82 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLAisTS. 



produced by long culture in different soils, — and a number of them are 

 cultivated in the United States, for their delightful fruit ; but the pro- 

 duct is rather uncertain, in this climate, without great care and atten- 

 tion. The excellence of the fruit of the Yine — whether fresh, or dried 

 and preserved in the state of Eaisins — is universally known and appre- 

 ciated ; while the fermented juice of the Grape has been the theme of 

 eulogy and song (and the excessive use of it, the cause of infinite mis- 

 chief), from the earliest ages down to the establishment of Temperance 

 Societies, in the present day. The Currants, of commerce (Corinths, or 

 Grapes of Corinth) — often called Zante Currants — are believed to be a 

 small-fruited, nearly seedless variety of this, — or perhaps a distinct yet 

 nearly allied species. 



■^^ Flowers dicEcious-poIygamous (Native species). 



2. V. Labrus'ca, L. Leaves roundish-cordate, somewhat 3-lobed, 

 acutely dentate, densely tomentose beneath ; racemes simple ; berries 

 large. 



Fox-Grape, of the Northern States. 



stem 15-20 or 30 feet long, straggling over bushes and small trees. Leaves 4-6 inches 

 in length — the tomentum beneath tawny; petioles 2-3 inches long. Berries globose, 

 large (about half an inch in diameter) , when mature varying in color from nearly black 

 to dark amber and greenish-white — with a thickis'h coat, a tough central pulp", and a 

 musky or rancid flavor. 



Moist thickets, along streams : Canada to Georgia. Fl. Juno. Fr. September. 



Obs. This grape is distributed from Canada to Texas, and presents a 

 considerable variety in its fruit, being of various colors, and differing- 

 in form, size and flavor. In general the fruit has a strong and " foxy " 

 flavor, but some of the varieties have this in a less degree and are highly 

 esteemed. It is supposed that the generally cultivated Isabella and Ca- 

 tawba grapes are varieties of this, as are also several others. 



3. V. aestivalis, Mx. Leaves broadly cordate, often 3 - o-lobed or 

 sinuately palmate, coarsely and unequally dentate, loosely tomentose 

 beneath ; fertile racemes mostly compound, long, many-flowered ; ber- 

 ries small. 



Summer Yms. Little Grape. Common Wild Grape. 



Stem20-i0 and sometimes 60 feet or more in length. Leaves 4-8 inches long, often 

 palmately lobed with rounded sinuses — the younger ones with a loose cobweb-like' russet 

 pubescence beneath, which becomes coarser and more hirsute with age, and sometimes 

 nearly disappears. Se?-?TJe5 globose, small (generally about one-fourth of an inch in di- 

 ameter), deep blue or bluish black when mature, and covered with a fine glaucous pow- 

 der — the skin thinnish, and the flavor (especially after a little frost) a sprightly agreea- 

 ble acid. 



Rich woodlands and thickets : Connecticut to Florida. Fl. June. Fr. October. 



Obs. This is the tallest climber of aU our Grape-vines, in Pennsylva 

 nia ; and I have seen an old vine, of this species. 8-10 inches in diame- 

 ter, at base. The fruit varies in size and quality, — the best specimens 

 being well worthy of culture. I have cultivated a native of this vicinity, 

 in which the fruit often equals that of the English Grape " (or Miller's 



