14 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



taking is backed by experience, provided the right varieties are chosen 

 and care is used in selecting the locality. His 30-acre orchard, 22 

 years old, -with trees planted 20 by 20 feet apart, which is too close, 

 has frequently borne 200 to 250 bushels to the acre, and some indi- 

 vidual trees in favorable situations have borne from 8 to 10 bushels 

 to the tree. This orchard doubtless would have done better had it 

 been possible to irrigate during some of the long, dry periods, although 

 it received clean cultivation after reaching the bearing stage. 



GRAPE. 



Grape growing in the immediate vicinity of San Antonio has been 

 limited to varieties of rather poor quality, which are used largely for 

 the production of wine. The better varieties of table grapes that 

 have been under trial have not survived the adverse soil conditions. 

 Their failure is due largely to root-rot. Chlorosis, which occurs fre- 

 quently, also indicates that the lime in these soils is in excess of the 

 tolerance of the better varieties of the table grape. The country 

 about San Antonio is rich in species of native grapes which thrive 

 under these conditions. Some of the most successful of the named 

 varieties under trial are those that have resulted from crosses between 

 cultivated varieties and native species. However, there is an exten- 

 sive area of red sandy-loam soil adjoining the black lands on the south 

 that should produce excellent grapes if root-rot and chlorosis can be 

 avoided or controlled. The following grapes have been tested on the 

 experiment farm: Bell, Berckmans, Brilliant, Champanel, Cloeta, 

 Eden, Flowers, Goethe, Headlight, Lukfata, Mericadel, Mish, Norton, 

 Thomas, Valhallah, Wapanuka, "Wise, Xenia, and Gapotum. Most 

 of these have been unable to survive, because of their susceptibility 

 to root-rot and chlorosis. The varieties that have proved best 

 adapted to this region are Valhallah and Lukfata, although the qual- 

 ity of the fruit is not high. Except for home consumption or for the 

 production of wine, no varieties of grapes have been found that are 

 altogether satisfactory. 



In this connection it is of interest to show the parentage of the 

 two grapes mentioned above, as given bj* the late Mr. T. V. Munson 

 in "Foundations of American Grape Culture." Lukfata was obtained 

 by crossing Vitis champini, a native Texas species, with Moore. 

 Valhallah is a cross between Elvicand and Brilliant, and Elvicand is 

 a cross between Elvira and Vitis candicans, the native mustang grape. 



DEWBERRY. 



"While none of the small fruits, such as berries, have been tested at 

 the experiment station, it seems advisable to mention the dewberry 

 because of its adaptability to this section, being a native of Texas. 

 It appears to be tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. Mr. T. R. 



