THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. II5 



stifficiently cultivated in this country east of the Rocky Mountains so that 

 it can be said what conditions of soil and climate best suit this species 

 other than the general conclusions that may be drawn from the conditions 

 present where the species is indigenous. 



The clusters of fruit are small, with berries about the size of a currant 

 and varying from sweet to sour. The berry is characterized by inuch pig- 

 ment iinder the skin. The fruit has a sprightly taste wholly free from any 

 disagreeable foxiness. According to Munson, it is too unprodt:ctive to be 

 profitable. The sugar and acid content of the must is not known. Jaeger 

 states that Rupestris wine sent to France was there judged as decidedly 

 the best American claret yet tested. 



Rupestris under cultivation is said to be very resistant to rot and mildew 

 of the foliage. It is considered hardy by those familiar with it in the 

 Southwest, and Campbell states that it withstood, without injury, 32 degrees 

 below zero at Delaware, Ohio. The attention of hybridizers was attracted 

 to this species over thirty years ago and various hybrids have been produced 

 by Jaeger, Munson, Campbell and Millardet, all of whom considered Rupes- 

 tris of great promise for grape-breeding. The root system of Rupestris 

 is peculiar in that the roots penetrate at once deeply into the ground instead 

 of extending laterally as in other species. Like those of Riparia, the roots 

 are slender, hard, and resistant to the phylloxera. The species is easily 

 propagated by cuttings. According to Husmann' the vines bench-graft 

 readily but are difficult to handle in field grafting. 



VITIS RUPESTRIS DISSECTA Eggert. 

 I. Bailey, Gray's Syn. Ft. 1:422. 1897. V. rupestris, var. dissecta. 



Vitis rupestris dissecta was named by H. Eggert of St. Louis, the 

 name being placed on herbarium specimens but apparently not published 

 by him. According to Bailey it differs from the typical forms of the species 

 in having " more ovate leaves and very long teeth, and a strong tendency 

 towards irregular lobing." It is found in Missouri. 



' Husmann, G. C, California Fruit Grower, Mar. 14, 1908 



