THE I SI AL DEFECT OF ROTLNDIFOLIA GRAPES 



While the species has many excellencies, it also has many drawbacks, one of the most conspicuous 

 being that the cluster's are very small. Another is that the berry usually falls from its stem 

 when picked; that is, the clusters shatter. The first object of breeders is to remedy these two 

 defects, which in the past have made the species useful only for the manufacture of wine. 

 (Fig. 3.) 



berries, small clusters being the rule. 

 By careful selection of parent vines 

 seedlings have been obtained that 

 generally produce bunches of from ten 

 to twelve berries. Exceptional clusters 

 have been found on rotundifolia vines 

 consisting of from twenty-seven to 

 thirty-three and thirty-five berries; these, 

 however, are quite unusual. By judi- 

 cious crossing and stringent selection 

 the clusters no doubt can be increased 

 in size so as to include a much larger 

 number of berries until a vine is pro- 



duced that will rank second to none of 

 the native grapes with respect to size of 

 cluster. 



Another instance of variability is the 

 bloom or waxy coat on the surface of the 

 fruit. The berries of the Scuppernong 

 and of other rotundifolia varieties are 

 devoid of the heavy bloom generally so 

 conspicuous on table grapes. Some 

 seedlings of this species, however, have 

 produced a coat of bloom that would do 

 real credit to almost any dessert grape. 

 Again, generally speaking the fruit of 



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