in robustness, hardiness and productiveness, and being very susceptible
to the leaf-hopper. The variety comes from Munson of Denison, Texas, and
is seemingly too far removed from the warm climate in which it
originated to be profitable in New York. Besides the defects named
above, it does not attain its natural high quality in this latitude and
the grapes crack badly as they ripen. The bunch and berry are attractive
in form, size and color as shown in the color-plate, though the
illustration does not do justice to the size of the bunch, the season of
1908, in which the fruit was produced, having been cold and wet and
therefore very unfavorable to this variety. At its best, Rommel is a
very good table grape and the authorities say makes a very fine white
wine. The variety is of interest to the student of grapes from the
standpoint of its breeding, having very largely the vine characters of
its maternal parent, Elvira, with somewhat better fruit. The name
commemorates the service to viticulture of Jacob Rommel of Morrison,
Missouri.
T. V. Munson originated Rommel in 1885 and introduced it in 1889. The
parents are Elvira pollinated by Triumph. Rommel was placed on the grape
list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1899.
Vine medium to vigorous, not always hardy, medium to productive,
susceptible to injury by leaf-hoppers. Canes medium to long,
moderately numerous, thick to medium, light to dark reddish-brown,
surface somewhat rough; nodes enlarged, often flattened; internodes
medium to short; diaphragm thick or nearly so; pith medium to
large; shoots slightly glabrous; tendrils intermittent, medium to
long, bifid to trifid.
Leaf-buds intermediate in size and thickness, short to medium,
prominent, obtuse to conical, open very late. Young leaves tinged
on under side and along margin of upper side with light
rose-carmine. Leaves medium to above in size, roundish, thick;
upper surface light green, dull, rugose; lower surface pale green,
nearly free from pubescence but slightly hairy; leaf usually not
lobed with terminus acute to acuminate; petiolar sinus medium to
deep, narrow, often closed and overlapping; basal sinus lacking;
lateral sinus very shallow when present; teeth medium to deep, of
average width. Flowers semi-fertile, open moderately late; stamens
upright.
Fruit ripens in mid-season, ships and keeps fairly well. Clusters
variable in size, above medium to short, moderately broad,
cylindrical to slightly tapering, usually single-shouldered,
compact to medium; peduncle long to medium, thick; pedicel of
average length, slender, usually smooth; brush short, pale green.
Berries large to medium, oblate to roundish, frequently compressed
on account of compactness of cluster, light green with yellow
tinge, glossy, covered with a moderate amount of gray bloom,
persistent, firm, but breaking easily under pressure. Skin thin,
cracks badly, medium to tender, adheres very slightly to the pulp,
contains no pigment, without astringency. Flesh greenish,
translucent, juicy, tender and melting, slightly stringy, sweet to
agreeably tart at center, variable in quality but ranks fair to
good, appears to be better in some locations. Seeds separate easily
from the pulp, one to four, average two, medium in size and length,
rather broad, sharp-pointed, very plump, brownish; raphe buried in
a somewhat wide groove; chalaza intermediate in size, above center,
oval to circular, indistinct.
R. W. MUNSON.
(Lincecumii, Labrusca, Vinifera.)
=1.= _Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1893=:118. =2.= Husmann, =1895=:126.
=3.= _Tex. Sta. Bul._, =56=:280. 1900. =4.= _Ga. Sta. Bul._,
=53=:49. 1901. =5.= _Rural N. Y._, =60=:614, 726. 1901. =6.= _Ib._,
=62=:790, 886. 1903. =7.= _Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1904=:239.
R. W. Munson, from Texas, is a somewhat promising variety for the North
for its intrinsic value, and is certainly interesting from the
standpoint of its breeding as it gives Northern growers a grape with a
generous admixture of Lincecumii blood. Its several essential vine
characters are very good though it is self-sterile and needs a companion
variety which produces an abundance of pollen. Concord and Brilliant are
recommended by the originator as notable pollenizers. R. W. Munson is
particularly resistant to black-rot, making it valuable for regions
where this fungus is a scourge. The fruit is sweet, juicy and very
pleasantly flavored, with tender pulp, and while not of the highest
quality yet a most pleasing and particularly refreshing grape. The
variety is well worthy more extensive trial in New York.
T. V. Munson of Denison, Texas, raised the original vine of R. W. Munson
from seed of Big Berry (a variety of Post-oak) pollinated by Triumph.
The seed was planted in 1887 and the resulting variety introduced by the
originator in the fall of 1894.
