"Among the natural fruits, the vine takes first place, of which I find
six sorts, very well known. The first is the black bunch grapes which
yield a crimson juice. These grow common and bear plentifully, they are
of a good relish, though not large, yet well knit in the clusters. They
have a thickish skin and large stone, which makes them not yield much
juice. There is another sort of black grapes like the former in all
respects, save that their juice is of a light flesh color, inclining to
a white. I once saw a spontaneous white bunch grape in Carolina; but the
cattle browzing on the sprouts thereof in the spring, it died. Of those
which we call fox grapes, we have four sorts; two whereof are called
summer grapes, because ripe in July; the other two winter fruits,
because not ripe till September or October. The summer fox grapes grow
not in clusters or great bunches, but are about five or six in a bunch,
about the bigness of a damson or larger. The black sort are frequent,
the white not so commonly found. They always grow in swamps and low,
moist lands, running sometimes very high and being shady, and therefore
proper for arbours. They afford the largest leaf I ever saw to my
remembrance, the back of which is of a white horse flesh color. This
fruit always ripens in the shade. I have transplanted them into my
orchard and find they thrive well, if manured. A neighbor of mine has
done the same; mine were by slips, his from the roots, which thrive to
admiration, and bear fruit, though not so juicy as the European grape,
but of a glutinous nature. However it is pleasant enough to eat.
"The other winter fox grapes are much of the same bigness. These refuse
no ground, swampy or dry, but grow plentifully on the sand hills along
the sea coast and elsewhere, and are great bearers. I have seen near
twelve bushels upon one vine of the black sort. Some of these, when
thoroughly ripe, have a very pretty vinous taste and eat very well, yet
are glutinous. The white sort are clear and transparent, and indifferent
small stones. Being removed by the slip or root, they thrive well in our
gardens, and make pleasant shades."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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