CriA±>TEK IV. 



THE GRAPE. 



;^|TtHERE is probably no large section of Minnesota, or other 

 P^ ref ions east and west on the same latitude, where some of the 

 hardiest kinds of grapes cannot be grown and ripened, while on the 

 latitude of the southern half of the state, and on the highlands near 

 rivers and lakes many of the best varieties are easily grown in 

 large quantities. Our popular cultivated grapes are almost with- 

 out exception the result of the selection and hybridization of native 

 species. In a few varieties we find a little of the European wine 

 grape, but they are not generally as vigorous and free from dis- 

 eases as the former. There are many native species in the United 

 States, but those which enter largely into the parentage of the 

 kinds most valuable at the north are: — 



(1) Northern Fox Grape {Viiis labrnsca), the species from 

 which almost all of our popular varieties have sprung. Examples 

 of these are Concord, Worden, Moore's Early and Lady. As usu- 

 ally found it has a large purple fruit, thick skin, and very pulpy 

 meat surrounding the large seeds. The leaves are large, with 

 whitish down on the underside. Found occasionally in the east- 

 ern part of Minnesota, and very abundantly in states farther east. 

 The Concord grape resulted fi'om the selection of seed from a wild 

 vine which had been cultivated for two generations. Seedling 

 labncsca are frequently white in color. The cultivated grapes of 

 this class have perfect flowers with well developed stamens. 



(2) Winter, or Frost Grape {Vitis riparia), the common 

 wild grape found throughout Minnesota, except north of Lake 

 Superior; as yet not much cultivated, but it is probable that some 

 of its hybrids will prove valuable for severe locations in the North- 

 west. 



(3) European "Wine Grape (Vitis vinifera). In its pure state 

 this has never been a success in open air culture in the Northern 

 States, but the tine quality of its fruit has greatly improved the 

 hybrids into which it has entered. The so-called Roger's hybrids. 



