DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



NOTE TO THE READER. The following descriptions of our American varieties are probably the most complete 

 that have so far appeared; but all description by words must necessarily be inadequate, and even figures are 

 but insufficient aids . It is only by familiarizing oneself with the characteristics of the species to which each variety 

 respectively belongs, that these descriptions become thoroughly intelligible; we have, therefore, coupled with 

 each variety the species to which it seems most closely allied, or from which it originated. First is given the 

 standard name in Full-face type; then the synonyms in SMALL CAPITALS, then the species in Italics, abbreviating 

 them thus: ( Cord,) for Cordifolia or rather Riparia; (Ldbr .) for Labrusca, and C^Est) for iEstivalis. (see pages 6 

 to 10). 



The descriptions of varieties which are discarded, and not propagated by us, also of new varieties which 

 are not yet disseminated, are printed in smaller type. The descriptions of the more important varieties, 

 printed in larger type, contain notes on their roots and woodgrmvth, given for the first time, and based on our 

 observations only. Under different conditions of soil, climate, and other circumstances, they might vary 

 somewhat. In speaking of the canes and woodgrowth we refer to the natural habit of canes of thrifty, healthy 

 vines, permitted to grow in a natural way, unrestrained by pinching or training to a given system. 



Where the weight of must is recorded, it is to show the sugar in degrees on Oechsle's scale, and the acid in 

 mills by TwitchelPs acidometer. 



Adirondac. (Labr.) Originated at Port 

 Henry, Essex Co., N. Y.; (first noticed 1852.) 

 Probably a seedling of the Isabella, being much 

 like it in growth and foliage. Ripens very ear- 

 ly about the same time as the Hartford Prolific. 

 Bunch large, compact, not shouldered; berry 

 large, oblong, black, covered with a delicate 

 bloom, transparent, with a tender pulp; thin 

 skin; juicy and vinous; quality best, "when 

 you can get it." "Unreliable." "The nearest 

 approach to a foreign grape." Husmann. 



Reports not generally satisfactory. A slow, 

 tender grower. Young vines have mildewed, 

 and older ones need protection. Blooms early, 

 and fruit destroyed by late frosts. Roots very 

 weak and tender. Wine, agreeable flavor, low 

 in sugar and acid. 



Advance. One of Mr. Rickett's* new seedlings, a 

 cross between Clinton and Black Hamburg. "A su- 

 perior grape, and, as a whole, perhaps in advance of 

 all his others. The berry is black, with a slight blue 

 bloom, roundish oval; lunch large, long and shouldered; 

 flesh too good to describe, except pomologically, and 

 then I think it would read 'best.'" F. R. Elliot, N. Y. 



Bunch, large, berry medium, thin skin, scarcely any 

 pulp; sweet and very sprightly decidedly the best 

 early grape we have yet met with. Vine healthy, vig- 

 orous and productive, but the fruit rotted badly this 

 season. Fully ripe at this time, July 30, 1874. Sam. 

 Miller, Bluffton, Mo. 



Alexander. Syns: CAPE, BLACK CAPE, SCHUYL- 

 KILL MUSCADEL, CONSTANTIA, SPRINGMILL CON- 

 STANTIA, CLIFTON'S CONSTANTIA, TASKER'S GRAPE, 



*See RicketVs Seedling Grapes. 



VEVAY, WINNE, ROTHROCK of Prince, YORK LIS- 

 BON. (Labr.) This grape was first discovered by Mr. 

 Alexander, gardener to Gov. Penn, on the banks of the 

 Schuylkill, near Philadelphia, before the war of the 

 revolution. It is not unfrequently found, as a seedling 

 from the wild Fox Grape, on the borders of our woods. 

 American grape culture proper began with the planting 

 of this variety, at the beginning of our century, by a 

 Swiss colony, at Vevay, in Switzerland county, Indi- 

 ana, on the Ohio River, forty -five miles below Cincin- 

 nati. It was for some time supposed to be the famous 

 grape of the Constancia colony, on the Cape of Good 

 Hope. Whether John J.imes Dufour, the respected 

 leader of that Swiss colony, shared that error, or 

 whether he deemed it necessary to leave them in this 

 error while he had the sagacity to discover that 

 their former failures (in Jessamine County, Ky., 1790 

 1801) were caused by planting foreign grape vines, and 

 intentionally substituted a native variety we do not 

 know; certain it is that this was the first successful at- 

 tempt to establish vineyards in our country. A very 

 good wine, resembling claret, was made from the Cape, 

 and it was the favorite of former days, until it was dis- 

 placed by the Catawba. (The White Cape is similar to 

 above, differing only in its color, which is greenisL 

 white.) Downing describes it as follows: * Bunches 

 rather compact, not shouldered; berries of medium size, 

 oval ; skin thick , quite black ; flesh with a very firm 

 pulp, but juicy; makes a very fair wine, but is quite 

 too pulpy and coarse for table use, though quite sweet 

 and musky when fully ripe, which is not till the last of 

 October. Leaves much more downy than those of the 

 Isabella." W. JR. Prince, In his Treatise on the Vine, 

 N. Y., 1830) enumerates eighty-eight varieties of Amer- 

 ican grapes, but "for profit can only recommend the 

 Catawba and the Cape ; one tenth of the latter variety 

 would be enough. Of the two recommended above, the 

 Catawba is much the most productive, but the Cape it 

 leat subject to rot. Both make good wines. 7 ' 



