152 



THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



early interested in the possibilities of American grape-growing to this 

 species rather than to any other. 



The southern Labrusca is quite different from the northern form and 

 probably demands different conditions for its successful growth; in the 

 North at least two types of the species may be distinguished. Vines are 

 found in the woods of New England, which resemble Concord very 

 closely in both vine and fruit, excepting that the grapes are much smaller 

 in size and more seedy. There is also the large-fruited, foxy Labrusca, 

 usually with reddish berries, represented by such cultivated varieties as 

 Northern Muscadine, Dracut Amber, Lutie and others. Labrusca is 

 peculiar amongst American grapes in showing black-, v/hite- and red- 

 fruited forms of wild vines growing in the woods. Because of this varia- 

 bility it is impossible to give the exact climatic and soil conditions best 

 adapted to the species. It is reasonable to suppose, however, that the ideal 

 conditions for this or any other species are not widely different from those 

 prevailing where the species is indigenous. In the case of Labrusca this 

 means that it is best adapted to humid climates and that the temperature 

 desired varies according to whether the variety comes from the southern 

 or northern form of the species. 



The root system of Labrusca does not penetrate the soil deeply,' but 

 it is said to succeed better in deep and clayey soils than Aestivalis."' In 

 the Southern and Middle States it does better on eastern and northeastern 

 slopes. As would be suspected from its original marshy home, it endures 

 an excess of water in the soil, and on the other hand requires more water 

 for successful growing than Aestivalis or Riparia. In spite of its ability 

 to withstand clayey soils, it seems to prefer loose, warm, well-drained sandy 

 lands to all others. The French growers report that all varieties of this 

 species show a marked antipathy to a limestone soil, the vines soon becom- 

 ing affected with chlorosis when planted in soils of this nature. In cor- 

 roboration of this Stayman reports that it is not found growing native in 

 clayey, limestone soils. The Labrtiscas succeed very well in the North and 

 fairly well in the middle West, as far south as Arkansas, where they are 

 raised on account of their fruit qualities but here the vines are not nearly 



'Husmann. 1895:189. 

 ^Grapc Cult., 1:4. 1869. 



