XXVII. 



EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN GRAPES.' 



The evolution of our cultivated American grapes 

 is interesting, because it may be said to have arisen 

 under pressure. The standards of excellence in grapes 

 are high. They are the European standards, — the 

 outgrowth of centuries of careful cultivation of a 

 fruit which is especially a dessert fruit and a source 

 of wine. In recent years, as grape growers have 

 come to understand that our grapes are wholly dif- 

 ferent in stamp from those of the Old World, Euro- 

 pean standards are in large measure forgotten, but in 

 the early days of our grape growing they were almost 

 universally adopted. But even now, what is the 

 meaning of the term ' ' vinous flavor ' ' as applied to 

 our grapes, if it is not a comparison with the 

 European or wine grape ? And why do we almost 

 instinctively try to improve the flavor of our grapes 

 by crossing them with foreign blood? Is not the 

 growing American wine industry a direct competition 

 with the product of the European vine ? The stand- 

 ard of quality in American grapes is that which 

 flavors the history of Europe. This high standard 

 has had a marked influence upon American varieties, 



'Remarks before a Farmer's Institute at Forestville, Chautauqua county, 

 New York, September 23, 1892. Reported in American Gardening, xiii. 657. 

 (November, 1892), by E. G. liodeman. A full discussion of the subject will 

 be found in the author's "Evolution of our Native Fruits." 



(431) 



