LONQWORTH ON THE CAPE GRAPE 47 



a hybrid between Vitis sylvestrti (common bunch 

 grape) and Vitis nnifera, because it was found 

 on the ro.-ky hills near the Schuylkill, above the 

 upper ferry, in the neighborhood of an old vine- 

 yard of European grapes: but I believe it to be 

 an American." The variety was never widely dis- 

 seminated, and it i> unknown to the present 

 ration. It had nearly passed out of cultivation by 

 1 ■*■'"• and it was probably not planted to any ex- 

 tent for ten years before that time. It was driven 

 <»ut l.y the Catawba, which was "almost the only 

 variety planted" in the Cincinnati grape region in 

 according to Robert Buchanan; and from 

 that time until now there has been a competition 



:11 " 1 sn< ssion of varieties,— an indubitable proof 



of pn »r 'volution. 



It should be said, how.-v.-i-. that the Cape grape 



did not pass from cultivation wholly bee Lack 



of m. rit for wrine, but partly because the win.- was 



-.in- unless it was artificially Bweetened. In 



1845, Nicholas Longworth declared in his pamphlet 



upon "The Cultivation of the Crap.-." that "the Cape 



nerallj free from rot, and bears ami ripens well, 

 and makes a better win.- than Isabella." In Bpeak- 

 settlers at Vevay, he continues: "They 

 cultivated the Cape grape only (Schuylkill Musea- 

 d.-l). and erred in the method of manufacture from 

 that grape. Thej fermented it on the skin, and 

 ,,|; " 1 '' from it ; , bard, rough, red win.-, and seldom 



>r table use, ami onlj calculated t.. make a fine 

 win.- Bangaree. The same grape, gathered before an\ 

 fermentation has taken place in the fruit, and pn 

 ;i n m gathered, with the addition of from i. 



