PROMISING NEW FRUITS. 



time the diverting of that proportion of the crop each year from the 

 ordinary channels of commerce doubtless has, in some seasons at least, 

 a material effect upon the market price received for the exported 

 product. 



Currant grapes were apparently introduced into some of the Vinif- 

 era districts of California as early as 1861, l but they have not yet 

 attained commercial importance there. Imports into the United 

 States in 1910 totaled more than 33,000,000 pounds of currants, 

 having an approximate value of $1,178,750. The imports of cur- 

 rants during that year from all other, countries were less than 250,000 

 pounds. 2 



EARLY HISTORY OF THE PANARITI GRAPE IN THE UNITED STATES. 



The history of the Panariti grape in the United States dates from 

 the receipt from Panariti, Greece, through Mr. David Fairchild, 

 agricultural explorer of this department, of a shipment of cuttings 

 which reached Washington May 9, 1901. Concerning this grape Mr. 

 Fairchild states: 3 



The variety of grapes producing the currants or corinths of commerce. 

 These cuttings were purchased in the village of Panariti, which lies among the 

 mountains back of Xyloncastron. This village is noted for producing some of 

 the finest corinths in Greece. 



Several varieties of currant grapes are grown in Greece, though 

 the crop differences are not distinguished in that country by varietal 

 names, but by the name of the regions in which they are produced ; 

 thus, Panariti grapes are grapes grown in the vicinity of the village 

 of Panariti. 



Soon after the importation of cuttings was received at the depart- 

 ment they were distributed among grape growers in representative 

 Vinifera grape-growing districts in California, Arizona, and south- 

 ern Nevada. More recently the variety has been more widely dis- 

 seminated in connection with the viticultural investigations of the 

 Bureau of Plant Industrv. 



Bunch very long, almost cylindrical but tapering, with quite an 

 enlargement toward end of bunch, often shouldered, straggling, loose ; 

 stem 1 J to 2 inches long, of medium size, soft and fleshy ; berry round, 

 very small, not averaging much over one-fourth of an inch in diam- 

 eter; surface smooth; color amber with whitish bloom; skin rather 



1 Eisen, Gustav. The Raisin Industry, 1890, p. 38. 



2 Bulletin 90, Bureau of Statistics, entitled " Imports of Farm and Forest Products, 

 1908-1910," p. 42. 



3 Bulletin 66, Bureau cf Plant Industry, entitled " Seeds and Plants Imported during 

 the Period from September, 1900, to December, 1903, Inventory No. 10." p. 84, Xo. 6429. 



* Description furnished by Mr. George C. Husmann, Pomologist in Charge of ViticultnraT 

 Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry. 



