CHAP. XXVI. 



riTA CE^. Fl TJS. 



479 



1 2. r. iABRu'scA L. The wild Vine, or Fox Grape. 



Identification. Lin. Spec, 293. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 631 ; Don's Mill, 1. p. 711- 



Synani/ines. V. taurlna Walt. ; filziger Wein., Ger. 



Engravings. Plum. Icon., t. 259. fig. 1. ; Jacq. Schoen., t, 426.; and our^^-. 141. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Sexes dioecious or polygamous. 

 Leaves heart-shaped, rather 3-lobed, acutely toothed 

 beneath, and the peduncles tomentose and rather 

 rusty. (Dec. Proii,, i. p. 634.) A tendriled climber, 

 growing to about the same height as the common 

 vine, but with much larger leaves (which are scarcely 

 lobed, and downy, especially when young), and 

 berries which are large and black, with a rough 

 acid flavour, but are, nevertheless, eatable in a wid 

 state, and much improved by cultivation. The 

 whole plant has a disagreeable foxy smell, whence 

 the name, " The fruit is, according to Professor 

 Bigelow, large, purple, and pleasantly tasted ; while Torrey remarks that 

 it has a strong disagreeable flavour in a wild state, but that, when cultivated, 

 it is as pleasant as any of the varieties of V. vinffera." {Hook. Flor. 

 Bor, Amer., p. 1 15.) There are two varieties growing in the vineyards 

 of North America ; one with white berries, and the other with red ones. 

 From both of the varieties, and from the species, an excellent wine is made ; 

 which, when kept for five or six years, resembles Moselle. In America, 

 the varieties have been much improved by culture j and, according to 

 Rafinesque {Afed. FL, i. p. 121.), greatly increased in number by culture, 

 with a view to the production of wine. In Britain, the plant can only be 

 considered as ornamental ; and, from the largeness of its foliage and fruit, 

 it forms a very distinct species of Fitis. A plant of the red-fruited va- 

 riety, in the garden of the London Horticultural Societj-, placed against a 

 wall with a west aspect, ripens fruit every yeai-, which we have tasted, and 

 found by no means disagreeable. We have also had some bottles of the 

 wine sent us from America, which was not inferior to the weaker sorts of 

 Rhenish wines. Possibly this plant might deserve cultivation on the Con- 

 tinent, with a view to the mixing of the fruit with that of the varieties of 

 the grape vine, in making wine ; since austere varieties of apple and pear, 

 mixed with sugary varieties, are found to make the best kinds of cider and 

 perry. Plants of this species, in the London nurseries, are Is. Qd. each ; 

 at BoUwyller, 1 franc j and at New York, the species and its varieties are 

 37i cents each. 



-i 3. V. jEstiva'^lis Michx. The Summer Vine, or Grape Vine. 



Identification. Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., 2. p. 230. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 634. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 711. 

 Synonymes. V. Labriisca Walt. Fl, Car.. 242. j V. vulpina WiUd. Spec, p. 1181. ; and E. of PI., 

 No. 2860. 



Engravings. Jac. Hort. Schcen., t. 425. ; K of PI., 2860. ; and ontfig. 142. 

 Spec. Char., 8;c. Sexes dioecious, or polygamous. Leaves 142 

 . broadly heart-shaped, with from 3 to 5 lobes; the under 



surface of the young ones invested with a cottony down ; 



of the adult ones, smooth. Racemes fertile, oblong. Ber. 



ries small. {Dec. Piod., i. p. 634.) A native of North 



America, and abounding there in woods and wastes, from 



Virginia to Carolina. The berries are small, of a dark blue 



colour, finely covered with bloom, not disagreeable to the 



taste, and made into a very tolerable wine by the inhabi- 

 tants. It was introduced into England in 1656, but is not 



very common in collections. 



A 4. V. siNUATA G. Don. The scailop-Zectt'^i Vine, or Summer Grape Vine, 

 Identification. Don's Mill., 1. p. 711. 



Synonymes. V. asstivMis var. sinukta Pit. Flor. Amet. Sept., 1. p. 169. ; Dec. Prod., 1. 634. " Proba- 

 bly the F. /abruscoides of MuM. Cat, 27." {G. Don.) 



Spec. C/iar., S(c. Sexes dioecious or polygamous. Leaves sinuately palmate, coarsely toothed, with 

 rhomboid recesses ; young ones covered beneath with cobwebby rusty down ; adult ones smooth. 

 [Don's Mill., I. p. 711.) Found in woods from Virginia to Carolina, along with the two preceding 

 species, of the last of which, notwithstanding Mr. G. Don's opinion, we think this only a variety. 

 The berries are dark blue, agreeable to eat, and a very good wine is made from them. Jjitroduced 

 into England in 1656, but not much cultivated. 



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