LUTHER BURBANK 



It is as a producer of wine rather than as a 

 producer of fruit for the table that the vine has 

 everywhere gained greatest popularity. 



Nevertheless the quality of its fruit is alto- 

 gether noteworthy, and such as to give the plant 

 distinction in the eyes of the horticulturist, even 

 were it considered solely as a producer of table 

 fruit. Moreover, there are certain kinds of grape 

 that contain so high a sugar content that they dry 

 without fermenting, constituting a third impor- 

 tant commercial product the raisin. 



All in all, then, it is easy to understand why 

 the grape must be considered as a fruit standing 

 in a class by itself, and having importance second 

 to none. 



The manner of growth of the grape and the 

 character of the clusters in which its fruit is borne 

 are no less distinctive. No other fruit under cul- 

 tivation in the least resembles the grape in either 

 regard. And as to shape and appearance of the 

 individual berries no less than in the matter of 

 fragrance and flavor the grape manifests the same 

 individuality. Different varieties show diversity 

 of form and color and flavor, to be sure, but no 

 grape of any variety is likely to be mistaken for 

 a fruit of any other kind whatsoever. 



It is clear that we cannot attempt in the space 

 at command to present anything like a compre- 



[182] 



