LUTHER BURBANK 



An interesting local species is Vitis Calif ornica. 

 This is an extremely strong vine, climbing a tree 

 to a height of 75 or 100 feet. It is often found 

 along the banks of creeks and rivers where it 

 may attach itself to a young alder. As alder and 

 grape grow, the tree supports the vine until it 

 reaches a height of sometimes 100 feet and has a 

 trunk 12 to 18 inches in diameter — which may 

 seem almost incredible to eastern people unfa- 

 miliar with our flora. 



The fruit of the California grape is produced 

 in small quantity and is quite variable in this lo- 

 cality. It ripens late, is soiu-, without flavor, and 

 is generally insignificant in all respects. It is 

 sometimes used for jellies and even for wine. 



Of the world-wide and supremely important 

 commercial species commonly called the Euro- 

 pean grape (Vmys vinifera) I have worked 

 largely with the Tokay variety with the idea of 

 inducing this vigorous vine, which bears such an 

 abundance of large, handsome fruit, to combine 

 hardy qualities and freedom from mildew with 

 its characteristic excellence of fruit. 



The fruit of many of the seedlings is quite acid, 

 but some are far sweeter than the Flame Tokay, 

 and much earlier, which is most important as the 

 Flame Tokay ripens too late for our coast climate. 



These seedlings have of course been rigidly 



[194] 



