262 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Olive is growing at Mr. Nat. Stephens's place, at Forney, Kauf- 

 man County, and so far with every jjrospect of success. I had the 

 pleasure of seeing the Post Oak Grape, or, as it is scientifically known, 

 Vitis Lincicumii, growing and bearing in its native habitat. By 

 many this species is confounded with V. cestivalis, but it is now gen- 

 erally conceded to be distinct. It is found growing in the same local- 

 ities a2id soils as the Post Oak, and hence its name. It is confined 

 to high and often rocky lands, but develops the finest fruit along 

 little ravines near small rivulets. It is never, or very rarely, seen in 

 the low bottom-lands. Its roots are very deep, and a severe drought 

 has little effect on its growth. The territory in which it is found 

 comprises Northeastern Texas, Eastern Indian Territory, Western 

 Arkansas, Southwestern Missouri, and a small portion of Southeast- 

 ern Kansas. On the higher lands of this region it spreads its thrifty 

 branches and runs over low bushes, and is sometimes found climbing 

 to the tops ot trees. This latter, however, is rather rare, as its growth, 

 is generally low. It is often seen growing in opeu forests where there 

 is grass enough to feed the annual fires, and these frequently kill the 

 vines to the ground, but their hardy nature enables them to survive 

 and throw out numerous sprouts from the base, much like a stool of 

 the Black-cap Raspberry The fruit varies in color from deep black 

 to pale red, and even green. Sometimes the clusters are very long 

 and loose, and others are as compact as the Elvira. The berries also 

 vary in size and shape, but are usually about like the Clinton. Their 

 taste is often rather sour and astringent, but occasionally a variety is 

 found of mild and. delicate flavor. Some that I gathered were about 

 equal to the Concord, and many of them, better than the Clinton. One 

 very promising feature of their flavor is the entire freedom from the 

 foxmess that is so objectionable in all the Varieties of V. lahrusca. 

 The season of ripening of the different varieties is so varied, that at 

 least six weeks elapse between the earliest and latest. 



Strange as it may seem, it is true that until within the last few years 

 no one of the great army of horticultural experimenters has attempted 

 to cultivate or improve the varieties of this species, and it seems the 

 more jDarticularly strange when we consider that of all the known 

 species of the Vitis family this is the most productive of wild vari- 

 eties of high quality. To this any one who knows our native grapes 

 and has traveled through the forests within the territory named will 

 bear me witness. But now we have a gentleman of the most emi- 

 nent ability, both scientific and practical, in the person of Prof. T.V. 

 Munson, who has taken the matter in hand. He has not only trans- 

 planted to his vineyards vines of the best wild varieties he > ; )uld find, 

 but he has with wondrous care cross-fertilized these with b^ me of our 

 finest cultivated varieties, and has groAvn seedlings from this fruit. 

 I might say that Professor Munson is raising a new race of grapes, 

 and with the most promising results already. He has several seed- 

 lings of excellent quality, and has himdreds more that are yet too 

 young to fruit. We certainly have much to expect from this race, 

 and especially when it is in such good hands. It is really worth a 

 trip to Texas to see Mr. Munson's rows ot young seedlings and to 

 enjoy the benefit of his intelligent explanations. We are quite likely 

 to gain from this species and its crosses much in the way of a hardy 

 constitution of vine, giving it ability to withstand both drought and 

 cold. Norton's Virginia is the nearest approach to this class of grapes, 

 it being a pure V, oestivaKs. Mr. Hermann Jaerger, of Missouri, has 

 also been experimenting with varieties and crosses of Vitis Linci- 



