CHAPTER XL 



DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES ISABELLA GROUP. 



IN an elementary work like this, it is not 

 desirable to give a full descriptive list of the 

 numerous varieties of the native grape. A 

 large portion of them have no value whatever, 

 and others are confined chiefly to the garden 

 or the curious amateur. We shall confine our 

 descriptions principally to such as are generally 

 grown in the vineyard. A full list, with elabo- 

 rate descriptions, is reserved for another place. 



THE ISABELLA GROUP. For present pur- 

 poses, we shall divide our principal vineyard 

 grapes into two groups, the Isabella and Cataw- 

 ba, the last group being distinctively vinous 

 grapes. The characteristics of the Isabella 

 group are, a thick and acrid skin, a tough, 

 acid center, and a peculiar " foxy " odor. We 

 shall begin with the first group, in which 

 will be included the Isabella, Concord, Hart- 



