252 THE VINEYARD. [MARCH 



oval and black, with a thick skin, and a hard, firm flesh. It forms 

 long, handsome bunches. 



51. The White Raisin Grape. The properties of this grape are 

 nearly similar to the preceding, but the berries are white. 



52. The Damson Grape. The berries of this variety are very 

 large, oval, and of a beautiful purple color. They grow loose on the 

 bunch, which is large. The leaves of this grape are large, and more 

 thick and succulent than those of any other sort, and have some- 

 thing of the appearance of green leather. 



53. The CornicJion Grape. The berries of a remarkable shape, 

 about an inch and a half long; their breadth not half an inch. They 

 taper from the stock, but not in a regular manner, and end in a blunt 

 point, according to the French, something like a horn ; but its figure 

 is more like the long end of a small fish's bladder. The berries are 

 white, with a thick skin, and a firm, sweet flesh. 



54. The New Muscat of Jerusalem. This variety has large, round 

 berries of a red color, nearly as large as middle-sized gooseberries. 



55. The Black Prince. This has fine, large, black berries and the 

 bunches grow to a large size, frequently to a pound and a half. 



AMERICAN SPECIES OF VINE. 



The following species of the vine are indigenous in America. 



1st. The Vitis sylvestris, or common bunch grape. 



2d. The Vitis vulpina, of Bartram ; V. Labrusca, of Linn., or 

 fox -grape. 



3d. The Vitis taurina, of Bartram, or Vitis Vulpina, of Linn.; 

 commonly called the bull or bullet grape. 



4th. The Vitis serotina, or winter grape, by some called the Ber- 

 mudian grape. 



There are several varieties produced by the intermixtures of the 

 above with one another, or with the varieties of the Vitis vinifera, 

 which are called hybrids or mules; the most noted are, 1. Alexander's 

 or Tasker's grape; 2. Bland' s grape ; 3. That called the Raccoon 

 grape. And now may be added the Catawba, Isabella, Diana, Con- 

 cord, Rebecca, Canadian Chief, &c., &c. From either of these hy- 

 brids, it is probable that good wine may be produced ; but I shall 

 leave that to the experience of those who have made, or wish to 

 make the experiment.* At the same time, I would suggest the 

 idea of grafting some of the best European kinds on our most vigor- 

 ous native vines, which, no doubt, would answer a very good pm> 



SOIL AND SITUATION. 



The first and most important thing to be considered in planting a 

 vineyard, is the choice of soil and situation ; for on these depends 



* These experiments have since been carried out, and have proved emi- 

 nently successful. There is now more than three million bottles of wine 

 manufactured in the State of Ohio annually, principally from the Catawba. 

 The improvement of our native grapes is progressing wonderfully. 



