110 The Western Pomologist and Gardener. 1872 



Grapes, Tbe Xwo Families — American and Foreign. 



The following remarks upon the grape are taken from a paper read before the State 

 Agricultural Convention of Georgia, by Mr. P. J. Berckmans, an intelligent horticulturist 

 of the South : 



" The Genus Vitis (the Grape) is divided into two main families : 



1, The European family, or Vitis Fireiyfera, indigenous to Europe and Asia, which com- 

 prise but one type, although it is subdivided in tribes as Chasselas, Muscato, etc. 



3. The American family, which comprises several types quite distinct from each other ; 

 of these there are several that have produced improved varieties. 



VitU Labrusca, or "Winter Grape, whose habitual ranges from the New England States 

 to North Carolina, and the mountainous parts of Georgia. This type has produced 

 numerous varieties, of which the following are the best: Catawba, Creveling, Delaware? 

 Diana, Ives, Martha, Hartford Prolific, Miles, Maxatauney, Ontario, etc. 



Vitis (Estivalis, or Summer Grape, indigenous to the Middle ancL Southwestern States. 

 Its best improved varieties are Warren, Lenoir, Black Jul}' or Devereux, etc. 



Vitis Conlifolia, or Frost Grape, growing wild from Maine to Georgia, but increasing in 

 abundance in the Middle and Eastern States. The best variety originated from this type 

 is the Clinton. 



Vitis Riparia, or Winter Grape, common along the margins of rivers in Kentucky, Ten- 

 nessee and Upper Georgia. This type has produced very few improved varieties ; the 

 inflorescence preponderating in male flowers, which causes the bunches of fruit to be une- 

 venly filled. The Taylor, or Bullit, of Kentucky, is the only variety disseminated. 



Vitis Rotundifolio, the Muscadine or Bullace, is conflned to a more limited zone than 

 most of the other types. It is found from North Carolina to Mississippi, its habital 

 scarcely extending outside the 30O to 36° of latitude. Cultivated varieties, Scuppernoug, 

 Thomas, Flowers, etc. 



Vitis Vvlpina, the Texas Muscadine, a type closely allied to Rotrindifolia in its inflor- 

 escence, which is apt to be Polygamo-diacio^is, or having perfect flowers on some plants, 

 and either male or female flowers only upon others. This type is indigenous to Texas 

 and Southern Arkansas, and seems to prefer the rich bottom lands of that country. This 

 type is subdivided in several classes, such as the Mustang,. Postoak, etc. 



From this it will be seen that our immediate region is the home of the CEstivalis and 

 Rotundifolio, the other types being less abundant. We may, therefore, expect better 

 results here from the cultivation of improved varieties of these types, than from those 

 which are naturally indigenous to colder regions. Our ill success, or want of a continued 

 succession of good crops here, may be attributed to several causes ; some are, doubtless, 

 owing to diseases, which aflect the grape vine more or less in every portion of the globe 

 where it is cultivated, but others are due to the selection of a variety unsuited to our sec- 

 tion, or to a peculiar soil, the defective method of culture and training. These latter 

 sources of failure are in a manner within our controlling power, the first being more difi}- 

 cult to overcome. A prevailing idea exists among many persons that a soil too poor to 

 produce a crop of corn is sufficiently good for the culture of the grape. It is true that 

 such is the case to a certain point ; the vine may find "nutritive elements in a soil which is 

 devoid of those necessary to produce a cereal, and will thrive in it for a few years, and 

 yield some good crops until these elements have been exhausted, when a failure of crops 

 inevitably result. This may be called poverty stricken. Vines need fertilizing as well as 

 any other vegetal which is expected to produce annual crops of fruit; the fertilizing ma- 

 terial must consist of lime, potash and other ingredients having a salifiable base. Vegetal 

 and ammoniated manures are not as advisable. Our native varieties are, naturally, very 

 rampant growers ; they must, therefore, not be stimulated in their wood growth. When 

 a sufficient quantity of nutrition is annually given to the soil, a good return of fruit can 

 be expected. *A11 fertilizers intended for the vineyard should be applied in a soluble form 

 easily absorbed by the plants. 



The best wine growing districts of Europe are those of a calcareous formation. In 



