THE GRAPE 369 



Owing to pressure of other matters, I have 

 made no attempt to introduce any of these 

 grapes, but am satisfied that none can compete 

 with some of them for table use. 



Among the seedlings of the second generation 

 raised from my own vines were three anomalous 

 vines of great interest. One of these was the 

 exact counterpart of the California wild grape. 



The second was closely similar though not 

 quite identical; and the third might be called a 

 hybrid in general appearance. 



As there were no wild California vines grow- 

 ing within fourteen miles of the place where these 

 grapes were growing, I can only account for the 

 appearance of these degenerates, as they might 

 be called, on the theory that our wild California 

 grape and the Eastern wild grape from which 

 the Isabella originated were descended from 

 a common stock, and these three plants were 

 reversions. 



Two of these vines grew the first season to the 

 height of nearly eight feet when the other seed- 

 lings had grown to only one or two feet in height. 

 The third one grew twelve feet or more, while 

 most of the others had grown only about as many 

 inches. The foliage was exactly like the Cali- 

 fornia wild grape, as was the wood, fruit, and 

 general appearance throughout. 



