CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 29 



Leaves shining both sides, small, rounded, with a heart- 

 shaped base, very coarsely toothed, with broad and blunt- 

 ish teeth, seldom lobed ; panicles small, densely flowered ; 

 berries large (one-half to three-fourths inch in diameter), 

 musky, purplish, without a bloom; ripe early in autumn. 

 River-banks, Maryland to Kentucky, and southward ; May. 

 Branchlets minutely warty; fruit with a thick and tough 

 skin. A variety yields the Scuppernong Grape, &c." 



Attempts have been made to subdivide into more spe- 

 cies ; but it may well be doubted if it can be done with 

 any distinctness. Though we find many distinct varie- 

 ties, which, by careful observation, we can readily class 

 under one or another of these four species, yet there are 

 many others which are so indistinct, that it is extremely 

 difficult to say to which they belong. This difficulty will 

 go on increasing, and will soon amount to an impossi- 

 bility, as the different species are hybridized, and the 

 seedlings, partaking of the blood of each parent, shall 

 mingle the characteristics of each. At the present time, 

 the great practical classification is the one first men- 

 tioned; viz., European and American. Even these will 

 be likely to be thrown into confusion if success shall at- 

 tend the many efforts now being made to cross the two 

 classes. It has been doubted by some whether there are 



