GBAPE MANUAL. 



11 



s pecies is found growing along the Alleghany range, 

 from southern New York to Alabama, to which the 

 TAYLOR and Oporto belong. These varieties exhibit 

 more or less deformed stamens; but some individuals of 

 this group possess excellent qualities, which, when 

 properly developed; and their defects remedied, will 

 make the best wine grapes in the country. Fuller. 



In the ELVIRA, this prediction seems fulfilled. 



The foliage is rarely attacked by mildew, but the 

 leaves, possibly owing to their smoothness, are occa- 

 sionally injured by insect punctures. The Phylloxera 

 prefers the foliage of this class of vines to all others so 

 that, in some seasons, it is covered with leaf-galls made 

 by this formidable insect. The fruit is not subject to 

 rot, and is noted lor keeping well after being gathered 

 from the plant. That of the northern form is late in 

 maturing, and seems to reach its highest condition by 

 remaining on the vine until the thermometer indicates 

 proximity to the freezing point, when, even in north- 

 ern localities, it proves to be a fruit of fair quality either 

 for table or wine. Of course its quality is greatly im- 

 proved by the length and geniality of the season of 

 growth; for example, those who are familiar with the 

 fruit only as a production of Massachusetts would not 

 recognize its flavor and vinous character as ripened in 

 southern Maryland or Virginia. The greatest objection 

 to it as a wine grape is that of having too much acid. 

 The fruit is not so deficient in sugar as-is generally sup- 

 posed, having enough of this important ingredient for 

 a good wine. Nor ha? it any foxy or musky taste 

 whatever, the judgment of our friends in France to the 

 contrary, notwithstanding. The peculiar flavor in 

 some varieties may displease them; tastes differ we, 

 ourselves do not admire the Clinton-gout, but it has 

 certainly no resemblance to what we call "foxiness," 

 as the characteristic of Labrusca. The flavor of Taylor 

 and its seedlings seems to us unexceptionable. The 

 Marion and other varieties of this class may also be pre- 

 ferable to Clinton in this respect. Analysis shows that 

 they have a sufficiency of sugar, and it seems probable 

 that the wines only require age to develop their quali- 

 ties. 



It is known that wines from the Clinton variety, 

 when kept in a suitable cellar from four to six years, 

 assume a fine character. There is abundant evidence 

 to favor the belief, that if as much time and care had 

 been devoted to the improvement of this species as has 

 been given to the Fox family, we should now be in 

 possession of a good northern red-wine grape. 



The mode of management and culture has also a de- 

 cided influence upon the productiveness of this species. 

 The shoots grow with much vigor during early sum- 

 mer, frequently forming canes fourteen to twenty feet 

 in length before the end of the season, on young plants 

 in good soil. On these canes the best developed buds 

 are some distance from the base, or point of growth on 

 the stem; consequently, if cut closely back at the fall or 

 winter pruning, the best buds for fruit bearing are re- 

 moved, and a luxuriant growth of wood, with a mini- 

 mum crop of fruit, will be the result. The varieties of 

 this group should be planted on rather poor soil, deeply 

 and well cultivated, as they are naturally rampant 

 growers and when planted in rich soils are almost un- 

 controlable. 



The wood of the cultivated varieties is soft, [contain- 



ing a thick medulla; they are growing therefore readily 

 from cuttings. The-roota are wiry and tough, with a 

 a thin, hard liber, growing rapidly. Hence they pos- 

 sess great powers of resistance to the Phylloxera, which 

 is usually found in small numbers on their roots, even 

 while their foliage is densely covered with its galls. 

 The roots have so much vitality that new rootlets push 

 out from the swellings more rapidly than the insect can 

 destroy them. 



The varieties of this species, especially Clinton, are 

 therefore largely used as stock for grafting, in the Phyl- 

 loxera afflicted vineyards of France. We think them 

 somewhat objectionable for this purpose, as they seem 

 not to unite as readily with the graft, and are more 

 subject to sprout from imperceptible buds, close to the 

 roots, than varieties of other species. 



VITIS VULPINA, Linnaeus. Low, or often 

 climbing very high, with small, (2 or at 

 most 3 inches wide) rounded, heart-shaped, 

 firm and glossy dark-green leaves, smooth, or 

 rarely slightly hairy on the under side, with 

 coarse and large, or broad and bluntish teeth. 



The Southern species, known under the name 

 of Southern Fox-grape, Bullace or Bullet- 

 grape, or Muscadine, is found along water- 

 courses, and in damp woods of the Southern 

 States, not further north than Maryland, Ken- 

 tucky and Arkansas, though it may possibly 

 straggle into south-east Missouri. Some of its 

 cultivated varieties, especially the white Scup- 

 pernong, are highly esteemed in the South. 



VITICULTURAL REMARKS. 



Southern grape growers generally designate this spe- 

 cies as Vitis Rotundifolia , Michaux. It is strictly 

 confined to the Southern States, and in foliage and 

 wood is very unlike any other grape, either native or 

 foreign, distinguishing itself by its small, roundish, 

 shining leaves, never lobed, and green on both sides; 

 by its bright smooth bark, never scaly or shaggy; by 

 its fruit which forms no bunches, but grows in large, 

 thick skinned and pulpy berries, only about 2-4-6 in 

 'number on a stem; by its tendrils which are never 

 forked, like those of other grape vines. The varieties 

 of this type cannot be grown from cuttings. Pruning 

 does not benefit them; on the contrary, they must be 

 left growing, free, without any trimming, except cut- 

 ting off smoothly the shoots and suckers from the 

 ground to the lath-work or scaffold, which you may 

 erect to support them, Without care or labor, save 

 some good cultivation of the soil, they produce annually 

 large and sure crops, being entirely free from rot and 

 mildew and, it seems also, from the attacks of insects. 

 The Vitis Retundifolia enjoys so far, perfect imniunity 

 from Phylloxera, (some galls have been found on their 

 leaves, but no trace of the insect on tneir roots, which 

 are of an astringent, acrid taste.) This immunity 

 caused them to be exported into France, but their 

 fruit is so deficient in grape sugar, (although it tastes 

 sweet, containing scarce any acid,) and it is so rich in 

 musky flavor, that it cannot satisfy the refined French 

 taste; and as a grafting stock, the hardness of the wood 



