158 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



seedling- varieties ripen during the same period, and down to October. The 

 Vine attains to a great growth, climbing the loftiest trees of the forests. 



It is found in Upper and Lower Canada, growing in its natural state 

 much farther north than any other species; and it also extends its area to 

 the extreme Southern limit in which Nature has located any other species, 

 it being found in Georgia, Arkansas, the Sierra, and the level lands of 

 Texas, and along the northern line of Mexico, bordering the Rio Grande. 



This is a most important species for us to perpetuate and enlarge by 

 growing seedlings therefrom, on account of its great hardihood, amazing 

 vigor, and robust character, in which it surpasses all other species, it being 

 capable of enduring any cold and all vicissitudes of climate. In point of 

 fact, this species ma}' be considered one of Nature's most estimable gifts, 

 as the varieties produced from it are not only suitable to form successful 

 vineyards in the northern sections of our own Country, but to cover the 

 most northern Countries of Europe with Vineyards that shall prove far 

 more productive than the best Vineyards of France, Italy and Greece. 

 Such is the destiny of this and of other American species of the Grape, as 

 I stated eighteen years ago in an article then published in the Gardener's 

 Chronicle, of London, but which was assailed, and all American Grapes 

 condemned as worthless by Prof. Landley, its Editor, whose plethoric per- 

 versity in ignoring everything American thus succeeded in retarding Euro- 

 pean advancement in the general culture of the Vine until the present 

 period. This species was introduced to Europe in 1656, together with 

 V. aestivalis. What has Europe lost by 20U years of neglect to cultivate 

 these Vines, so congenial to her climate, and so immensely superior in 

 product of fruit and of wine to the V. vinifera, introduced from the East ? 



11. VITIS ASTIVAIJS — CLUSTER GRAPE. 



Leaf broadly cordate, three to five lobed, more so than the Labrusca, 

 young leaves with russet cobweb pubescence beneath; cluster oblong com- 

 pound, with more berries than the preceding species in their natural state; 

 Berry small to medium, deep blue or purple, but seminal varieties have 

 been produced of other shades; skin tliin; pulp tender or dissolving at 

 maturity; flavor more acid, but also more vinous and sprightly than the 

 preceding, often very pleasant and quite juicy; growth vigorous, attaining 

 a lofty height, often sixty to eighty feet on trees in the forests. It is an 

 admirable species for its vinous qualities, from which we have already 

 obtained many most admirable varieties suited for vineyards and the des- 

 sert. Its northern limit is Connecticut, but it extends its domain southerly 

 to Arkansas, Florida, Texas and New Mexico. Its range is with labrusca 

 along the Atlantic States and further to the West. 



The different varieties mature their berries from the latter part of Sep- 

 tember and throughout October. 



III. VITIS CORDIFOLIA — FROST GRAPE — WINTER GRAPE — CHICKEN GRAPE. 



Leaf cordate, acuminate, variable, glabrous on both sides; Cluster 

 loose, usually many berried; Berry small, black or blue, thin skin, acid or 

 acerb, but pleasant after touched with frost. Some seedling varieties are 

 sweeter and of very good quality. The vine attains a length of forty to 

 fifty feet, and is of the most hardy character, ripening its fruit the begin- 



