Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 563 



Vitis cordifolia, Lamarck.* 



The Winter-Grape or Frost-Grape. From Canada to Florida. 

 Beaches northward the Red River at Emerson, but from this far 

 northern form no cultivated varieties are derived [Professor 

 Penhallow], A very large deciduous vine. The scent of the 

 flowers reminds of Reseda. The berries are small, either blackish 

 or amber-coloured and very acid. They can be used for preserves, 

 and are only fully matured when touched by frost. A succession of 

 seedlings may give us a superior vine, with the recommendation of 

 particular hardiness ; this species developes however also well in 

 rather warm climes, and bears even considerable dryness. It thrives, 

 like V. mouticola, under the tropic of Capricorn in Queensland 

 [J. S. Edgar]. Resists the attacks of Phylloxera very well, and 

 seems also safe against mildew. Hybrids between this and V. riparia 

 are nearly Phylloxera-proof [Professor Millardet]. One of the 

 best to strike from cuttings ; not well adapted for calcareous soil. 

 Vine-seeds may lie dormant in the ground for more than a year in 

 ordinary culture [G. Knight]. 



Vitis hypoglauca, F. v. Mueller. 



East- Australia, as far south as Gippsland. An evergreen climber 

 of enormous length, forming a very stout stem in age. The black 

 berries attain the size of small cherries. This species also may 

 perhaps be vastly changed in its fruit by continued culture. Endures 

 slight frost, though evergreen, but it is best in cool climes, to keep 

 seedlings for two or three years under shelter, so that sufficient 

 increment and induration of the woody stem takes place for its 

 resisting subsequently some frost, a remark applying to many other 

 kinds of plants to be acclimatised. 



Vitis Indica, Linne. 



On the mountains of various parts of India, ascending to an altitude 

 of 3,000 feet in Ceylon. The small berries are edible. The plant 

 should be subjected to horticultural experiments. This is an apt 

 opportunity, to draw attention to some of the various Indian species 

 of Vitis with large edible berries for instance, V. lasvigata, (Blume), 

 V. thyrsiflora (Miquel), V. mutabilis (Blume), V. Blumeana (Steudel), 

 all from the mountains of Java, and all producing berries as large as 

 . cherries, those of V. Blumeana being particularly sweet. Further 

 may here be inserted V. imperialis (Miquel) from Borneo, V. auri- 

 culata and V. elongata (Wallich), the latter two from the moun- 

 tainous 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 Vitis are already known, mostly from intra-tropical 

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



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