62 



when it will be found that they are valued more because of their free- 

 dom from disease than from the qualities of their fruit. 



Again, it is clearly ascertained that the most fatal species of mildew 

 is caused by dampness, so that the further statement may be made that 

 where we find a locality in which grapes are specially remunerative we 

 will find that its climate is characterized by the absence of heavy dews. 

 It is only in these latter localities and under their special conditions 

 that the best varieties afford a profitable return. Where heavy dews 

 prevail during the summer mouths it has been found unsatisfactory to 

 cultivate such varieties as the lona, Walter, Eumelan, Diana, Croton, 

 Delaware, Catawba, and others of first excellence. Partial success may 

 sometimes be attained, owing to local conditions of protection and shel- 

 ter; and, as has long been thoroughly demonstrated and reported, all 

 these varieties can be grown to perfection when they are protected from 

 heavy dews, either by artificial or natural expedients, such as those 

 of covering the trellis upon which they are tied by a canopy of boards, 

 canvas, or glass, or by allowing the vines to grow up in trees whose 

 foliage will protect that of the vine. 



But little further progress can be attained in the culture of the grape, 

 either for table use or for the manufacture of wine, until a. distinction 

 is practically recognized between the species and their varieties which 

 are severally best suited for these respective purposes. In Europe, 

 where all the cultivated grapes are said to have been produced from one 

 species, the varieties are numerous, but they are divided into distinct 

 classes based upon their values as regards suitableness for wine, for 

 table use, or for drying into raisins. 



In the United States we have several distinct native species, from one 

 or other of which have been originated all the varieties now in cultiva- 

 tion. The only classification of these which has been presented look- 

 ing to the arrangement of varieties under the species from which they 

 have been produced will be found at page 81. of the Eeport of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture for the year 1869. An attempt was there made 

 to draw attention to the most valuable peculiarities of the different spe- 

 cies, peculiarities which are more or less inherited by the varieties which 

 have originated from them, as also the climates to which they seemed 

 best adapted. Since then some attention has been given to the signifi- 

 cance and importance of the points embraced in that classification, but 

 the subject is still unrecognized by the majority of those engaged in 

 grape culture. 



The idea that our native grapes would be more rapidly improved by 

 securing hybrid kinds between them and the foreign species has long 

 been entertained ; and, although it has constantly been argued by some 

 that no good result could be obtained, yet of late years much attention 

 has been directed to this mode of improvement, and, as was to be ex- 

 pected, varieties of very superior merits have been produced, many of 

 them equal to the best of the foreign varieties, in flavor as well as in 



