46 THE EVOLUTION OF OUR NATIVE FRUITS 



duct on the Ohio, would give about 15 gallons per 

 share, besides paying what was coming to me. The 

 wine then fetched $2 per gallon, and the vineyard 

 would have been yearly increasing. By this time, 

 with only common good luck among the slaves, there 

 would be at least thirty able hands of both sexes, 

 besides a great many youngsters, with whom I could 

 tend 100 acres of vineyards, besides raising enough 

 for the support of all, at 180 gallons per acre, would 

 give 85 gallons per share, worth as many dollars 

 besides my reserve ; and the capital stock would be 

 worth about tenfold. Those who doubt the afore- 

 said calculation, have only to come and see our vine- 

 yards and vintage on the Ohio, and calculate for 

 themselves." Dufour writes in the tone of the advo- 

 cate. He is apologetic for the failures of the exper- 

 iments and exultant over the success with the Cape 

 grape; but he appears not to have caught the inspira- 

 tion that this very Cape grape was the beginning and 

 prophecy of a new type of fruit. 



Wine was made from the Cape grape, although 

 the variety was not a wine grape ; that is, it would 

 not attract attention in the presence of successfully 

 grown European wine grapes. Adlum described it 

 in 1823 as "a deep purple approaching to black ; it 

 is recommended by some for the table ; it has a 

 pulp in it, is a great bearer, and makes a good 

 Wine." William Bartram, in 1804, in his account 

 of "American Grapes" in the "Medical Repository," 

 speaks of the Alexander type as follows : " Before 

 they are quite ripe, some think they possess a little 

 of the stingy flavour of the fox -grape, but my taste 

 never could discover it. It has been supposed to be 



