Read before the "Aiken (S. C.) Vine-Growing and Horticultural Association/' September 15th, 1859, by H. W. Ravenel, Esq.

The Grape, like all other domesticated plants long subjected to cultivation, has formed innumerable varieties, differing: First in size, favor, color, and time of ripeni?ig its fruit. Second, in shape and size of leaf Third, in general thriftiness and vigor of growth. These variations are, however, confined within certain limits; and, through all their varieties, they yet preserve their specific identity, and reveal their parentage and origin.

There are certain bounds within which nature seems to revel in producing changes and combinations of various forms and qualities, but these bounds are never over-stepped.

Species in nature are primordial forms whose characters remain constant through all time, and which are capable of propagating their kind. Within the limits of these specific characters there may be variations in minor points, occurring sometimes in the wild state, but oftener through the effects of the high culture and artificial treatment. Thus, in the United States, we have a certain number of species of wild Grape. According to the best authorities, the number is reduced to four, east of the Mississippi. From one or other of these four species are descended all our indigenous varieties. Of these there are now upwards of one hundred in cultivation in the United States, and their number will go on increasing as seedlings of good qualities are brought into notice. Many of them, no doubt, -will prove valuable acquisitions, either for the table or wine-making, but a large number will be thrown aside. There is such a strong temptation to multiply varieties, either as a source of profit to sellers of wine, or as matter of pride to amateur cultivators, that the only corrective for the evil will be a publication, at stated periods, of a list of condemned varieties, as is now done by the United States Pomological Society in the matter of fruit-trees.

A COVERED HEDGEWAY.

I am not aware of any attempt to classify these indigenous varieties and trace them to their proper parentage, - to one of the four native species; nor, perhaps, has the time arrived yet when it can properly be done, from the want of general dissemination, and the difficulty of obtaining many of the latest varieties.

I will, however, give an enumeration of our four American species, with the varieties of each, so far as our present information permits.

Native, Or Indigenous Grapes

1st. Vitis labrusca; Linnaeus. - Mx. - Ph. - Ellesk. - Torr. & Gr. - De Cand. Prod.

Fox Grapes

Stem of a pale-brown color, the bark more readily exfoliating than in the other species; and the internodes, or joints, rather longer. Leaves large, 3 to 5-lobed, dark-green above; densely tomentose or woolly beneath; the tomentrem whitish or rusty. Bunches not very compact nor shouldered. Berries large, dark blue, with a thickish skin, and always pulpy, with a musky flavor. From this species are descended the following cultivated varieties, viz.:

Isabella or Laspeyne, Mary Isabel, Catawba, Bland's Madeira, Concord, Diana, Rebecca, To Kalon, Anna, Hartford Prolific, Ontario, Catawissa, Northern Muscadine, Minor or Venango, Garrigues, Stetson's Seedling, York Madeira or Canby's August, Hyde's Eliza, Union Village, Early Chocolate, Early Black, Harvard, Green Prolific, Kilvington, Ives, Charter Oak, Schuylkill or Alexander, Shaker, Sweet Water or Early Muscadine.

2d. Vitis Aestivalis; Michaux

Ph. - EU. sk. - Torr. & Gr. - DeCand. Prod.

Summer Grape.Stem stout, and of a reddish-brown, with the internodes generally shorter than in the preceding. Leaves broadly cordate, 3 to 6-lobed, or sinuately palmate; when young, downy, with cobwebby hairs beneath; smoothish when old; of a lighter green than the preceding. Bunches shouldered and compact. Berries small, round, black, rather acid, never pulpy. Prom this species are descended the following:

Warren (Herbemont), Pauline or Burgundy, Guignard, Clinton, Delaware, Lenoir, (Black July, Lincoln, Thurmond, Sumter, Devereux) Marion, Travelling, Long Grape or Old House, Elsinboro, Seabrook, King, Ohio or Cigar Box, Missouri, Norton's Virginia.

3d. Vitis Cordifolia; Michaux

Ph. - Torr. & Gr. - DeCand. Prod.

Winter Or Frost Grape

Leaves thin, smaller than the preceding, glabrous on both sides, with broad mucronate teeth. Berries small, nearly black, ripening late and very tart. There are no varieties of this in cultivation, that I am aware of.

4th. Vitis Vulpina; Linn

V rotundifolia Mx. - Ph. - Ell. sk.

Bullace, Bullet or Bull grape - known in Florida and Texas as "Mustang".

Stem whitish, the wood more compact and close-grained than in the other species. Leaves cordate, shining on both surfaces, somewhat 3-lobed, coarsely toothed, smaller than any of the other species. Berries in loose clusters, scarcely exceeding five or .six, changing from reddish brown to black in ripening, with a thick skin and large pulp.

The only cultivated variety is the "Scuppernong," so called after a lake in eastern North Carolina, where it was first discovered. There may be more than one variety in cultivation under this name, as the so-called "Scuppernong" has been found in other native localities since.

The Vitis rupestris; Schede, is found in Texas, about the Upper Gaudaloupe, near New Braunfells, and is there known as the "Mountain Grape." It is said to have been found also in Arkansas. Prof. Gray, in his description of the plants of Texas, found by Lindheimer, in 184-, says, of this species: "It does not climb, but the stems are upright, and only two or three feet high. The branches are small, and the berries, of the size of peas only, are black, very sweet, and the most grateful as well as the earliest ripened grape of Texas".

The following comprise a list of native cultivated grapes, which I know only by name, not having had access to any means of information by which they may be classified. They are all, roost probably, descendants of V. Labrusca, or V. Aestivalis, and some may be syuonyms of those already enumerated;

Norton's Seedling, Logan, Rock-house Indian or Waterloo, Little Ozark, Graham, Miller's Seedling, Burton's, Early August, Sage, Early Amber, Clermont, Jane, Harris, Long, Baldwin's Early, Louisa, Mary Ann, Clapier, Canada-Chief, Secord's Sweet-Water, Golden Clinton, Senior, Archer, Mon-teith, Huber.

These are names of grapes taken from various sources, and mentioned as native or indigenous seedlings. After being better known, and with full opportunities for examination of their fruit, leaves and habit, doubtless we shall be able to classify them, and trace their parentage to one or other of the four American species.

How far the effects of high culture, and the propagation of new seedlings from these improved varieties, may cause them to deviate from their typical state, it is impossible to foresee: but if our botanists are correct in their limitation of species, these variations must be within the specific characters assigned to species respectively.

There is one prominent character which distinguishes the Grapes of the United States from those of the Eastern Hemisphere, and that is in the Inflorescence. All the species of American grapes are dicecio polygamous, that is, some of the vines bear staminate or barren flowers only, and are forever sterile. Others bear perfect flowers, and are fruitful.

All the species of the Eastern Hemisphere are Hermaphrodite, - that is, every vine bears perfect flowers, containing stamens and pistils, in the same corolla, and are fruitful. In the absence of other evidence, this fact would be conclusive of the parentage of an unknown seedling, whether it be of exotic or indigenous origin.