds to meet the diverse soils and climates 

 of this continent. And here we have one of the chief reasons 

 for wishing to grow these grapes that American grape-growing 

 may not be so localized as at present. Probably we shall find 

 that European grapes can be grown under a greater diversity 

 of conditions than native varieties. 



The culture of European grapes in the East gives this region 

 essentially a new fruit. If any considerable degree of success 

 attends their culture, wine-making in eastern America will be 

 revolutionized, for the European grapes are far superior to 

 the native sorts for this purpose. Varieties of these grapes 

 have a higher sugar- and solid-content than do those of the 

 American species and for this reason, as a rule, keep longer. 

 We may thus expect that through these grapes the season for 

 this fruit will be extended. The European varieties are better 

 flavored, possessing a more delicate and a richer vinous flavor, 

 a more agreeable aroma, and are lacking in the acidity and the 

 obnoxious foxy taste of many American grapes. Many con- 

 sumers of fruit will like them better and the demand for grapes 

 thus will be increased. 



The advent of the European grape in the vineyards of eastern 

 America ought to greatly increase the production of hybrids 

 between this species and the American species of grapes. As 

 we have seen, there are many such hybrids, but curiously 

 enough scarcely more than a half dozen varieties of European 

 grapes have been used in crossing. Most of these have been 

 greenhouse grapes and not those that could be expected to 

 give best results for vineyard culture. As we come to know 

 the varieties best adapted to American conditions, we ought 

 to be able to select European parents to better advantage 



