GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 15 



conclusions derived from our examinations of the climate, soils, 

 and wild vines of the State. 



4. The soils of the State have been carefully observed, and 

 the varieties collected and submitted to a most skillful chemist 

 for full and accurate analyses. 



Native Grapes. The growth and fruit of our native vines 

 give us most important indications of the adaptation of our 

 soil and climate to the cultivation of the grape. The folio wing- 

 species have been observed, and the growth, habits, and fruit 

 of each variety, have been carefully examined. 



1. VITIS LABRUSCA, Linn. Fox Grape of the Northern States. 



This vine is abundant in all parts of the State. It attains 

 to a very large size* in our rich alluvial bottoms and on our 

 best upland soils ; but the vines of a smaller size, which grow 

 upon the dry ridges, on the declivities of the bluffs (espe- 

 cially those of the Magnesian Limestone), and on the talus 

 of debris at their bases, exhibit a healthy, firm growth, and 

 produce an abundance of fine fruit. The grapes found in these 

 localities are larger and the pulp is more juicy and palatable. 



Many well known and excellent varieties of grapes now in 

 cultivation were derived from this species. The Isabella, 

 Catawba, SchuylkiU, and Bland* s, are the most esteemed. 



2. VITIS JESTIVALIS, Michx. Summer Grape. 



This, like the preceding, is found in all parts of the State, 

 and is doubtless the largest of all our vines. It is one of the 

 most striking objects in our magnificent forests. While the 

 stem, like a huge cable, hangs suspended from the limbs of the 

 largest trees, the branches clothed in rich foliage, and often 

 loaded with fruit, hang in graceful festoons over the highest 

 boughs. But the vines growing on the thin soils of our lime- 

 stone ridges and bluffs, .and on the loose debris at their bases, 

 where they are more exposed to the air and the sun, produce a 

 greater abundance of the very best fruit. 



* This vine often attains to a diameter of 10 inches, ascends the loftiest trees 

 and spreads its branches over their highest boughs. 