Vine vigorous, doubtfully hardy, productive, healthy. Canes medium
to nearly long, intermediate in number, thick to medium, dark red;
internodes medium to long; tendrils intermittent, bifid. Leaves
healthy. Flowers sterile or nearly so, open late; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens about with Concord, does not keep well. Clusters below
medium to small, rather short, often single-shouldered, compact to
medium. Berries medium to large, slightly oblate, dull black
covered with a medium amount of blue bloom, inclined to shatter
considerably, not very firm. Skin thin, variable in toughness, not
astringent. Flesh pale green, rather tender when fully ripe,
peculiarly vinous, nearly sweet at skin to agreeably tart at
center, slightly spicy and with some Post-oak flavor, good in
quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, rather numerous,
intermediate in size, length, and width. Raphe obscure in a very
shallow groove; chalaza slightly above center, oval; obscure.
SAGE.
(Labrusca.)
=1.= Allen, =1848=:134. =2.= _Horticulturist_, =6=:575. 1851.
_Ib._, =7=:87, 108. 1852. =4.= _U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt._, =1853=:300,
301. =5.= _Mag. Hort._, =24=:91. 1858. =6.= _U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt._,
=1859=:48, 55, 66. =7.= _U. S. D. A. Rpt._, =1864=:134. =8.= _N. Y.
Ag. Soc. Rpt._, =1865=:337. _fig._ =9.=(?) _Bush. Cat._,
=1894=:151.
_Mammoth_ (7, 8). ?MAMMOTH SAGE (9). _Sage_ (7, 8). _Globe_ (8).
This variety, which is variously known under the names Sage, Mammoth
Sage, Mammoth, and Globe, is of interest because it represents a type of
large-fruited, early-ripening Labruscas which have been used frequently
by breeders as the native parent in a Vinifera cross. A variety similar
to this was used in particular by E. S. Rogers as the mother plant in
making his notable crosses. They have also been used by White and
others.
The original vine was a chance seedling found by Henry E. Sage about
1811 on the banks of a small stream near Portland, Connecticut. The
variety was first brought to public notice by John Fiske Allen in 1848
through a very laudatory description which was much criticised by those
who objected to the foxy aroma of the Sage but as warmly defended by
others who liked the foxiness. The variety was later advertised and sent
out by the Shaker community at Harvard, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
Within a few years it seems to have been disseminated throughout eastern
New England, and was particularly acceptable in those sections where
Isabella failed to ripen. There is no evidence that it was ever planted
except in gardens. With the introduction of Concord and other early
varieties of higher quality the cultivation of the Sage was dropped. It
is probably now obsolete.
The best description we have of Sage is the following, copied from the
_United States Department of Agriculture Report_ for 1864:
"It is much like most of the wild Fox grapes of this vicinity,
[Massachusetts] but the berries are much larger, light chestnut or
mahogany color, and they have a flattened or compressed shape,
instead of being round, frequently an inch in diameter. The bunch
is small with three to six berries in a round, ball-like cluster,
with sometimes a side stem with one berry at the end of it for a
shoulder. The stem of the bunch is not very long. The leaves
usually are 'entire' with a short pointed termination at the end of
the midrib, and two other points of the other divisions into which
all American leaves are divided, making always either plainly, or
in the rudimental state, five lobes. Thus the leaves are not much
lobed, scarcely toothed, and have a rusty, woolly appearance. The
young wood, last season's growth, is hard and wiry and covered with
bristles. The grape itself is sweet, but has a hard pulp, that some
compare to a piece of India-rubber when eating it. It is early, and
perfectly hardy, as much so as any wild grape in this vicinity."
ST. LOUIS.
(Labrusca.)
=1.= _Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1899=:54. =2.= _Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt._,
=1905=:166. =3.= _Mich. Sta. Sp. Bul._, =30=:11. 1905.
As St. Louis grows on the Station grounds it is so similar to Worden and
Concord that it would seem to be superfluous in the grape list of the
State. But the variety is so highly recommended in the West, especially
in the states from which the above references come, that it is possibly
worthy of trial in the grape regions of New York as an early type of
Concord.
St. Louis was introduced by Henry Wallis of Wellston, Missouri, about
1897. In 1900, he states that it is a seedling of Concord, was
originated in St. Louis, and that it had created a sensation for twenty
years in the St. Louis markets. The general character of both fruit and
vine corroborates the Concord parentage though the frequently
intermittent tendrils indicate there is a strain of other than Labrusca
blood present.
