106 AMERICAN VINES. 



(b) Varieties. The Riparia is certainly the American 

 vine which has the greatest importance for the reconstitu- 

 tion of vineyards. It was Millardet who first, in 1874, 

 attracted the attention of viticulturists to this species. In 

 conjunction with Despetis, he pointed out the importance of 

 the selection of forms ; its importation to France was due to 

 Bush and Meissner. It is now well known that the individual 

 variations of the Riparia are very numerous. The Riparia 

 has a very widely extended area of distribution in America ; 

 its fruit ripens early and is easily disseminated by the 

 rivers on the banks of which it grows, by birds, and even 

 winds, which transport the seeds widely. The Riparia is, 

 besides, mixed with many other species, and, as the period 

 of florescence of certain Riparias is almost continuous during 

 several months of the year, many hybrids have been formed ; 

 the better-defined characteristics of these hybrids will be 

 studied. But many of them have only felt a slight hybridiz- 

 ing influence from other species and only present, in compari- 

 son with typical Riparias, quite insignificent differences. 

 The Riparias with thick and shiny leaves are, probably, 

 as indicated by Millardet, the result of hybridization 

 with V. Cordifolia, which, as already stated, is nearly always 

 found associated with V. Riparia. We consider these most 

 meritorious forms equal to pure Riparias 



It may be said that the selection of Riparias is nowadays 

 settled amongst all the vineyards. Most of those which have 

 been retained as cutting producers are varieties of value; 

 the forms with small leaves, small trunk, and little vigour 

 have been gradually eliminated, and are now almost entirely 

 discarded. 



Generally speaking, as applies also to the Rupestris, 

 best Riparias are the most vigorous, and the most vigorous 

 have nearly always a large trunk, thick leaves, large, shining 

 (glabrous type), or a little dull (tomentose type). For recon- 

 stitution it is not indispensable to have recourse exclusively 

 to the forms mentioned, although success is more assured with 

 them, but we must rigorously exclude weakly -growing varieties 

 with small thin leaves ; this applies equally to the Rupestris. 



The Riparias may be classed in two principal groups : 



TOMENTOSE RIPARIAS. 



The short abundant hair on the branches and on the ribs 

 of the under-face is especially characteristic; the leaves are 

 dark dull-green on the upper-face; the teeth long, acute, 



