White and Greenish 



5 petals, hooded and long-clawed; 5 stamens with long fila- 

 ments; style short, j-cleft. Sh'iiis : Shrubby, i to 3 ft. high, 

 usually several, from a deep reddish root. Leaves : Alternate, 

 ovate-oblong, acute at tip, finely saw-edged, 3-nerved, on 

 short petioles. 



Preferred Habitat — Dry, open woods and thickets. 



Fknvering Season — May — July. 



Distribution — Ontario south and west to the Gulf of Mexico. 



Light, feathery clusters of white little flowers crowded on 

 the twigs of this low shrub interested thrifty colonial housewives 

 of Revolutionary days not at all ; the tender, young, rusty, downy 

 leaves were what they sought to dry as a substitute for imported 

 tea. Doubtless the thought that they were thereby evading George 

 the Third's tax and brewing patriotism in every kettleful added a 

 sweetness to the home-made beverage that sugar itself could not 

 impart. The American troops were glad enough to use New Jersey 

 tea throughout the war. A nankeen or cinnamon-colored dye is 

 made from the reddish root. 



Northern, Wild, Fox, or Plum Grape 



{Vitis Labrnsca) Grape family 



Flowers — Greenish, small, deliciously fragrant, some staminate, 

 some pistillate, rarely perfect ; the fertile flowers in more com- 

 pact panicles than the sterile ones. Stem : Climbing with the 

 help of tendrils ; woody, bark loose. Leaves : Large, rounded 

 or lobed, toothed, rusty-hairy underneath, especially when 

 young, each leathery leaf opposite a tendril or a flower clus- 

 ter. Fruit: Clusters containing a few brownish, purple, 

 musky-scented grapes, % in. across. Ripe, August — Sep- 

 tember. 



Preferred Habitat — Sunny thickets, loamy or gravelly soil. 



Fknvering Season — J une. 



Distribution— Wq\n England to Georgia, west to Minnesota and 

 Tennessee. 



y^sop's fox may never have touched the grapes of fable, but 

 this, our wild species, certainly retains a strong foxy odor, which 

 at least suggests that he came very near them. Tough pulp and 

 thick skin by no means deter birds'and beasts from feasting on this 

 fruit, and so dispersing the seeds; but mankind prefers the tender, 

 delightful flavored Isabella, Catawba, and Concord grapes derived 

 from it. The Massachusetts man who produced the Concord va- 

 riety in the town whose name he gave it, declares he would be a 



216 



