Chapter III 



Select Families and Varieties of Grapes, for Practical 



Vine-Growers 



It is not the object of this work to give a complete descriptive list and history of all varieties 

 of grapes originated in America. That would be encyclopedic, and of far less value to the practical 

 vineyardist, and even to the breeder of varieties, than the best tried selections of the different 

 species and their combinations, and would be valuable chiefly as history. Others have written 

 that. This work is designed for the practical man. 



The alphabetical order of species and groups of hybrids is followed. 



In this category I have tried to the utmost to give a vivid exhibit of the very best there is 

 in American Grape culture, but make no claim to have mentioned all that is valuable. If I have 

 in any way done injustice to any varieties, it is because a diligent, careful, enthusiastic student, 

 trying to get at the truth for over thirty years, is incapable of correctly compassing the whole 

 matter. 



It will be noticed that varieties originated by the writer occupy much of the space. This 

 is accounted for by the fact of the great extent of his work in breeding grapes in diverse directions 

 and specific combinations, never attempted by any other hybridizer, and from the multiplicity 

 of hybrids made, all of which carried through years of testing would run into many thousands, 

 including only the best of some 75,000 hybrid seedlings germinated in the nursery rows, and 

 culled with extreme care. Hundreds of varieties better than Concord have been thrown away. 

 A number of varieties that promised well at first, did not come up to their promise after intro- 

 ducing, were withdrawn and suppressed, and some, that seemed unworthy at first, proved to be 

 valuable. 



All the varieties mentioned in this list are not recommended to the planter, but are mentioned 

 to assist in elucidating the composition or character of other varieties. At the end of the chapter 

 will be found a list of varieties recommended to practical planters, for adaptation to the various 

 sections, soils and climates. It is hoped that the whole chapter will be found worthy of careful 

 study by both vineyardists and breeders of grapes, for it conies as the cream of over thirty years 

 study and work as a practical vineyardist, breeder of and writer on grapes. 



The Concord being considered by the majority of persons, in regions where it is much grown, 

 as the standard market grape, it is used as the minimum standard of comparison for quality, and 

 the Delaware, generally recognized as our highest in quality, is taken as the maximum for com- 

 parison. Nothing poorer than Concord should be tolerated where it or better kinds can be grown, 

 and we should ever try to excel even the best we have. 



Life-size, half-tone engravings of varieties are distributed thru the list to give a better 

 conception of them, and to illustrate the results of certain combinations. 



Explanation 



Immediately following the name of a variety is given its origin, then its parentage, and then 

 its character of flower and average date of flowering at Denison, Texas, if known, and after that 

 the description of vine, cluster, fruit, etc. 



If the variety has a perfect flower, it is indicated by a heavy inverted comma, thus ( ' ) ; if 

 imperfect, by a heavy comma, thus ( f ). Immediately following the comma is given the average 

 date of flowering, thus: (f), the upper figure denoting the month, the lower, the date. Example, 



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