CHAPTER I. 



THE CLASSIFICATION OF GRAPES. 



It is only within comparatively few years that much 

 attention has been given to the parentage of our culti- 

 vated varieties of native grapes, as it was formerly thought 

 to be of little or no importance whether a variety was 

 derived from one or another of the few native species. 

 More recent experience has shown that the varieties of a 

 species, however widely they may differ from one another 

 in some respects, agree in other points, and however far 

 the varieties may be removed from the native type, they 

 retain certain characters which indicate a common par- 

 entage. On the other hand, if we know from which 

 species a variety is derived, we can, with a fair degree of 

 certainty, predict its general behavior in cultivation, and 

 in a great degree its value. This is so generally true that 

 the experienced viticulturists of the present day regard 

 the origin or parentage of the cultivated varieties as a 

 matter of the first importance. It is not in the character 

 of the fruit alone that our varieties differ, as they are 

 derived from one or another of the native species, but the 

 foliage, the wood, the tendrils, the roots, and other parts 

 of the vine retain their peculiarities ; and hardiness not 

 only as regards the ability to endure cold uninjured, but 

 the ability to resist the attacks of both parasitic plants 

 and insects, or whatever else affects the health of the plant 

 is now known to be transmitted with as much certainty, 

 if not, indeed, more surely, than are the form and quality 

 of the fruit. 



In classifying the numerous varieties now on the lists, 

 they are grouped according to the species of Vitis (the 

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