GRAPE VINES. 7 



tuse teeth. Petals 5, oval concave hooded. Disk 5 fur- 

 rowed. Stamens 5, inserted in the furrows. Pistil infe- 

 rior adherent, style filiform. Berry pisiform crowned, 2 

 locular, 2 or 4 seeds obcordate. 



Several species of Tltis are of doubtful g;enus, the 

 flowers not having been noticed, such as T. pinnata, 

 Vahl. F. pentaphylla, Th. (perhaps a Quinaria) V. ca- 

 pensis and V. cirrhosa of Thunberg, V. lucida of Aus- 

 tralasia, &c. 



Of the true species of Vitis, the greatest number are 

 native of North America. The V. indica (under whose 

 name many species or varieties are also blended) and. 

 V. heptaphylla are from tropical climates ; while the 

 V. vinifera or common Wine Grape, with its numerous 

 varieties, are found in temperate climates, from China 

 to Spain and Barbary. Several other species hardly 

 known are found in Africa and Asia. After enumerating 

 our American vines, I shall briefly notice these other 

 Grapes, since all are interesting as useful, viniferous and 

 economical. 



For the sake of perspicuity, this subject shall be di- 

 vided into 5 parts or sections. 1. Account of our vines. 

 2. Account of foreign vines. 3. Properties and use of 

 vines and grapes. 4. Cultivation of vines in America. 

 5. Principles of the art to make good wine. 



Section 1. North American Grape Vines. 

 The number is so great that some arrangement is 

 needful ; I have long sought for the most constant dis- 

 tinguishing marks, and have at last decided to use those 

 afforded by the shape of the fruit and under surface of 

 the leaves as most striking and least variable ; but I am 

 by no n\eans confident that they are the best. I have 

 thus 3 series of vines with globular berries. l.With leaves 

 tomentose arachnoidal and colored beneath. 2. Leaves 

 pubescent beneath. 3. Leaves perfectly smooth beneath, 

 and a 4th series with fruit not globular. All our Ame- 

 rican vines agree in being humble trailing vines in their 

 youth, but susceptible to live from 100 to 300 years, and 

 to become very large, as tall as the tallest trees that 

 support them : the bark is fibrous, the wood hard, 

 branches knotty, leaves very variable, but always more 



