8 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



which is disagreeable to tastes accustomed to the pure flavors 

 of the European grapes. All Labruscas submit well to vineyard 

 operations and are vigorous, hardy and productive, though 

 they are more subject to the dreaded phylloxera than are most 

 of the other cultivated native species. Of the many grapes 

 of this type, at least two deserve brief historical mention. 



Catawba, probably a pure-bred Labrusca, the first American 

 grape of commercial importance, is the most interesting variety 

 of its species. The origin of the variety is not certainly known, 

 but all evidence points to its having been found about the year 

 1800 on the banks of the Catawba River, North Carolina. 

 It was introduced into general cultivation by Major John 

 Adlum, soldier of the Revolution, judge, surveyor and author 

 of the first American book on grapes. Adlum maintained 

 an experimental vineyard in the District of Columbia, whence 

 in 1823 he began the distribution of the Catawba. At that 

 time the center of American grape culture was about Cincin- 

 nati, and an early shipment of Adlum's Catawbas went to 

 Nicholas Longworth of that city and was by him distributed 

 throughout the grape-growing centers of the country. As 

 one of the first to test new varieties of American grapes, to 

 grow them largely and to make wine commercially from them, 

 Nicholas Longworth is known as the " father of American 

 grape culture." 



Catawba is still one of the four leading varieties in the vine- 

 yards of eastern America. The characters whereby its high 

 place is maintained among grapes are : Great elasticity of 

 constitution, by reason of which the vine is adapted to many 

 environments ; rich flavor, long-keeping quality, and hand- 

 some appearance of fruit, qualities which make it a very good 

 dessert grape; high sugar-content and a rich flavor of juice, 

 so that from its fruit is made a very good wine and a very good 

 grape-juice; and vigor, hardiness and productiveness of vine. 

 The characters of Catawba are readily transmissible, and it 



