DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



NOTE TO THE READER. The following Descriptive List of American Grapes includes all varieties which have 

 ever received the attention of Viticulturists, and even all novelties of which we could obtain any reliable infor- 

 mation. The descriptions are probably the most complete that have so far appeared, and are the best we could 

 give with the resources at our command. We are well aware, however, of their incompleteness, compared with 

 the exact method of European Viticulturists. 



'The international ampelographic formula for such descriptions demands 



1. The name, synonyms, origin, home of the variety, and where mostly cultivated. 



2. History, literature of the variety, and its illustrations. 



3. Vine, its general characteristics ; vigor of growth ; fertility, hardiness ; resistance to frost, to parasitic dis- 



eases, to insects ; requirements of climate, soil, culture, &c. 



4. Wood, heavy or light, long or short-jointed; color of wood; character of eye or bud. 



5. Shoots, pushing early or late, smooth or hairy, color, &c. 



6. Leaves foliage, its size, shape, sinuosity, (lobed), upper and lower surface, (smooth, glossy, hairy, wooly.) 



7. Petiole stem of the leaf, long or short, hairy or smooth, green or red. 



8. Leaf -fall, early or late, change of color, (to yellow or red, proceeding fall,) &c. 



9. Bunch, size, shape, shouldered or not, compact or loose. 



10. Stem, peduncles, tendrils, long or short, smooth or warty, intermittent or continuous, &c. 



11. Berries, size, shape, skin, color, pulp or flesh, taste and use; for table or for wine, or both; keeping quality. 



12. Period of ripening, early, medium, late, and other characteristics. 



AMPELOGRAPHY, the description of grape-vines, is comparatively a new science, and a complete description of 

 American varieties according to this international formula is as yet impossible, and must be left to the future, 

 to abler hands, to botanists. It would require large subventions, such as the Governments of Europe and her 

 rich patrons of viticulture have bestowed on Ampelographic Works, illustrating them with large, fine, colored 

 Plates, which are very costly. We have tried to famish the best possible at a mere trifling cost, within reach of 

 even the humblest grape-grower. 



Moreover, we consider all description by words inadequate, and even " figures" seem but insufficient aids. It is 

 only by familiarizing one's self with the CHARACTERISTICS or THE SPECIES to which a variety respectively 

 belongs that descriptions become thoroughly intelligible ; knowing the distinct characteristics which, by com- 

 munity of descent, all varieties of a certain class possess, their minute description according to the European 

 formula becomes almost unnecessaiy, as will be found by studying the excellent treatise of Dr. G. ENGELMANN 

 on the classification of the true Grape-vines of the United States, written for our Catalogue (pages 9-20). 



We have, therefore, coupled with each variety the species to which it is (or seems) most closely allied, or from which 

 itorignated. First is given the STANDARD NAME in FULL-FACE type; then the SYNONYMS in SMALL CAPITALS; 

 then the SPECIES in italics, abbreviating them thus : (^Est.) for ^Estivalis, (Labr.) for Labrusca, (Rip.) for Riparia, 

 stating the parents from which it originated, as far as known or supposed. 



The description of leading varieties and of the most promising novelties is printed in larger type (Bourgeois) ; the 

 description of varieties which are generally discai'ded, or planted only in some particular localities, and not 

 very desirable except for amateur culture, also of new varieties but little known and not yet disseminated, are 

 printed in smaller type (Minion). 



The descriptions of the more important varieties contain also some notes on their roots and wood-growth, based 

 on our observations only ; under different conditions of soil, climate, &c., these may vary materially ; as also the 

 weight of must, which is intended to show the sugar in degrees on Oechsle's scale, and the acid in mills by Twich- 

 ell's acidometer, in favorable seasons, in our own vineyards. 



Of new varieties not yet sufficiently tested, we have given the descriptions as received from their originators, omit- 

 ting what may in future prove to be undue exaltations, as several years of observation are necessaiy to deter- 

 mine with accuracy the character and value of a variety; and even the praises by impartial authorities, which 

 we quote in the description of promising new varieties, must be received with some allowance. 



In order to bring the Illustrations of Grapes on the same or adjoining pages with their descriptions, slight deviations 

 from the exact alphabetical order were unavoidable. If any variety is not immediately found, please refer to 

 the Index. 



Adirondac. (Labr.') Originated at Port Hen- 

 ry, Essex Co., N. Y. (first noticed 1852). Prob- 

 ably a seedling of the Isabella, being much 

 like it in growth and foliage. Ripens very ear- 

 ly, about the same time as the Hartford Pro- 

 lific. Bunch large, compact, rarely shouldered ; 

 berry roundish-oval, large, oblong, black, cov- 

 ered with a delicate bloom, transparent, with 

 a tender pulp ; thin skin ; juicy and vinous ; 

 quality best "when you can get it." 



Reports generally unsatisfactory. A slow, 

 tender grower. Young vines have mildewed, 

 and older ones need protection. Blooms early, 



and fruit destroyed by late frosts. Roots very 

 weak and tender. An amateur grape only. 



Advance. (Hybr.~) One of Rickett's* earlier seed- 

 lings, a cross between Clinton and Black Hamburg. 

 " A superior grape, and at that time (1872), perhaps in 

 advance of all his others. The berry is black, with a 

 slight blue bloom, roundish-oval; bunch large, long 

 and shouldered ; flesh too good to describe, except 

 pomologically, and then I think it would read ' best.' " 

 F. R. Elliott, N. Y. 



Bunch large, berry medium, thin skin, scarcely any 

 pulp ; sweet and very sprightly decidedly one of the 



* See Rickett's Seedling Grapes. 