Vine vigorous, hardy, medium to productive. Canes long to medium,
intermediate in number, often rather thick, medium brown to nearly
dark reddish-brown deepening in color at the nodes, covered with
considerable pubescence; tendrils continuous to intermittent, bifid
to trifid. Leaves very large to medium, variable in color, thick;
lower surface grayish-white tinged with bronze; heavily pubescent.
Flowers fertile or nearly so, open medium early; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens about with Concord, or slightly earlier, keeps and
ships well. Clusters large to medium, intermediate in length,
rather broad, usually single-shouldered but occasionally with a
double shoulder, medium to compact. Berries nearly large to medium,
roundish, dull black, covered with thick blue bloom, persistent.
Skin of average thickness and toughness. Flesh tough, foxy, sweet
at skin to slightly acid at center, good in quality with a slight
resemblance to Concord. Seeds do not separate easily from the pulp,
medium to above in size and width, intermediate in length.
SALEM.
(Labrusca, Vinifera.)
=1.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1862=:148. =2.= _U. S. D. A. Rpt._,
=1865=:16. =3.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1867=:114. =4.= Mead,
=1867=:222. =5.= _Rec. of Hort._, =1868=:46. =6.= _N. Y. Ag. Soc.
Rpt._, =1868=:228. =7.= _Mag. Hort._, =34=:7. 1868. =8.=
_Horticulturist_, =24=:138. 1869. _fig._ =9.= _Grape Cult._,
=1=:150, 181, 327. 1869. =10.= _Am. Jour. Hort._, =5=:264. 1869.
=11.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._, =1869=:42. =12.= _Grape Cult._,
=2=:148, 149, _fig._, 298. 1870. =13.= _Mich. Pom. Soc. Rpt._,
=1877=:205. =14.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1881=:42, 138. =15.= _N.
Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =9=:329. 1890. =16.= _Ill. Sta. Bul._, =28=:261.
1893. =17.= _Tenn. Sta. Bul._, Vol. =9=:187. 1896. =18.= _N. Y.
Sta. An. Rpt._, =17=:535, 542, 543, 544, 548, 553. 1898. =19.=
_Mich. Sta. Bul._, =169=:175. 1899.
ROGERS' NO. 22 (1, 2). _Rogers' No. 22_ (3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13,
15). _Rogers' No. 53_ (4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17).
Salem is the one of Rogers' hybrids of which the originator is said to
have thought most and to which he gave the name of his place of
residence. Taking all of its characters, the variety is as close an
approximation to the ideal Rogers had in mind of a European grape and an
American vine as any one of the score or more of his hybrids. Salem
ranks among the best of these hybrids for either the garden or the
commercial vineyard, and while commonly found in both it has not been
sufficiently recognized by those who grow grapes for the market. It is
difficult to say why it is not more largely grown as a market fruit in
New York. The two chief faults, unproductiveness and susceptibility to
mildew, are not found in all localities, and in these at least and
especially near good markets, Salem ought to take high rank as a
commercial fruit.
As compared with other hybrids of Vinifera and Labrusca, Salem is early,
hardy, vigorous and fairly productive of handsome fruit of high quality
both for table and for wine-making. Though the color-plate does not show
it, there is a suggestion in bunch and berry of Black Hamburg, the
paternal parent. So, too, there is such a suggestion in the flavor and
the keeping quality and, as with the parent, the fruit neither cracks
nor shatters and therefore ships well. To the two faults named above
must be added that of pulpiness of berry, a defect common to many
hybrids of the two species represented in Salem. It is useless to
recommend for testing varieties that have been known as long and as
widely grown as Salem but it is worth while, is almost a duty, in a work
of this kind to urge further trials of some of the grapes of highest
quality, as Salem, on a commercial basis. Such fruit properly grown,
packed, and placed in the market ought to bring remunerative prices.
This one of Rogers' hybrids is _No. 22_ of his Vinifera-Labrusca
crosses. It early attracted favorable attention from the various
cultivators who had received vines from the originator for testing. It
was christened Salem by Rogers in 1867, two years earlier than his other
hybrids were named. At about this time, owing to a confusion of this
variety with some other, and charges that certain parties were sending
out a black grape under the name _Rogers' No. 22_, Rogers changed the
number of Salem to 53.
Salem was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society
fruit catalog in 1869 and was removed in 1871, reinstated in 1873, and
has since been retained. It is possible that the dropping of the name
from the catalog for the one year was a printer's oversight as there is
nothing in the body of the text to indicate a reason for such action.
