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VINIFERA GRAPES 



VINIFERA GRAPES 



Labruscas succeed very well in the North, and 

 fairly well in the Middle West as far south 

 as Arkansas. The grapes of Labrusca are large 

 and usually handsomely colored. The skin is 

 thick, covering a layer of adhering flesh, which 

 gives the impression of its being thicker than 

 it actually is; the berry is variable in tender- 

 ness, sometimes tough, but in many cultivated 

 varieties is so tender that it cracks in trans- 

 portation. The skin of this species usually has 

 a peculiar aroma, generally spoken of as foxy, 

 and a slightly acid, astringent taste. The cen- 

 ter of the berry is occupied by dense pulp, 

 more or less stringy, with considerable acid 

 close to the seeds. Many object to the foxy 

 aroma of this species, but, nevertheless, the 

 most popular American varieties are more or 

 less foxy. Labrusca submits well to vineyard 

 culture, is fairly vigorous, and generally quite 

 productive. It grows readily from cuttings, and 

 in hardiness is intermediate between Vulpina 

 and ^Estivalis. The roots are soft and fleshy, 

 and in some localities subject to attacks of 

 phylloxera. In the wild vines, the fruit is in- 

 clined to drop when ripe. This defect is known 

 among grape-growers as "shattering" or "shell- 

 ing," and is a serious weakness in some varie- 

 ties. Labrusca is said to be more sensitive to 

 mildew and black-rot than any other American 

 species. In the South, and in some parts of 

 the Middle West, the leaves of all varieties of 

 Labrusca sunburn and shrivel in the latter part 

 of the summer. 



11. Vitis vinifera, Linn. European Grape. Old 

 World Grape. Vine variable in vigor, not so high 

 climbing as most American species ; tendrils intermit- 

 tent. Leaves round-cordate, thin, smooth, and when 

 young, shining, frequently more or less deeply three-, 

 five-, or even seven-lobed ; usually glabrous but in some 

 varieties the leaves and young shoots are hairy and even 

 downy when young ; lobes rounded or pointed ; teeth 

 variable ; petiolar sinus deep, narrow, usually over- 

 lapping. Berries very variable in size and shape, 



usually oval. Seeds variable in size and shape, usually 

 notched at the upper end and characterized always by a 

 bottle-necked, elongated beak ; chalaza broad, usually 

 rough, distinct ; raphe indistinct. Roots large, soft and 

 spongy. 



The region about the Caspian Sea is the 

 probable habitat of the Old World grape. 

 Neither American nor European writers agree 

 as to the climate desired by Vinifera, for the 

 reason, probably, that all the varieties in this 

 variable species do not require the same cli- 

 matic conditions. There are certain phases of 

 climate, however, that are well agreed on: 

 the species requires a warm, dry climate and is 

 more sensitive to change of temperature than 

 American species. Varieties of this species can 

 be grown successfully in a wide variety of soils, 

 being much less particular as to soils than 

 American sorts. 



Certain characters of the fruit of this species 

 are not found in any American species: first, 

 the skin, which is attached very closely to 

 the flesh and which is never astringent nor 

 acid, can be eaten with the fruit; second, the 

 flesh is firm, yet tender, and uniform through- 

 out, differing in this respect from all American 

 grapes, which have a tough and more or less 

 acid core at the center; third, the flavor has 

 a peculiarly sprightly quality known as vinous; 

 fourth, the berry adheres firmly to the pedicel, 

 the fruit seldom "shattering" or "shelling" from 

 the cluster. 



In the various hybrids that have been made 

 between American and Vinifera varieties, it is 

 usually found that the desirable qualities of 

 Vinifera are inherited in about the same pro- 

 portion as the undesirable ones. The fruit is 

 improved in the hybrid, but the vine is weak- 

 ened; quality is usually purchased at the ex- 

 pense of hardiness and disease-resisting power. 

 Vinifera may be grown very readily from cut- 

 tings. 



