Grape Botany


The grape-grower must know the gross structure and the habits of

growth of the plants properly to propagate, transplant, prune and

otherwise care for the grape. Certainly he must have knowledge of the

several species from which varieties come if he is to know the kinds

of grapes, understand their adaptations to soils and climates, their

relation to insects and fungi, and their value for table, wine,

grape-juice and other purposes. Fortunately, the botany of the grape

is comparatively simple. The organs of vine and fruit are distinctive

and easily discerned and there are no nearly related plants cultivated

for fruit with which the grape can possibly be confused. Botanists, it

is true, have dug pitfalls for those who seek exact knowledge as to

the names and characters of the many species, but, fortunately, each

of the cultivated species constitutes a natural group so distinct that

the grape-grower can hardly mistake one for another in either fruit or

vine.



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