THE GRAPE-VINE FAMILY. 



567 



cessful in this country, we must follow the example set us by 

 the American and Californian Grape-growers, who have a vigor- 

 ous hardy race of Vines, the result of hybridising V. vulpina, or 

 Southern "Fox-grape, "with the Northern Fox-grape ( V.labrusca), 

 and which are found far more productive and hardy in America 

 than the European varieties grown in French, Italian, and 

 Spanish vineyards. Some years ago (1867-68) several American 

 kinds of Grapes, including V. vulpina, V. fabrusca, and some 



Vitis vinifera, L. (the common Grape- Vine), a, Fruiting branch, with b, the ten- 

 dril ; c, Flower-bud; d, Section of pistil, showing the -z-celled ovary with two upright 

 ovules; e, Flower, showing the petals united at the apex and separating^at the base, 

 with the disc surrounding the base of the ovary ; f, Stamens and stigma, with the small 

 almost entire calyx, and the disc. The corolla lias fallen. 



of their varieties, were grown in the Royal Horticultural 

 Society's garden at Chiswick as ornamental climbers, and bore 

 very heavy crops of fruit. The flavour of these Grapes being 

 peculiarly strong and musky, they would not compare with 

 Hamburgs and Muscats for dessert purposes ; but as wine 

 Grapes, along with Esperione and Black Cluster, they would 

 be valuable for their hardy and prolific character. Any intelli- 

 gent cultivator might obtain the North American species, and 



