SKETCH OF 



THE EVOLUTION OF OUR 

 NATIVE FRUITS 



THE RISE OF THE AMERICAN GRAPE 



NORTH AMERICA has given the world a new fruit 

 in its grapes. The grape of Europe and of history 

 has always led a precarious existence when intro- 

 duced into our eastern states, and it is now wholly 

 supplanted in this region by the ameliorated off- 

 spring of the native species. This American grape 

 is much unlike the European fruit. It is essentially 

 a table fruit, whereas the other is a wine fruit. 

 European writings treat of the vine, but American 

 writings speak of grapes. This difference in names 

 records a true unlikeuess between the fruits, for a 

 fruit which is eaten from the hand leaves the im- 

 press of itself upon the mind, but one which is 

 crushed and passed into wine leaves only the impress 

 of the vine and the vineyard. But the early Amer- 

 ican writings also treated of the vine and wine, and 

 it was not until the middle of the present century 

 that the modern table use of the native grape began 

 to be appreciated and understood. It will be inter- 

 esting to trace the progress of this curious evolution. 



