The Canadian Horticulturist. 



THE VALUE OF OUR NATIVE GRAPES. 



X deciding on the value of a grape for home use, or for 

 commercial purposes, the principal point to be deter- 

 mined is, whether our location and climate are adapted 

 to the growth of the vine as well as the perfecting of 

 the variety we intend to plant, as under ceriain conditions 

 some varieties grow to perfection and some do not. Yet 

 no matter what varieties we plant, we may make a mistake, since it is a well 

 established fact that vineyards of the same variety in close proximity do not 

 succeed equally well, though we shall be more sure to succeed if we choose 

 varieties from species natural to our climate. Mr. W. Barns, Orange Co. 

 N. Y., has a vineyard of Moore's Early which is wonderfully prolific, while 

 on his brother's farm, not a quarter of a mile distant, the same variety has 

 proved a practical failure. On my own farm in Yates Co., N. Y., I can 

 show equally marked conditions. A vineyard of Catawbas planted seventeen 

 years ago, under the advice of several of the then best vinyardists, had to 

 be torn out, or grafted, while almost within a stone's throw this variety grows 

 and ripens to perfection ; hence we may say, be careful in selections both 

 of variety and location, but do not condemn entirely because you fail once 

 or twice. 



After repeated trials of European vines, under the supervision and 

 efforts of European vineyardists, and after European methods, this class 

 of vines, the Vitis vinifera, had to be abandoned ; up to this time, at any 

 rate, they refuse to adapt themselves to our environments. Whether they 

 ever will do so, remains to be proven. Through the earnest efforts of 

 some of our vineyardists, such as Ricketts, Rogers, Caywood, Jacob Moore 

 and others, the effort has been made to get some of the benefits, if such 

 they be, of the Vinifera by hybridizing, using some of our native species 

 with the Hamburg and other Vinifera varieties. For a time it seemed as 

 if success was assured, but apparently only to a certain extent ; and the 

 assertion will not be contradicted that many varieties so obtained and prom- 

 ising well for a time, are being gradually relegated to the experimental 

 vineyards. Commercial vineyardists feel safer with the pure native varieties. 

 Some experts say, But what about quality ? Well, let me ask. Are we quite 

 sure about this apparently uncertain factor ? Pomologists have tried to 

 make a standard and have failed. Now, the people have made it without 

 their help — at least it is fair to assume that they buy what they like best — 

 and the natives are the grapes for the millions. Take the four varieties 

 mostly grown east of the Mississippi — Concord, Delaware, Catawba and 

 Niagara — each a pure Labrusca, or so nearly pure that no one can positively 

 say they are not. Ninety-five per cent, of the total acreage, or more properly 







