THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 25 



The climate of eastern America is not equal^le; it alternates between hot 

 and cold, wet and dry. The range in both temperature and humidity is 

 far greater than in the grape-growing regions of Europe, California, South 

 Africa or Australia. The fleshy roots of Viiis vinifera are more tender to 

 cold than are those of the species of northern United States and this would 

 prevent its culture becoming very general in many regions where native 

 grapes can be grown. 



It is only in the regions west of the Rocky Mountains, and more particu- 

 larly in California, that the varieties of Vinifera are successfully crrown in 

 America. The great viticultural interests of the far West are founded upon 

 the success of this one species. The native grapes can be grown but they 

 cannot compete in California with Vitis vinifera for any purpose. Never- 

 theless American species are indispensable in this western region for stocks 

 upon which to graft the Vinifera varieties, and it is probable that the time 

 is not far distant when all California vines will be upon American roots. 

 Within the boundaries of latitude in which Vinifera varieties are grown west 

 of the Rocky Mountains the grape shows wonderful adaptability; it is found 

 at all elevations permitting fruit culture; it grows on practically all soils; it 

 thrives under irrigation or under dry farming; it is given various kinds of 

 treatment, including total neglect, and still thrives; the number of varieties 

 grown for wine, raisin and table grapes runs into hundreds. The truly 

 wonderful success met with in the cultivation of this species west of the 

 great continental divide makes all the more remarkable the fact that in no 

 place east of the divide will varieties of it thrive. 



We now pass to a consideration of the American grapes, their characters, 

 the early notices of them, their rise, their success, and their future — a more 

 pleasing task than to record disaster after disaster in growing the grape of 

 the Old World. 



