PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 157 



whilst neither Europe nor Africa can claim the possession by Nature of any 

 species whatever. The consideration of the why and the wherefore of this 

 most striking- demonstration of Nature in her wise and determinate pur- 

 poses, we shall leave to a future occasion, when the opportunity may be 

 afforded us of givinp: more amplitude to a discussion of such intense inte- 

 rest and importance as connected with the Economy of the Universe. 



I may, however, be permitted here to comment upon the grossness of the 

 error of calling- either Italy or Greece " The Land of the Vine," as Nature 

 herself presents to us by the mighty preponderance imparted to North 

 America in the creation of her numerous species of the Grape; that our own 

 Country is the only one of all Nature's realms which is entitled to so glori- 

 ous an appellation, as is demonstrated by the bright and glowing Vinous 

 wreath, which everywhere encircles her domain. We wish now to proceed 

 to an investigation of the character and relative value of each of the Eleven 

 species which God and Nature have apportioned to North America, all of 

 which are comprised within the limits of our own Country; while some of 

 our most southern species extend their area to the adjoining northern line 

 of Mexico, bordering the Rio Grande. It will thus be seen that Nature has 

 extended the domain of " The Vine," one of th'e most beneficent gifts of 

 God, over an immense expanse, extending from 25 deg. to 45 deg. north 

 latitude on the Atlantic side of our Continent, and probably covering an 

 equal extent on the Pacific side of our vast Country, thus occupying au 

 almost identical latitudinal area of the Western Hemisphere that it does 

 upon the Eastern one. 



The North American species are all Diaicious or Polygamous, the num- 

 ber of Males being apparently greater of V. aestivalis, Viparia, and some of 

 the Texan species. This sexuality does not result from any abortion or 

 unnatural defect in the organism of the plants, as has been inconsiderately 

 supposed, but is in accordance with the normal characteristics of the respec- 

 tive species, and the positive creations resulting from a great natural law. 

 They thus differ in their Class and Order from the V. vinifera, the one soli- 

 tary species of the Eastern Hemisphere, by a physical condition which was 

 unknown to Linngeus, who was in like manner ignorant of the important 

 fact that the same sexual distinctions between the plants of the two Hemi- 

 spheres existed in the Fragaria or Strawberry family. 



I. VITIS LABRUSCA FOX GRAPE. 



Branches covered with a russet pubescence; Leaf very large, broad cor- 

 date, beneath covered with a white gray or russet down; Berry large, 

 round, depressed or ovate, black, purple, red, or bronze white; skin gene- 

 rally thick, sometimes thin; pulp usually tough, more or less juicy, sweet 

 or insipid, naturally of strong, musty, foxy flavor, but sometimes very plea- 

 sant; Cluster naturally, short and small, with but few berries, but the size 

 of the cluster, and the number, size and quality of the berries, are greatly 

 increased in many seminal varieties, some of which are entirely devoid of 

 the musty flavor, or lose it at maturity; and some very sweet, with little 

 or no pulp, or with a pulp that becomes soft, and dissolves when the ber- 

 ries are fully ripe. The berries of the natural varieties mature very early, 

 say from the last of August to the middle of September. The numerous 



