THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 401 



a rule, these vines receive little cultivation, are unpruned, and are given 

 no care of any kind, but even under neglect they produce large and sure 

 crops, are almost immune to mildew, rot, phylloxera, or other fungal or 

 insect pests. The plants give not only an abundance of fruit but on arbors 

 and trellises are much prized for their shade and beauty. The growth 

 of the vine is prodigious; seemingly well authenticated reports state that 

 vines are known which cover an acre of land ; other tales, having at least 

 the semblance of truth, are equally marvellous. Thus there are accounts 

 of vines of this variety over a hundred years old and which bear 500 bushels 

 of fioiit and make 2000 gallons of wine. 



The fruit, to a palate accustomed to other grapes, is not very acceptable, 

 having a musky flavor and a somewhat repugnant odor, which, however, 

 becomes with familiarity, it is said, quite agreeable. The pulp is sweet and 

 juicy but is lacking in sprightliness. From the Scuppernong are made sev- 

 eral very good wines and it would seem that the future of this and other 

 varieties of Rotundifolia, from a commercial standpoint, lies largely in 

 their value for wine. Quite aside from the quality of the fruit as a table 

 grape, they are not suitable for the market from the fact that the berries 

 drop from the bunch in ripening and become more or less smeared with 

 juice so that as they are brought into market in quantity, their appearance 

 is not at all appetizing. 



Vine vigorous to rank, not hardy in the North, very productive. Canes long, 

 numerous, slender, varj^ from ash-gray to grayish-brown; surface smooth, thickly covered 

 with small, light brown dots; pith greenish; tendrils intermittent, simple. Leaves 

 small, thin; upper surface light green, smooth; lower surface very pale green, slightly 

 pubescent along the ribs, othen\-ise smooth; veins inconspicuous. Flowers open very 

 late; stamens reflexed. 



Fruit ripens late, even in the. South, often ripening unevenly, appears to keep well 

 but berries drop as they mature. Clusters small, roundish, not shouldered, loose. 

 Berries very few per cluster, large, roundish, dull green often with brown tinge, not per- 

 sistent, firm. Skin verj' thick and tough, covered with many small russet dots; no 

 pigment. Flesh pale green, juicy, tender and soft, fine-grained, very foxy, sweet to 

 agreeably tart, fair to good in quality. Seeds slightly adherent to pulp, large, medium 

 to short, often very broad, not notched, quite blunt, plump, surface unusually smooth, 

 brownish; raphe buried in a narrow, shallow groove; chalaza small, nearly central, 

 elongated, rather obscure. Must 88°. 

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