AMERICAN WILD VINE. 135 
they are of a lilac hue ; and those which grow entirely in the shade, are of a 
translucent white, sweet, and devoid of musk in their taste. The fruit is earlier 
in ripening than that of the preceding variety, and when allowed to remain on 
the vine until perfectly mature, the pulp nearly disappears. It is esteemed as a 
table grape, and has also been manufactured into an excellent wine. The origi- 
nal vine is said to have been procured from the banks of the Catawba, and 
planted in the garden of the late Mr. Schell, at Clarksburg, in Maryland, and 
has been known to bear nearly eight bushels of fruit in a single season 
4. V. l. elsinburgensis, Prince. Elscinborough Grape-vine. This variety is 
noted for its sweet, juicy fruit, which is free from pulp, and musky taste. The 
clusters are of a medium size, with loose berries of a blue colour, which are said 
to make an agreeable wine. Its foliage is of a pale-green, and resembles that of 
the wine-bearing grape of Europe, more, perhaps, than that of any other American 
variety. It somewhat resembles the Isabella, in its bark and wood, but its fruit 
is thought to assimilate more nearly to that of the Meunier, of France. The 
original vine was found and brought under cultivation by Dr. Hulings, in Elsan- 
borough, in New Jersey, where, undoubtedly, it was indigenous. 
Geography and History. The Vitis labrusca is found in sheltered situations 
in woods and thickets, and sometimes near the margins of waters, from Canada 
to Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. It was introduced into Britain in 1656, by 
John Tradescant, jun. ; but it can only be considered, in that country, as an 
ornamental shrub. A plant, however, of the red-fruited variety, placed against 
a wall with a western aspect, in the garden of the London Horticultural Society, 
is said to ripen fruit every year, of an agreeable flavour. There are several vari- 
eties of this species cultivated in North America, the most celebrated and exten- 
sive of which, is the Vitis labrusca isabella. As this variety is preferred, in the 
middle and northern parts of the United States to all others, principally on 
account of the quality and abundance of its fruit, its hardihood, and the facil- 
ity with which it is propagated, we shall chiefly confine our remarks to its 
culture, rather than to those of a less hardy nature. We would not by any 
means discourage the propagation and amelioration of the other varieties, where- 
ever the soil and climate are favourable to their growth and maturity ; but on 
the contrary, we would recommend a successive reproduction from seeds, by 
grafting, or inoculation, and if possible, by hibridization ; and doubtless many 
valuable varieties would be the result. 
The manufacture of wine from the American wild grape has long been a sub- 
ject of contemplation, and many unsuccessful attempts were made by the early 
settlers of the colonies ; but the want of success was not so much owing to the 
qualities of the fruit, as in the requisite skill and care in making the wine. It 
appears, however, by Holmes' "Annals," that, in the year 1769, the French 
planters on the Illinois River, made upwards of one hundred hogsheads of strong 
wine from the wild grapes of that country. Frequent mention is also made in 
Dodsley's " London Annual Register," of wine being manufactured, in small 
quantities, from the American grape, and in some instances, of a rich and 
agreeable flavour. More recently, the Swiss and German settlers of the west, 
especially in the valley of the Ohio, have turned their attention to this branch 
of industry, and their labours have been crowned with considerable success. 
Mr. Nicolas Longworth, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in a communication, published in 
the "American Agriculturist." in December, 1842, says, "I have thirteen 
vineyards, and more under way. The greatest yield is at the vineyard man- 
aged by Mr. Mottier, who is well known as an intelligent, enterprising vine- 
dresser. He made within a fraction of fifteen hundred gallons. A part of the 
vineyard that did not suffer by rot, yielded six hundred gallons to the acre. 
The next vineyard in its yield, is under the charge of Mr. Myers, an intelligent 
