Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1892-02-18
Riverside, ON Snake River.

Among the first fruits known to the
human race was the grape, and origi-
mating as it did in Asia, the birthplace
of man, it has been intimately assOcia-
ted with him, and occupies promi-
nent place in history, both sacred and
profane. Wherever grown 1t has al
ways been of special interest to the
horticulturist, and in some of the
countries in the south of Europe where,
peculiarly suited to the climate, It has
taken place of importance among the
productive industries only second to
that of the cereals. To those whose at |
tention has never been called to the
matter and to whom a grape is a grape,
it may be interesting to know that
botanists have divided the grape into
many families, all having characteris-
tics in common and yet many distinc-
tions; not only in the difference in the
qualities of the fruit but in the growth
and hardness of the vine. During the
lapse of ages from the survival of the
fittest, plants have become suited to
the vicissitudes of the climate where
found growing naturally. In har-
mony with this law of nature we find
the native grapes. .the Atlantic
States adapted to rigorous climate,
enduring alike the intense cold of win
ter and the heat of humid atlnCs-
phere in the summer. In the matter
of growth many Of the native varieties
are all that could be desired-hardy
and vigorous but in quality inferior;
some of the more prominent features
being tough skin, numerous seeds,
sourness, foxiness and o tough pulpy
flesh. From long continued expert
ments in crossing native varieties and
hybridizing the native and foreign va
rieties, and sometimes through chance
seedlings, have come scores Of new and
greatly improved varieties, many of
which bear little resemblance to the
wild grapes of the woods, but In the
case of pure natives possessing some Of
the characteristics Of the wild grapes
from which they originated. The bet
ter varieties among those known as
American are those that have been
9 produced by hybridizing the native
with foreign varieties, among which
are some of the well-known kinds, as
the Catawba, Isabella, Brighton and
all of Rogers Hybrids. The more
foreign blood the better the quality of
= fruit, but as might be expected, the
-. less adapted to the climate Of the At
lantic States, many of which are prac.
:, y tically failure.
Turning our attention to the Wits
vinifera, composing those usually des'
= ignated as foreign, we find it origina
:, ted in hot climate with a dry atmos
= phere and with summers of almost
- continual sunshine and to succeed re
- qulres climate with these essentia
characteristics.
1t is stated that from the Wits vini
- fera has originated more than tw'
=, thousand good varieties, which com
~ prise all shades of color and in size from
10 the tiny grapes from which are pre-
- pared the dried currants of commerc
= to the large Muscats and Tokays, riy
70 aling in size the native plums. TIL
" fruit when compared with the will
grapes is SO much superior that con
parison is hardly admissible. Th
quality is also much superior to that
the improved natives. 1t is true thu
there are those who have cultivated
state for the natives who manifest
NJ preference for their more pronounce
40 flavor, but usually brief use of tt
NJ foreign varieties develops greater III
% ing for them. Among the long list
~ foreign varieties are those peculiar
as adapted to the manufacture of Il
If finest brands of wines, Others +
,vo raisins, while some are grown almo
III exclusively for table grapes.
mr. AS the foreign grapes proved a to
Nh. ure when grown in the open air In Il
Atlantic States, some of the finer tai
grapes as the Black Hamburg, we
grown under glass and before t
np advent of California grapes in t
the Eastern markets these hot house graz
,di- not infrequently sold for one dollar |
pound.
yis- In calling the attention OF hortic
ved turists to the Snake River Valley a
or grape producing region it will be wi
rict reference to its adaptability to
t of growth of the foreign varieties,
, of that the natives may be grown W
eral even more ease, but where the forei
Dis can be successfully produced the natl
l at become of ofinsignifcant importance.
live The grape has proven itself adap
to SO great q diversity of soils tina
the the climatic conditions are suitable
on NAV be safely concluded that any q
ond orchard land will be found adapted
,3rd the vineyard.
on This being true, the object of this a
ay). olo will no m show the favorable Clim,