Salem has always been one of the most popular of Rogers' hybrids and it
is offered for sale to-day by practically all grape nurserymen.
Vine medium to vigorous, unusually hardy, variable in
productiveness, susceptible to severe attacks of mildew. Canes
long, of average number, intermediate in thickness, light to dark
brown; nodes enlarged, usually not flattened; internodes medium to
above in length; diaphragm thick; pith medium to above in size;
shoots slightly pubescent; tendrils continuous to intermittent,
long to medium, bifid to trifid.
Leaf-buds rather large, of average size, thick to medium, often
compressed, roundish, obtuse to conical, open early. Young leaves
faintly tinged on lower side with slight rose-carmine. Leaves
variable in size, medium to thin; upper surface dark green, dull,
of medium smoothness; lower surface pale green with slight bronze
tinge, pubescent; veins moderately distinct; lobes none to three
with terminus acute; petiolar sinus deep, narrow, often closed and
overlapping; basal sinus lacking; lateral sinus shallow, narrow,
often notched; teeth intermediate in depth and width. Flowers
sterile, open in mid-season; stamens reflexed.
[Illustration: SALEM]
Fruit ripens slightly before Concord, keeps and ships well.
Clusters medium to large, rather short and broad, tapering to
cylindrical, frequently heavily single-shouldered, compact;
peduncle short to medium, thick; pedicel medium to short, thick,
covered with few small warts, enlarged at point of attachment to
berry; brush short, pale green. Berries large to medium, roundish,
very dark red, dull, covered with a medium amount of blue bloom,
decidedly persistent, soft. Skin thick, intermediate in toughness,
adheres strongly to the pulp, contains no pigment, astringent.
Flesh slightly translucent, juicy, tender, somewhat stringy,
moderately fine-grained, inclined to vinous, sprightly, sweet at
skin but acid at center, good to very good in quality. Seeds one to
six, average four, large, long and broad, blunt, brownish; raphe
shows as a distinct cord-like ridge; chalaza small, roughened and
frequently with radiating furrows, much above center, variable in
shape, distinct.
SCUPPERNONG.[210]
(Rotundifolia.)
=1.= _Amer. Farmer_, 1:317. 1819. =2.= _Ib._, =3=:332. 1822. =3.=
_Ib._, =9=:29, 30. 1827. =4.= _Ib._, =9=:139. 1827. =5.= Prince,
=1830=:167. =6.= _Ib._, =1830=:170. =7.= Downing, =1845=:258. =8.=
_Horticulturist_, =12=:457. 1857. =9.= _U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt._,
=1857=:231. =10.= _Gar. Mon._, =5=:73, 74. 1863. =11.= _Grape
Cult._, =1=:38, 280, 292. 1869. =12.= _Ib._, =3=:60. 1871. =13.=
_Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._, =1871=:16. =14.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._,
=1881=:40, 68, 147, 153, 155. =15.= _Gar. Mon._, =28=:140, 173.
1886. =16.= _Ala. Sta. Bul._, =29=:18. 1891. =17.= _Bush. Cat._,
=1894=:177. _fig._ =18.= _Am. Gard._, =20=:688. 1899. =19.= _Ga.
Sta. Bul._, =53=:49, 59. 1901. =20.= _N. C. Sta. Bul._, =187=:58,
60. 1903. =21.= _S. C. Sta. Bul._, =132=:18. 1907.
_American Muscadine_ (5, 10, of the South 7). _Bull_ (9, 17, of the
South 7). _Bullace_ (9, 17). _Bullet_ (17, of the South 7). _Fox
grape_ of the South (7). GREEN SCUPPERNONG (6). _Green Muscadine_
(6). HICKMAN (3). _Hickman_ (5, 10). _Muscadine_ (9). ROANOKE (4).
_Roanoke_ (5, 10, 17, of the South 7). _Scuppernong_ (3, 4, 5).
_White Muscadine_ (11, 17). WHITE SCUPPERNONG (5). _Wild green
Muscadine_ (6). _Yellow Muscadine_ (17).
