59 



Its leaves are somewhat similar to those of V. Riparia, although 

 they differ from it by opening out flat. The leaves of V. Riparia 

 remain folded for some time after first coming out. The acid taste 

 of its grapes renders it unfit for a direct producer. 



VITIS LABRUSCA. 



This species, usually termed in America Fox Grape, or Northern 

 Fox Grape, is perhaps the one which has been submitted to cultural 

 methods with the object of improving the fruit for the greatest 

 number of years, and for this reason there are many varieties derived 

 from it, few of which, however, are considered to be f practical use 

 from a European stand-point. In the first place they are not all, 

 strictly speaking, phylloxera proof. Although they resist it far 

 better than the V. Vinifera varieties, many of them suffer from the 

 attacks of the insect, some even succumbing te it after a few years. 

 In addition to this the fruit has a strong foxy taste, rendering these 

 vines unsuitable for cultivation as direct producers, and many of 

 them are subject to chlorosis if the soil be light in colour and not 

 properly drained. We must describe a few varieties on account of 

 the frequency with which one meets with them in gardens, &'c. 

 One r two of them possess the above-named defects in so small a 

 degree that they may be considered as being of value. 



The general characteristics of the species are as follows : 

 Spreading growers of medium vigour, with long thick shoots, 

 sometimes hairy near the knots in the green state. The tendrils are 

 continuous, that is, there is a tendril (or bunch) opposite to every 

 leaf. This is the principal characteristic of the species, and dis- 

 tinguishes it from all others, which have discontinuous tendrils. 

 Leaves rather three than five lobed, upper-surface of a dull dark- 

 green colour, under-surface covered with thick close down, usually 

 white, brownish on the veins ; bunch rather large ; berries large, 

 either round or oval, with pulpy flesh and foxy taste ; skin thick ; 

 seeds large. As a rule varieties belonging to this species ripen early. 



The following are some of the varieties derived from this species : 



t Adironda. 



An early black grape of little value. 



t Anna. 



A hardy white sort, probably a seedling of Catawba, not of much 

 value. 



