Discussion of the Table 



It will be noticed that species having wide distribution vary greatly among their individual 

 vines from different regions in nearly all their characters, hence vines for experimental purposes 

 taken at random can promise little in development toward improvement of varieties for culti- 

 ^'ation. Species native in high, arid regions, as are Vinifera and all the species west of the Rocky 

 -Mountains where the air is too dry to permit the growth of mildews and rots, quickly are attacked 

 and greatly weakened or destroyed when transplanted into low, moist climates. Likewise, vines 

 of species growing in regions where Phylloxera does not exist, when transplanted into regions 

 infested by it, soon perish by its attacks, and when the insect is transported into the soil where 

 such vines grow, no matter how well the vines have always grown, will pale and die in three 

 or four years after the insect begins to feed and multiply upon the roots. 



The Phylloxera-resistant vines of the world are all native between the Rocky Mountains 

 and the Atlantic Coast in North America, where the Phylloxera is common wherever wild vines 

 grow in all that territory, and by long struggling against the insidious enemy, by "the survival 

 of the fittest" law, now grow luxuriantly while the louse obtains a precarious livjng by tugging 

 at the hard wiry roots, which its infinite attacks have developed. Then it is perfectly clear, 

 that to have vines which will resist Phylloxera, mildew and rot, we must select as parents those 

 which are least attacked by these. 



Climatic Conditions at the Munson Experiment Grounds 



The section in which the writer lives and has his experiment grounds, latitude 34° 30', 

 is abundantly supplied with Phylloxera in the black limestone soils, mildew, Black-, Brown-, 

 Bird's eye-. Bitter- and other rots, with leaf-folders, and chafers, and no better' place could be 

 found in which to test varieties against these maladies. Besides, the climate is an exceedingly 

 variable one, subject to sudden and severe changes, the summer temperature reaching 110° 

 in the shade rarely, and extreme drouths occur some years, which kill many forest trees in the 

 woods, where a little crowded; sometimes the temperature falls forty, fifty, sixty, and even 

 seventy or more degrees in twenty- four to forty-eight hours, occasionally going as low as' 8 to 15° 

 below zero (F.) ; where the average annual rainfall is over forty inches, yet some seasons less 

 than 20, and others near 100 inches. In spite of all these maladies and extremes we have succeeded 

 in finding and producing varieties which resist them all, and annually bear heavy crops of fine fruit. 



By critical study of the foregoing table of specific cultural facts, even for one who has not 

 seen the test work, from which it was compiled — a history of which space will not permit here — 

 can quickly select with certainty the species promising best results, either as direct producers, 

 or for graft-stocks for various regions and soils. 



Practical Use of the Table 



Selecting thus by the aid of the table, we would get excellent graft-stocks for northern 

 regions of countries like California, France, and other temperate climates where Vinifera grapes ' 

 endure, for sandy soils, the following i (1) V. vulpina, (2) V. rupesiris, (3) V. Longii, named 

 in order of preference; and for moderately limy soils V. rupestris and V. JDoaniana. For very 

 limy soil V. Champini, where ground does not freeze over 18 inches deep. All of these just named 

 do well in sandy soils in the regions designated. 



Comparative Quality of Grapes 



It is not flavor alone that I attempt to treat here but more particularly degree of sugar and 

 tartaric acid. The sugar content of a fruit pretty well determines its food content, and also 

 its agreeableness in eating to many, altho the flavor also has much to do in making or destroying 

 agreeableness. Only taste can determine flavor and tastes differ as to flavor. The lover of the 



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