Labrusca is indigenous to the eastern part of North America, including
the region between the Atlantic Ocean and the Alleghany Mountains. It is
sometimes found in the valleys and along the western slopes of the
Alleghanies. Many botanists say it is never found in the Mississippi
Valley; Munson reports specimens, however, from Indiana and Tennessee.
In the first-named area it ranges from Maine to Georgia. It has the most
restricted habitat of any American species of horticultural importance,
being much exceeded in extent of territory by _Vitis rotundifolia_,
_Vitis aestivalis_, and _Vitis riparia_.
Labrusca has furnished more cultivated varieties, either pure-breeds or
hybrids, than all other American species together. The reason for this
is partly, no doubt, due to the fact that it is native to the portion of
the United States first settled and is the most common grape in the
region where agriculture first advanced to the condition where fruits
were desired. This does not wholly account for its prominence, however,
which must be sought elsewhere. In its wild state Labrusca is probably
the most attractive to the eye of any of our American grapes on account
of the size of its fruit, and this undoubtedly turned the attention of
those who were early interested in the possibilities of American
grape-growing to this species rather than to any other.
The southern Labrusca is quite different from the northern form and
probably demands different conditions for its successful growth; in the
North at least two types of the species may be distinguished. Vines are
found in the woods of New England, which resemble Concord very closely
in both vine and fruit, excepting that the grapes are much smaller in
size and more seedy. There is also the large-fruited, foxy Labrusca,
usually with reddish berries, represented by such cultivated varieties
as Northern Muscadine, Dracut Amber, Lutie and others. Labrusca is
peculiar amongst American grapes in showing black-, white- and
red-fruited forms of wild vines growing in the woods. Because of this
variability it is impossible to give the exact climatic and soil
conditions best adapted to the species. It is reasonable to suppose,
however, that the ideal conditions for this or any other species are not
widely different from those prevailing where the species is indigenous.
In the case of Labrusca this means that it is best adapted to humid
climates and that the temperature desired varies according to whether
the variety comes from the southern or northern form of the species.
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