196 



CHAPTEK XXVIII. 



THE VARIETIES OF AMERICAN GRAPES. 



"^HESE form a class quite distinct from the European Grapes, or 

 those ordinarily grown in this country, since they belong to a 

 distinct species, Vitis Labrusca, which is a native of North 

 America. They seem to be of two types, which are quite 

 distinct: 1. The foliage deep green, thicker leathery, very downy 

 or pubescent on the under surface. 2. The foliage large, very deeply 

 lobed, smooth, pale. The fruit is also distinct, bunches being 

 generally small, but very freely produced, and the berries small in 

 comparison with the European Grapes. The flesh is generally of a 

 greenish colour, and a somewhat mucilaginous texture, having a 

 musky perfume, and a peculiar " foxy " sweetish flavour, which is at 

 first somewhat objectionable, but the taste is gradually acquired, and 

 afterwards relished. 



The American Grapes are nearly all possessed of extraordinary 

 vigour of constitution, and are remarkably free in growth. They 

 have not been much subject to the ravages of mildew, or even the 

 Phylloxera, on which account they have been largely used as stocks 

 in French Vineyards on which to graft the European Grapes, so as to 

 avoid these pests, and with some success. The Vines are very hardy, 

 and ripen fruit freely in the open air in America, where the 

 European Grapes cannot be cultivated with success. Their cultivation 

 on the open walls in this country is well worthy of a trial. At 

 Chiswick they ripen freely in a cold orchard-house. 



The original or older varieties of American Grapes are admittedly 

 of inferior quality, but during the last thirty years wonderful progress 

 has been made in the raising of new hybrid varieties of large size and 

 improved quality, which, in the warm climate of America, are, by good 

 judges, considered equal to our Sweetwaters, and even Frontignans. 

 Several of the American Grapes have a peculiar habit of what is 

 termed " shedding" their fruit when becoming a little over-ripe, i.e., 

 the berries, although quite sound, become detached from the stalks 

 in the same way as Peaches. 



The following selection of varieties is made from those recommended 

 to us by the late Mr. Hovey, and which are growing and have fruited 

 in the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens at Chiswick. 



