TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION. 
107 
VINIFERA HYBRIDS. 
About the time the Concord was introduced, as has already been observed, 
the hybridizing of American with vinifera grapes was undertaken. The work 
was prosecuted with much zeal. It was then freely prophesied that it would 
soon result in producing hardy American vines with fruit rivaling that of 
vinifera varieties. Some of the kinds which were thus originated do bear 
fruit of great excellence, but we now know that vinifera parents have in- 
variably given to their American hybrids, so far as these have been thor- 
oughly tested, some one or more serious defects or weaknesses. Up to the 
present time none of the first or primary hybrids between vinifera and any of 
the American species has gained a leading place commercially in any grape 
growing section of this country. Some might claim that the Delaware is 
an exception to this statement, but who can tell the parentage of the Dela- 
ware? It is by no means certain that it is a primary hybrid between vinifera 
and an American species. Indeed some hold that it is purely American in 
its origin. 
As has already been shown, none of the primary hybrids with vinifera have 
become leading sorts in commercial vineyards. Consider now their descend- 
ants. The two grapes of this latter class which are most widely grown are 
Niagara and Brighton. The parentage of Niagara is Concord crossed with 
Cassidy. The variety has the appearance of a pure Labrusca, but as I have 
shown by growing pure seedlings of it, it has some vinifera blood. This 
fact affords a satisfactory explanation for one of its defects, namely, a some- 
what tender root. It is well known that Niagara suffers more than Concord 
from root injury in severe winters. 
The parents of Brighton are Concord and a hybrid between Concord and 
vinifera. Brighton has a good degree of hardiness, though not equal in this 
respect to the Niagara. It is vigorous and often very productive, but it is 
almost completely self-sterile, so that it needs to be planted near some 
variety which blooms at the same .time. Without mentioning the particular 
weakness or fault of each one, for these will come to mind as their names 
are called, it is sufficient to name as further representatives .of this class 
among tne older varieties, Croton, Elorado, Geneva, Lady Washington and 
Oneida. In fact, so far as I know, among this class of hybrids there are no 
varieties which have been tested for fifteen years that do not show that the 
infusion of vinifera blood has brought with it undesirable characteristics 
and sometimes as in the case of Niagara, without bestowing any compensat- 
ing advantage. 
It is not the purpose of this paper t& attempt to point out the particular 
individuals which appear to be desirable parents for use in breeding grapes 
for special purposes, but rather to consider certain phases of the subject of 
general interest. It may be said, therefore, that should one choose to use 
even the vinifera hybrids in attempting to improve the type of American 
grapes, the facts which have been presented show that it is extremely impor- 
tant to make the selection of the parents only after thorough acquaintance 
with the individuals, and to use great discretion in the combinations which 
are made. 
The primary vinifera hybrids have uniformly been deficient in one or more 
of the following essentials of a good commercial grape, namely, in vigor, 
health of foliage, hardiness of root or vine, self-fertility, constitution or re- 
liable productiveness from year to year. In view of such records it is not 
