666 



iRAI'E 



GEAPE. The Grape is probably the oldest of domes- 

 ticated fruits. It is probable that wine was made from 

 it before the species was brought into cultivation. It 

 seems to have been cultivated at the dawn of history. 

 Its product was certainly no rarity in Noah's time. 



GRAPE 



ments finally tailed because of the incursions of the 

 black rot. 



Of all countries, North America is richest in species 



of Vitis (see the article Vitis). These species range 



from ocean to ocean and from the British possessions 



to the tropics. The species which has been most 



improved is I'itis Labrusca of the Atlantic slope 



•vlthough it seems to possess less native merit 



th m 1 f tl uthwestem species t J pes Of 



tl Concord and Cataw b i tj pes 



I me extent it his been 1 j 



(isin Agawam Lind 



if F 



I point of amelionti i I / 



hich several of the best wine Gi 

 rung (Fig 90") The Post oak ( i 



948. The Labrusca 



The Grape of history is the Old World Vitis vinitera, 

 the "wine-bearing Vitis," probably native to Asia. The 

 paramount use of the Grape always has been the pro- 

 duction of wine. A subsidiary value is the production 

 of raisins; and another is the production of fruit for 

 the dessert and for culinary uses. Great efforts were 

 made to introdurn thpi-ultivatinnof the European Grape 

 into the Amerir:ii, .■,,|.,iii,.^. l,ut the efforts resulted 

 in failure. It \v:i.-, ih.i uniil th.- latter p.irt of the pres- 

 ent century that th. rhi, i raiisus of this failure be- 

 came known : the lirprcdtili.'iis of the phylloxera ami 

 mildew, — and even then the causes were discovi rr.l 

 largely because these enemies had made incursions inii. 

 the vineyards of Europe. In the meantime, one or two 

 of the native species of Vitis had been ameliorated mi 

 American viticulture had become established on a 

 unique and indigenous basis, and the fiuits are gro^^n 

 to eat rather than to drink feo fully did the eiily 

 American ventures foIlo\\ Eiiiopenn cust tn tl it tli( 

 Grapes were usu- 



they are on the 

 Rhine and about 

 the continental 

 lakes. Even to 

 this day the ter- 

 race ridges can 

 be traced in si me 

 of the skpes 

 about Cincini.ati, 

 where Longwtrth 

 and others evlti- 

 vated the Grape 

 fifty years and 

 more ago. Those 

 early experi- 



evaded when th 



funiric-iiles. Of lat. j. ai-, !■ i ■ ■- - , i - .■- hav,> 



hi-.-ii made to growlhi- will.- I ■ : al.-s, 



an. 1 in tlie southern latitud.-^ - - :, , , |.. . . ,. nts 

 l.r..nii^.-ii well for atime. li.-- - -■ i . - ■ . i . . m an is 

 i-i-.|iiir.-.l in order to produi-.- a -ai i- 1 a.-i-.i \ pr...lin-i as to 

 discourage the growing of vinifi-ra varictii-s in tin- op™ 

 in the East. Vinifera types will always be special 

 Grapes in the East, adapted onlj' to particular conditions, 

 f..r it. is 11. .t t.i T..:- fxpe.'tcd that thr-y can cijmpcte witli 



950. The Labri 



