AMPELIDE^. 



89 



Although the gemis Vitis comprises more than 200 species, mostly 

 natives of tropical and subtropical regiojis, less than half a dozen 

 species have any economic value. 



1. V. labrusca, L. (P'ox Grape.) Stem trailing or climbing into trees, 

 reaching sometimes the enormous height of 100 feet, branching freely. When 

 In the borders of woods, it sends out lateral branches, covering the shrubbery 

 and small trees for long distances. The main vino somotimos attains a diam- 

 eter of 6 inches or more; bark rough, sloughing off in 

 strips. Leaves very large, 3-lobed ; when young, white 

 and downy beneath. Flowers in compound panicles, 

 green, and opposite the leaves. Fruit globular, three 

 quarters of an inch in diameter. 



Species. — There are 6 other species growing in 

 North America, but most of the varieties now under 

 cultivation in the United States, amounting to several 

 hundred, are seedlings of the V. labrusca or its off- 

 spring. 



VlTlS LABRUSCA 



(Fox Grape). 



2. V. vinifera, L. (European AVine (irape.) Habit 

 of stem as V. labrusca. Leaves cordate, 5-lobed, 

 deeply sinufite, serrate, downy underneath. Flowers 



greenish-yellow, odorous. Fruit green, red, or black. This is the wine gra])e 

 of Europe, from which hundreds of forms have been obtained. All the vari- 

 eties of the grapes raised under glass in xVmerica are seedhngs of this vine or 

 of its progeny There are also hardy varieties from it grown in the United 

 States. Zante Currants, the name of which is supposed to be a corruption of 

 Corinth, from the city of that name whence they were formerlv shipped, are 

 a small variety of the V. vinifera. They form a considerable article of 

 commerce. 



Geor/rap/tij. — The zone of the grape extends from about 21 degrees of 

 north latitude to 48. In the old world this belt trends east from the British 



Isles and Portugal to Per- 

 sia, but the fruit ri]»ons to 

 greatest perfection along 

 the middle and southern 

 parts of the belt. In the 

 new world the zone does 

 not extend above the 4.3d 

 degree north latitude, 

 reaching south to .33 de- 

 grees, trending east and 

 west from the shores of the 

 Atlantic to the Pacific 

 coa.st. The centers of 

 growth are the middle At- 

 lantic states and ( 'alifornia. 

 In late years tlic ^lape has been larj^ely tulti vat «'d in .\ustralin. 



Ktymolof/i/. — Thti generic name, Vids, is derived from the Celtic word (liriil, 

 .signifying " the best of trees." This origin is disputed, and it is said to be 

 derived from an .\ryan root, Wl, signifying to hind, or twine. The specific 

 name, lahnisca, is a Latin word, signifying "wild," and the name vinifera is 



Vitis vinifkra (Kiiropean Wine Grape). 



