188 AMERICAN GRAPE GROWING 



in the order of their value and general adaptability, ease 

 of propagating and facility for grafting. 



VITIS RIPARIA. This is at present the most popular 

 and preferred class, both in its wild form and some of 

 its cultivated varieties, of which the Elvira is perhaps 

 the most prominent. They have proven entirely resist- 

 ant, adapt themselves to the greatest variety of soil 

 and location, grow easily and rapidly from cuttings, and 

 take the graft readily, forming a complete junction. 

 Objection has been raised to the Riparia on account of 

 its slender growth, and it has been claimed that the graft 

 would outgrow the stock, but so far this has not been 

 the case, and vineyards grafted twelve years ago are yet 

 perfectly healthy and more productive than when on 

 their own roots. For a minute description of all classes, 

 the reader is referred to the first part of this book. 



VITIS ./ESTJVALIS. This is perhaps next in value, 

 although the different varieties do not grow so readily 

 from cuttings, and it is also claimed by some writers 

 that they are not entirely resistant. This impression, I 

 think, had its origin in the method formerly employed, 

 of grafting below the surface. Thus grafted, the graft 

 made strong roots of its own, causing the stock to dwin- 

 dle and die, and as the roots of the graft were non-re- 

 sistant they were attacked and destroyed by the phyllox- 

 era. I am not afraid to risk ^Estivalis stock, if grafted 

 above the surface, as being entirely resistant, and as it 

 is a heavier grower than the riparia, it makes a good 

 stock. An impression prevails that it succeeds best on 

 rich, deep soils. It suckers less than any other Ameri- 

 can class, which is another point in its favor. 



VITIS RUPESTRIS. This class has somewhat disap- 

 pointed the high expectations once entertained of it, 

 when it was thought it would prove specially adapted to 

 dry, shallow soils, as it is found on the dryest hillsides 

 in Southern Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. It does not 



