CHAPTER XIV 

 VARIETIES OF GRAPES 



Ten species of native grapes have furnished 

 about 2,000 varieties of this fruit to American 

 viticulture. Possibly twice as many more are 

 described in European viticultural literature 

 from V. vinifera alone, more than 300 of 

 which have been tried in America. The 

 varieties described are those offered by Ameri- 

 can nurserymen, although possibly not all of 

 the natives can npw be purchased, and prob- 

 ably Californian nurserymen can supply a 

 considerably greater number of Vinifera va- 

 rieties than are included in this list. Few 

 other fruits offer so great a number of com- 

 binations of sizes, colors, flavors, aromas, and 

 uses as can be found in the following 133 grapes. 

 The vineyard, to fulfill its potentialities, should 

 have a well-selected assortment of the kinds 

 described. Varieties of this fruit enrich po- 

 mology in nearly every part of the continent in 

 which diversified agriculture is practiced. 



ACTONI. V. vinifera. Actoni is a table- 

 grape of the Malaga type which ripens at 

 Geneva, New York, late in October, too late 

 for the average season in the East, but worth 

 trying in favorable locations. It is grown in 

 California, but is not a favorite sort. The 

 following brief description is made from fruit 

 grown at Geneva: 



Clusters large, shouldered, tapering, loose. Berries 

 medium to very large, long-oval, clear green yellow ; 

 flesh crisp, firm ; flavor sweet ; quality good. 



215. Agawam. (X%) 



AGAWAM. Fig. 215. V. LabruscaXV. 

 vinifera. The qualities commending Agawam 

 are large size and attractive appearance of 



bunch and berry; grapes of rich, sweet, aro- 

 matic flavor; vigor of vine; and capacity for 

 self-fertilization. For a variety haying its pro- 

 portion of European blood, the vine is vigor- 

 ous, hardy, and productive. The chief defects 

 of the fruit are a thick and tough skin, coarse, 

 solid texture of pulp, and foxy flavor. The vine 

 is susceptible to the mildews, and in many 

 localities does not yield well. Although the 

 grapes ripen soon after those of Concord, they 

 can be kept much longer, and even improve in 

 flavor after picking. The vines prefer heavy 

 soils, and dp better on clay than on sand or 

 gravel. This is one of the grapes grown by 

 E. S. Rogers, Salem, Massachusetts. 



Vine vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes thick, dark 

 brown ; nodes enlarged, flattened ; internodes short ; 

 tendrils intermittent, bifid to trifid. Leaves thick ; lobes 

 lacking ; terminus acute ; petiolar sinus deep, narrow ; 

 lateral sinus very shallow ; teeth shallow, wide. Flowers 

 on plan of 6, nearly self-fertile, open late ; stamens 

 upright. Fruit midseason, keeps until midwinter. Clus- 

 ters medium to large, short, broad, tapering, loose ; 

 pedicel short ; brush very short, pale green. Berries 

 large, oval, dark purplish-red with thin bloom, very 

 persistent ; skin thick, tough, adherent, astringent ; flesh 

 pale green, translucent, tough, stringy, solid, foxy ; 

 good. Seeds adherent, 2-5, large, long, brown. 



ALMERIA. V. vinifera. This is one of the 

 varieties commonly found in eastern markets 

 from Almeria and Malaga, Spain, although 

 occasionally it may come from California, 

 where the variety, or similar varieties con- 

 fused with it, is now grown. This sort is 

 remarkable for fruits of wonderful keeping 

 qualities; it is adapted only to hot interior 

 regions. The Almeria cultivated by the 

 California Experiment Station is described as 

 follows: 



"Vine vigorous. Leaves of medium size, round and 

 slightly or not at all lobed, quite glabrous on both 

 sides, teeth obtuse and alternately large and small ; 

 bunches large, loose or compact, irregular conical. 

 Berries from small to large, cylindrical, flattened on 

 the ends, very hard and tasteless." 



AMERICA. V. cestivalis Lincecumii X V. 

 rupestris. The notable qualities of America 

 are vigor of growth and health of foliage in 

 vine, and persistence of berries, which have 

 strongly colored red juice, high sugar-content, 

 and excellent flavor. The grapes wholly lack 

 the foxy taste and aroma of Labrusca; and 

 the variety, therefore, offers possibilities for 

 breeding sorts lacking the foxy flavor of Con- 

 cord and Niagara. Also, it is said to be a 

 suitable stock upon which to graft Vinifera 

 varieties to resist phylloxera. The vigor of 

 the vine and the luxuriance of the foliage make 

 it an excellent sort for arbors. America was 

 grown by T. V. Munson, Denison, Texas; 

 it was introduced about 1892. 



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