THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 37 



kinds, three of which he mentions as having been removed to the gardens. 

 His fullest account runs as follows:' 



" Among the natural fruits, the vine takes first place, of which I find six 

 sorts, very well known. The first is the black bunch grapes which yield a 

 crimson juice. These grow common and bear plentifully, they are of a 

 good relish, though not large, yet well knit in the clusters. They have a 

 thickish skin and large stone, which makes them not yield much juice. 

 There is another sort of black grapes like the former in all respects, save 

 that their juice is of a light flesh color, inclining to a white. I once saw a 

 spontaneous white bunch grape in Carolina ; but the cattle browzing on the 

 sprouts thereof in the spring, it died. Of those which we call fox grapes, 

 we have fotir sorts; two whereof are called summer grapes, because ripe in 

 July; the other two winter fruits, because not ripe till September or October. 

 The summer fox grapes grow not in clusters or great bunches, but are about 

 five or six in a bunch, about the bigness of a damson or larger. The black 

 sort are freijuent, the white not so commonly found. They aWays grow 

 in swamps and low, moist lands, running sometimes very high and being 

 shady, and therefore proper for arbours. They afford the largest leaf I 

 ever saw to my remembrance, the back of which is of a white horse flesh 

 color. This fruit always ripens in the shade. I have transplanted them 

 into my orchard and find they thrive well, if manured. A neighbor of mine 

 has done the same; mine were by slips, his from the roots, which thrive to 

 admiration, and bear fruit, though not so juicy as the European grape, but 

 of a glutinous nature. However it is pleasant enough to eat. 



" The other winter fox grapes, are much of the same bigness. These 

 refuse no ground, swampy or dry, but grow plentifully on the sand hills 

 along the sea coast and elsewhere, and are great bearers. I have seen near 

 twelve bushels upon one vine of the black sort. Some of these, v/hen thor- 

 oughly ripe, have a very pretty vinous taste and eat very well, yet are glu- 

 tinous. The white sort are clear and transparent, and indifferent small 

 stones. Being removed by the slip or root, they thrive well in our gardens, 

 and make pleasant shades." 



In another part of his history, Lawson says that in 1708 the French 



' Lawson, John. History of North Carolina: 169-171. 1714, Reprint 1S60. 



