58 AMERICAN GRAPE GROWING 



Herbemont. — Synonyms, Warren, Warrenton, Herbe- 

 mont's Maderia. A specifically Souther 7i grape, for which 

 we in Missouri are too far north, but where it is in its 

 proper latitude, one of the very best. Bunch large and 

 heavy, compact, shouldered ; berry below medium, black, 

 wdth blue bloom ; skin thin, no pulp, but its berries are 

 filled wdth the most spicy and refreshing juice, which that 

 nice discriminator of fruits, the late A. J. Downing, 

 called *^bags of wine." Fine for the table, and when 

 pressed immediately, makes an exquisite white wine ; if 

 allowed to ferment on the husks, a pale red wine, some- 

 w^hat resembling Madeira. Should be planted on south- 

 ern locations, in rather poor soil, which is naturally well 

 drained ; it is useless to plant it on rich soils, or those 

 retentive of moisture, as it will grow too rampant, and 

 not ripen its w^ood. My friend, Onderdonk, of Victoria, 

 Texas, writes to me, that it is the best and most success- 

 ful grape they cultivate, and it has for several years been 

 largely imported into France, as its roots are Phylloxera 

 proof, and it succeeds splendidly there. Ripens rather 

 late, and is somewhat tender even here. It promises to 

 make the foundation of a race of true wine grapes, and if 

 we can obtain seedlings of it, wath all the good qualities 

 of the parent, but somewhat earlier and more hardy, they 

 will be all that can be desired. Mr. Onderdonk already 

 reports one seedling, the Harvard, in all respects similar 

 to the Herbemont, but double the size, and may become 

 exceedingly valuable. The Herbemont is a strong and very 

 beautiful grower, very productive, but somewhat subject 

 to a peculiar kind of dry rot. Leaves large and thin, 

 light green, deeply lobed. Specific gravity of must 85°. 



