122 LUTHER BURBANK 



This branch bore leaves unusual in size and grapes much 

 larger than those on the surrounding branches or vines. 

 The berry was also superior in quality to the others. 



This new grape, which Nature caused to spring from the 

 Isabella vine, was properly named " Pierce," from the man 

 on whose farm the grape originated. Burbank procured 

 some cuttings from the Pierce and raised some fruit for 

 the purpose of getting seeds of this new bud variation. 

 Among the very numerous seedlings all had some faint 

 resemblance to the Isabella in both vine and fruit, but 

 there were peculiar traits among them also. 



On some of the vines the bunches were long and slen- 

 der; on others they were short and thick. The berries 

 varied in size, color, flavor, and time of ripening. Some 

 were large and luscious, others were small, sour, and seedy. 

 The colors were white, light cream, amber, and rich royal 

 purple. 



There was as great a variety of leaves as of fruit; on 

 some vines the leaves were small and shaped like the Eng- 

 lish ivy leaf; on others unusually large and of different 

 forms. 



Among these many peculiar seedlings about a half-dozen 

 bear yellowish- white fruit. One kind has a delightful 

 aroma, and a flavor not found in any other grape; more 

 like the European varieties than the Isabella, but much 

 finer in quality. Another, an extremely late and un- 

 usually large grape, is very delicious, and in the mild cli- 



