THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 61 



SO placing them. I am familiar with the views of many of the leading 

 grape-growers of the country, and have had an opportunity of studying' 

 the genus by the excellent herbarium of Dr. Engelmann. Jt is gratifying 

 to know, therefore, that the position given to such cultivated varieties as 

 obtain in this herbarium, agrees with that given to them by leading grape- 

 growers — the views of the botanist and the practical man coinciding. 



When we find it so difficult to properly separate the wild species, we 

 can no longer wonder at the difference of opinion as to the nature of many 



strongl}' and even fetidly-aromatic taste. No cultivated varieties of the species are known. 



2. ViTis RiPARiA, Michaux — Mo.stly a smaller plant than the last, hut with larger and more or 

 less ciit-lobed glabrous shining (or rarely when young, slightly downy) leaves, the lobes long anfl 

 pointed; the teeth also more pointed than in cordifolia ; berries as small, or usually larger than in the 

 last, mostly with a bloom, in smaller bunches, mostly lor 2 seeded; seeds with a less prominent 

 ra phe . 



This species prefers thickets or rocky soil on river banks and extends as far west and south as the 

 last, and much farther north, being the only grape-vine in Lower Canada, where it is found even 60 

 miles north of Quel)ec. The northern form, in Canada, northern New Yoi'k to Michigan and Nebras- 

 ka, has fewer and larger berries in a bimch and is easily distinguished from V. cordifolia. The 

 southwestern form, however, approaches more closely to this last species, with which Prof. Gray in the 

 later editions of his Manual has united it. The fruit ripens earlier than that of cordifolia, and is much 

 pleasanter. 'In St. Louis a variety found on the rocky river banks is brought to market in July. A 

 number of cultivated varieties are referable to this species, among which the Taylor BulUt, the Dcla_ 

 ware and the Clinton, are the most prominent. 



3. ViTis AESTIVALIS, Michaux: Smaller than the first, climbing over bushes and smaller trees; 

 leaves large, of firmer texture than the preceding ones, entire, or often more or less deeply and ob- 

 tusely 3— .51obed, with short and shallow, broad teeth; when young always very woolly, mostly bright 

 red or rusty; at last smoothish but dull and never shining like the preceding ones; berries usually 

 larger than in both others and, when well grown, in compact bunches, coated with a distinct bloom; 

 seeds usually 2 or 3, with a very prominent raphe. * 



This is the well known Summer grape common throughout the middle and sou;hern States, usually 

 found on uplands and in dry open woods or thickets, maturing its fruit inSeptnuber. It is the most 

 variable of our grape-vines and hence has seduced superficial observers into the establishment of nu- 

 merous nominal species. A form with large leaves which retain their rusty down at full maturity 

 has often been mistaken for Labrusca, which does not grow in our State. Another form, more bushy 

 than climbing, with deeply lobed rusty-downy leaves and very sweet fruit, is Vitis Lincecumii of the 

 sandy soil of Louisiana and Texas. This species assumes a peculiar form approaching V. cordifolia 

 through its smaller black berries without bloom and in larger bunches, when it gets into shady woods 

 with rich soil. Another form with ashy-white, downy, scarcely lobed leaves, and fruit like the last 

 mentioned, which grows in our bottoms, often climbing high trees, or growing over bushes on the 

 banks of lakes, I have distinguished by the name ot cincrea. It is not always easy to distinguish such 

 forms from the other species and perhaps less so to unite them under the single species, cestivalis, un- 

 less the essential characters above enumerated be closely attended to, and the numberless gradual 

 transitions from one form into the other be watched. 



We cultivate many varieties of this valuable species, the most important of which are the Virgin- 

 ia Seedling, the Cynthiana and the Hcrbemont . 



4. ViTis RUPESTRis, Scheele: A small bushy plant, often without any tendrils, rarely .somewhat 

 climbing; leaves small (2 — 3 inches wide) mostly broader than long, heart-shaped, scarcely ever slight- 

 ly lobed, with broad coarse teeth and usually an abruptly elongated point, glabrous, and of a rather 

 light green color; berries middle-sized, on very small bunches; seeds mostly 3 — i, obtuse, witli a very 

 delicate raphe. 



This very peculiar gi-ape-vine is found only west of the Mississippi, from the Missom-i river to 

 Texas and westward probably to New Mexico. In our State where it is called Sand grape, and in Ar- 

 kansas, it grows on the gravelly banks and over-flowed bars of mountain streams; in Texas also, on 

 rocky plains, whence the Latin name; it is there also known under the name of Sugar grape. Its lus- 

 cious fruit ripens with us in August. 



It is nowhere yet in cultivation but may in future prove of value. 

 6. Berries large, 7 — ^9 or even 10 lines in diameter; raphe scarcely insible on the more or less deeply 



notched top of the seed. — These plants on well groivn shoots bear a tendril opposite each leaf with only 



rare and irregular intermissions. 



5. Vitis Labrusca, Linnaus: Plants usually not large, climbing over bushes or small trees, 

 though occasionally reaching the tops of the highest ti-ees, with large (4—6 iiiches wide) and thick, 

 entire or sometimes deeply lobed, very slightlv dentate leaves, coated when young with a thick rusty. 



