Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 511 



tainons mainland of Coromandel, and all producing very large 

 juicy berries, even in the jungle-wilderness. V. quadrangularis 

 (Linne) stretches from Arabia to India and Central Africa, and 

 has also edible fruits. Many such plants may be far more eligible 

 for grape-culture in hot wet climates than the ordinary vine. 

 About 250 species of Yitis are already known, mostly from intra- 

 tropical latitudes, and mostly evergreen ; but in regard to their 

 elevation above the ocean and to the nature of their fruits we are 

 almost utterly without data. An herbaceous species of a tuberous 

 vine, occurring in Soudan, is recommended by Mr. Lecard ; another 

 tuberous species is noted by Mr. J. B. Martin as wild in Cochin- 

 China, the herbaceous stems being reproduced annually from the 

 roots ; both kinds bear excellent grapes ; the species from Cochin- 

 China forms long shoots, sometimes to a length of 60 and excep- 

 tionally 150 feet, bearing grapes all along the branches. Occasion- 

 ally more than a cwt. of grapes is obtained from one plant, according 

 to General Haldeman. It would be a grand acquisition to tropical 

 countries ; its ripe grapes are produced successively through fully 

 three months ; the berries are very large. 



Vitis Xiabrusca, Linne.* 



The Fox-Grape. North- America, from Canada to Texas and 

 Florida, also in Japan. A pale-fruited variety furnishes the Eland's 

 Grape ; another yields the American Alexander-Grape [Torrey and 

 Gray]. The Schuylkill, Concord, Catawba, Isabella, Martha, Ives- 

 Seedling, Hartford-Prolific and a number of other less known 

 varieties are also derived from this species. Among these the 

 Concord takes the first rank as well for wine as for dessert-grapes 

 in the Eastern United States, where it is cultivated more than all 

 the other varieties put together, although it has a strong so-called 

 foxy taste. It is not quite proof against the attacks of the 

 Phylloxera vastatrix, but suffers less than most other varieties of 

 this species [Planchon, Vignes Americaines]. Many good and 

 fertile crosses between V. Labrusca and V. vinifera occur in North- 

 American cultivation ; the Delaware-Grape is a hybrid from 

 V. Labrusca according to Bush and Meissner, and has in its turn 

 given rise to many other good crosses. The berries of V. Labrusca 

 are large among American kinds, and are of pleasant taste. Flowers 

 fragrant. It is the only species, which thrives well and bears 

 largely in the clime of Brisbane, according to Dr. Bancroft, so far 

 as hitherto ascertained, This and the other hardy North -American 

 vines seem never to be attacked by the Oidium-disease. Dr. Hegel 

 unites the South- Asiatic V. lanata (Roxburgh) with this. 



VitiS riparia, MicLaux.* (F. cordifolia var. riparia, A. Gray.) 



From the Northern and Central United States to the Rocky 

 Mountains of Colorado. As the name implies, especially a riverside- 

 grape, particularly in loamy soil [Hilgard] . To this species belong 



