160 AMEBIC Al?^ GRAPE GROWING 



with brisk sub-acid juice, which makes a fine wine of 

 dark-red, almost black color. The wine is also known 

 here as El Paso, and it is generally believed that it was 

 introduced from Mexico, which I do not believe, how- 

 ever, as I cannot find that it is grown at El Paso, or in 

 Mexico. It was first planted here by a Mr. Merriweather, 

 about 25 years ago, who undoubtedly brought it from his 

 native State, Mississippi. 



Among the wild varieties here is the Vitis rupestris. 

 It grows in stony limestone soil, also in the gravelly soils 

 of our steep hillsides. It grows vigorously, but does not 

 make long canes. The fruit is medium, very sweet, and 

 ripens in August. I have great hopes of this grape, and 

 believe that it has a future. I planted it about 3 years 

 ago, especially as a stock for other varieties, and have 

 had great success so far. I have grafted several of the 

 best viniferas on it, among others, three varieties of Mal- 

 aga, Riessling, Blue and White Tokay, Chasselas de 

 Fontainebleau, and Gutedel, and they have all grown 

 satisfactorily. Some of them have had some very choice 

 fruit this season, although very young yet. It is, how- 

 ever, a new experiment, and time alone can show whether 

 it will be ultimately successful. 



We have also three varieties of Mustang grape, blue, 

 white, and red ; the two last are seldom met with ; the 

 blue is very abundant, especially on the banks of our 

 rivers ; it bears abundantly, the berries are large, rather 

 acid, and make a tolerably fair red wine, which is pro- 

 duced in considerable quantity. It ripens in July. 



The so-called Winter Grape ( Vitis cordifolia) grows in 

 great abundance here, on stony hillsides, and also in our 

 river bottoms, bears pretty well ; berry small, nearly 

 black, with thin skin. It ripens in September, and 

 makes a very good, fiery wine of dark-red color, much bet- 

 ter than that from the Mustang. There is a good deal 



