4 THE EVOLUTION OF OUR NATIVE FRUITS 



grapes, cried out, "Le raisin! Le raisin !" (the grape, 

 the grape), and they called the stream "La riviere 

 au raisin," and it is known as River Raisin to this 

 day. 



In the middle Atlantic region, the native grape 

 also attracted much attention from the colonists and 

 travelers. Captain John Smith saw in Virginia, in 

 1607-9, as he relates, "Of vines, great abundance in 

 many parts, that climbe the toppes of the highest 

 trees in some places, but these beare but fewe grapes. 

 But by the rivers and Savage habitations where they 

 are not overshadowed from the sunne, they are cov- 

 ered with fruit, though never pruined nor manured. 

 Of those hedge grapes, wee made neere 20 gallons of 

 wine, which was neare as good as your French Brit- 

 tish wine, but certainely they would prove good were 

 they well manured. There is another sort of grape 

 neere as great as a Cherry, this they [the Indians] 

 call Messaminnes ; they bee fatte, and the iuyce 

 thicke : neither doth the tast so well please when 

 they are made in wine." 



In 1648, Beauchamp Plantagenet, in his quaint 

 account of "New Albion," describes "Uvedale under 

 Websneck" (a part of Delaware) as "a valley sixe 

 miles long, sheltered by hils from the North-west 

 windes: below it is sixe miles a thicket of four sorts 

 of excellent great Vines running on Mulberry and Sas- 

 safras trees; there are four sorts of Grapes, the first 

 is the Thoulouse Muscat, sweet seuted, the second 

 the great foxe and thick grape, after five moneths 

 reaped being boyled and salted, and well fined, it is 

 a strong red Xeres; the third a light Claret, the" fourth 

 a white Grape creeps on the land, maketh a pure 



