ORIGIN AND BOTANY 139 



habit is so firmly fixed in the Alpine that all its seedlings 

 possess this character in equal degree, although they 

 may vary somewhat in other respects. 



A number of distinct varieties of the Alpine are recog- 

 nized. These cannot be reproduced absolutely true 

 unless propagated by runners or division, but seed propa- 

 gation is so much easier and gives so much better fruit 

 that most gardeners prefer it. Seedlings differ from the 

 parent only in minor respects. Seed propagation is 

 especially necessary with the Bush Alpine, w^hich has no 

 runners. The original plant of this curious type was 

 found at Gaillon, in the European Alps, by M. Labaube, 

 in 1811. Several years later, probably in 1818, M. 

 Morel de Vinde originated the white-fruiting Bush Alpine, 

 which, also, comes fairly true from seed. 



The Alpines were tested repeatedly in North America, 

 but never gained a foothold. In 1833 it was reported 

 that a man near New York City had "several acres of 

 vines from which he sold upw^ards of a thousand dollars' 

 worth of berries." ^ For many years the White Alpine 

 was valued in the Province of Quebec, as it was hardy 

 there without a mulch and bore good crops of small, 

 sweet berries. In Quebec it was perfectly remontante, 

 bearing from the latter part of June until late September. 

 At one time some attention was given to the Alpines in 

 California, but for the most part they have been grown 

 only in home gardens, and occasionally in greenhouses. 

 There is little interest in the Alpines now, except among 

 amateurs. 



From time to time the Alpines have been reintroduced 

 into North America, with extravagant claims concerning 

 their everbearing habits. Until 1910, our more voluble 

 1 The New England Farmer, 1833, p. 106. 



