55 



The only American species of interest are the following : V. 

 jEstivalis, V. Arizonica, V. Berlandieri, V. Californica, V. Candi- 

 cans, V. Cinerea, V. Cordifolia, V. Labrusca, V. Riparia, V. 

 Rotundifolia, and Vitis Rupestris ; in addition to these there are 

 many others of purely botanical interest. 



VITIS JESTTVALIS. 



The summer grape of North America. This is the only species 

 from which are derived direct producers, that is varieties yielding 

 grapes capable of being made into wine, similar to that of V. 

 Vinifera. Almost all the sorts belonging to the other species are only 

 used as grafting stocks. 



The grapes of the V. ^Estivalis, however, are more similar to those 

 of V. Vinifera, being free from foxy or other foreign taste. Un- 

 fortunately most of the varieties derived from it are poor bearers. 



The species, as a whole, may be described as follows : 

 Plant of medium vigour, with long thick climbing shoots, usually 

 dark and covered with bloom ; tendrils large, discontinuous ; buds 

 and young leaves of a brilliant carmine ; leaves at first covered on 

 both sides with down, but when full grown without down on the 

 upper side ; ordinarily lobed, but sometimes almost entire ; bunch 

 variable ; berries small, thin-skinned, covered with bloom. This 

 species is divided into a northern and southern group. The former 

 have leaves almost entire and rusty-coloured down on the veins. All 

 the varieties belonging to this species resist the phylloxera. 



The chief " cepages " are as follows : 



Cunningham. Synonym : Long. 



A pink variety, somewhat extensively cultivated in France, 

 although a poor bearer. It ripens very late and is to be preferred 

 for making white wine on account of the very light colour of that 

 fermented with the skins. 



It is difficult to propagate by cuttings, and is not a good stock to 

 graft on. 



The leaves are large, three-lobed, or almost entire, smooth and 

 dark-green above, downy beneath. 



