Like season, size of cluster and berry belongs originally to different species, altho it, varies 

 considerably in all the species, and in some, as V. Lincecumii, greatly. The rule holds good 

 generally throughout the genus, that where the berry is large, the cluster is small, and where 

 the cluster is large, the berry is small; but several species have both berry and cluster small. 

 This is true of all the earliest ripening species. 



It seems a necessary result from this fact that the large-clustered, large-berried varieties 

 are the result of selection and breeding by man. History of grape culture sustains this conclu- 

 sion. It is in this particular piece of development where the hybridizer of American grapes may 

 accomplish wonders. Contemplate the union of the largest berried Labrusca, Lincecumii, Rotundi- 

 folia and Vinifera varieties (see Red Giant, Early Purple and Thomas plates) with the numer- 

 ously berried clusters of Berlandieri! The largest clustered foreign grapes may be excelled in 

 American species some day. 



It is found generally with grapes, as with most other fruits, that "as size goes up, quality 

 comes down." This will probably ever remain so with wine grapes, for it appears that the per- 

 fecting of the juices, developing large percentage of sugar and other desirable wine properties, 

 the berries must be small to admit better action of light and air to the smaller packages of juice; 

 in other words, giving greater surface to the same amount of juice to be acted upon. But by 

 developing size and texture of pulp with flavors agreeable to the palate, large grapes may be 

 produced of excellent table quality which would have very ordinary or poor wine properties. 



So the originator finds his wits taxed to the utmost in endeavoring to get into one variety 

 a large cluster, with large, handsome berry, of very fine quality. It surely has been done in a 

 number of foreign grapes, such as Muscat, Hamburg, Malaga and others, and why not in the 

 thorobred American grape as well? 



In the matter of quality, the common law, that "like produces like" holds more rigidly than 

 in almost any other character, and is brought out by long and careful selection through many 

 generations. 



Prepotency of Parents in Controlling Vine and Fruit Characteristics 



Some experienced hybridizers have claimed that it is a general law among grapes and other 

 fruits that the mother transmits more of the vine, or tree characteristics, while the male, or pollen 

 parent, more of the fruit characteristics. After observing and studying my crosses and hybrids 

 with reference to this point, there seems no adequate ground of support to lay it down as a law, 

 farther than that the mother appears to transmit its degree of hardiness in resisting climatic 

 extremes and diseases better than the male parent. Theoretically this would be reasonable, 

 as the ovule, after impregnation, receives all its support and growth from the mother, until it 

 becomes a mature seed; hence the mother vine should always have greatest capability possible 

 to endure hardships and resist disease and yet include excellence in fruit. 



The following list of species and varieties which have been used in cross and hybrid com- 

 binations is given for what it is worth, which seems little, as the point has not been put to the 

 test of special experimentation. 



The species, or variety in each pair, w T hich is italicized, seems to be strongest in impressing 

 its characters upon the progeny in the unions made. Where they unite equally, both are in 

 Roman print. Where the union produces puny, sickly progeny, when both parents are vigorous, 

 they are marked Incongenial. The first named is always the mother. 



Scientific demonstration is not claimed in this work. It is only tentative, and it is hoped 

 will call out careful work on this subject from others. 



Rupestris x Vulpina. Rupestris x Longii. 



Rupestris x Candicans. Rupestris x Labrusca. 



Rupestris x Vinifera ; Rupestris controls vine, Vinifera the fruit. 



Rupestris x Bourquiniana (Herbemont & Rulander). 



138 



