42 
H. C. Agricultural Experiment Station 
While rotundifolia grapes generally are described as. having a strong 
musky odor, many varieties exhibit aromas quite distinct and unique. 
The dark fruiting seedlings as a rule seem to vary much more in the 
intensity of aroma, while the light fruiting forms in this respect are less 
variable. 
If, without experimenting, we could pick out male vines that possess 
inherent qualities of only good aromas, we could so mate the vines as 
to secure a high per cent, of excellent flavored seedlings ; but, until we 
know the pedigree of these vines we will have to resort to selection of 
the bearing forms, as mother plants, and take our chances on the in¬ 
herent qualities of the male vines. 
Occasionally seedling grape vines are found that exhibit but a very 
little of the wild flavor, and among these w T e should look for the more 
delicately flavored fruits. Among these we find aromas both good and 
bad, mild and strong, and in varying degrees of intensity. Of course 
the number of these better quality seedlings depends entirely upon the 
inherent qualities of the parent vines. The results that are given in 
this publication refer to offspring of only such varieties as Scuppernong, 
Thomas, James, and of male vines that were selected only for color and 
size of cluster. 
Two cases of very repugnant aromas have occurred among our seed¬ 
lings from .the Scuppernong, crossed with a dark colored male vine. 
Both of these partook very strongly-of the odor of phenol. . Heedless 
to say that such odors in fruits are prohibitive and kill a variety with¬ 
out mercy, no matter how many other good qualities it may possess. 
This variability, however, in sweetness, acidity, and aroma is the 
very keystone for quality to the grape breeder, because such maze of 
characters, with its manifold combinations and blendings, presents the 
very best chance for the selection of choice combinations. It is among 
these that we should look for vines with the best combination of char¬ 
acters. If some are found that seem promising, they should be marked 
for propagation, and be further tested before they are recommended 
for extensive planting. 
table no. 17. 
Table of Comparative Quality in Seedling Rotundifolia Grapes. 
Parents 
Very 
Poor 
Poor 
Fair 
Good 
Very 
Good 
Best 
Scuppernong X Light Male No. 1- 
0 
0 
1 
3 
3 
0 
Scuppernong X Light Male No. 2- 
2 
27 
130 
84 
10 
1 
Scuppernong X Dark Male No. 1- 
1 
43 
160 
79 
12 
7 
James X Light Male No. 1... 
0 
8 
27 
13 
0 
0 
Thomas X Light Male No. 1--- 
0 
3 
16 
7 
1 
0 
The variability of the rotundifolia species is shown to some extent 
in the above tabulated results. The data presented is only tentative, 
however, for it has been taken from vines that were only three years 
