THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 309 



press of that day but without a satisfactory solution of the place of its 

 nativity. 



Nicholas Herbemont ' who sought the history of the variety in the 

 neighborhood of Dorchester, South Carolina, doubted its having originated 

 there, as he found it known only as a cultivated sort with a tradition of its 

 having been introduced years before by a gentleman then dead. There 

 were various accounts published of its having originated in North Carolina, 

 Virginia, Delaware and Europe, none of which are worthy of any credence. 

 All that can be said is that it originated some time in the eighteenth 

 century, probably in one of the Carolinas and that it was cultivated in 

 many widely separated neighborhoods prior to 1800. 



In 1852 Isabella was placed on the grape list of the American Pomo- 

 logical Society fruit catalog, for general cultivation. In 1864, on account 

 of its susceptibility to mildew it was transferred to a list for cultivation in 

 special localities. It was soon, however, restored to the original list where 

 it still remains. After the introduction of Concord, as noted above, the 

 popularity of Isabella waned but it is still to be found in niany sections 

 as one of the less planted of the market sorts and is in practically 

 all varietal vineyards It was introduced into Europe before 1830 where 

 it was quite extensively cultivated for the manufacture of a low grade 

 wine, and it is quite probable that the phylloxera, which later became 

 such a pest, was introduced on roots of the Isabella. 



Isabella is generally classed as a pure Labrusca but there are many 

 who think there is a strain of Vinifera present. This is indicated by the 

 shape of the berries, certain characters of the seeds, the susceptibility 

 of the vine to mildew and of the fruit to black-rot. The characters of 

 Isabella can be traced in a great number of offspring though comparatively 

 few of them have outlived the parent in usefulness. Pt:re-bred progeny 

 of the Isabella differ but little from the parent and are classed as strains 

 of the original rather than as new varieties. Hybrids of it with pure Vinifera 

 are usually worthless, lacking in vigor and hardiness, and so much more 

 so than in the case of hybrids of Vinifera and known pure American grapes 

 as to further suggest Vinifera blood in Isabella. Such hybrids, too, usually 



'Sou. Agr., 2:552. 1829. 