The Scuppernong is preeminently the grape of the South. It is the chief
representative of the great species _Vitis rotundifolia_, which runs
riot in natural luxuriance from Delaware and Maryland to the Gulf, and
westward from the Atlantic to Arkansas and Texas. The name Scuppernong
was taken from the Indians and is now common in the geography of North
Carolina; a river, a town, a lake, and a swamp all bear this
appellation. Calvin Jones, an agriculturist of note in North Carolina
during the early part of the last century, gives the following history
of the name as applied to the grape it now distinguishes:[211] "This
grape & wine had the name of Scuppernong given to them by Henderson &
myself, in compliment to James Blount of Scuppernong, who first diffused
a general knowledge of it in several well written communications in our
paper--and it is cultivated with more success on that river than in any
other part of the state, perhaps, except the Island of Roanoke."
Scuppernong is said to have been found on Roanoke Island at the time of
the landing of Sir Walter Raleigh's colony. There is a tradition that an
old vine now growing on this island is the original vine. At an early
day it was quite common to propagate Scuppernong by seed, pulling out
all vines bearing black fruit as soon as the color of the fruit could be
determined. Because of this practice it is probable that there are many
seminal varieties under the general name Scuppernong. All that seems to
be required for a grape to pass under this name is that the vine should
be a Rotundifolia and the fruit white.
In the horticultural accounts of the history of Scuppernong it is
commonly spoken of as having been found wild during the latter part of
the eighteenth century. But Lawson, writing about 1700, in the account
quoted on page 37 of this work, describes with sufficient accuracy a
white Rotundifolia which could hardly be any other than the Scuppernong.
It is, thus, in a sense, a botanical as well as a horticultural variety.
Its close relationship to the black form of Rotundifolia is attested by
the fact that its seedlings are as often, probably more often, black
than white. That Scuppernong is more distinct than the other varieties
of Rotundifolia is indicated by the fact that of the ten cultivated
varieties of Rotundifolia now grown in the South, James, Thomas, Eden,
Meisch, Flowers, Memory, Seedlin, Tenderpulp, Jeter, and Scuppernong as
given by Newman,[212] all are black but the last named.
Scuppernong vines are to be found on arbors, in gardens, or half wild,
on trees and fences on nearly every farm in the South Atlantic States.
As a rule, these vines receive little cultivation, are unpruned, and
are given no care of any kind, but even under neglect they produce large
and sure crops, are almost immune to mildew, rot, phylloxera, or other
fungal or insect pests. The plants give not only an abundance of fruit
but on arbors and trellises are much prized for their shade and beauty.
The growth of the vine is prodigious; seemingly well authenticated
reports state that vines are known which cover an acre of land; other
tales, having at least the semblance of truth, are equally marvellous.
Thus there are accounts of vines of this variety over a hundred years
old and which bear 500 bushels of fruit and make 2000 gallons of wine.
The fruit, to a palate accustomed to other grapes, is not very
acceptable, having a musky flavor and a somewhat repugnant odor, which,
however, becomes with familiarity, it is said, quite agreeable. The pulp
is sweet and juicy but is lacking in sprightliness. From the Scuppernong
are made several very good wines and it would seem that the future of
this and other varieties of Rotundifolia, from a commercial standpoint,
lies largely in their value for wine. Quite aside from the quality of
the fruit as a table grape, they are not suitable for the market from
the fact that the berries drop from the bunch in ripening and become
more or less smeared with juice so that as they are brought into market
in quantity, their appearance is not at all appetizing.
Vine vigorous to rank, not hardy in the North, very productive.
Canes long, numerous, slender, vary from ash-gray to grayish-brown;
surface smooth, thickly covered with small, light brown dots; pith
greenish; tendrils intermittent, simple. Leaves small, thin; upper
surface light green, smooth; lower surface very pale green,
slightly pubescent along the ribs, otherwise smooth; veins
inconspicuous. Flowers open very late; stamens reflexed.
Fruit ripens late, even in the South, often ripening unevenly,
appears to keep well but berries drop as they mature. Clusters
small, roundish, not shouldered, loose. Berries very few per
cluster, large, roundish, dull green often with brown tinge, not
persistent, firm. Skin very thick and tough, covered with many
small russet dots; no pigment. Flesh pale green, juicy, tender and
soft, fine-grained, very foxy, sweet to agreeably tart, fair to
good in quality. Seeds slightly adherent to pulp, large, medium to
short, often very broad, not notched, quite blunt, plump, surface
unusually smooth, brownish; raphe buried in a narrow, shallow
groove; chalaza small, nearly central, elongated, rather obscure.
Must 88°.
SECRETARY.
(Vinifera, Riparia, Labrusca.)
=1.= _Grape Cult._, =2=:158. 1870. =2.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._,
=1871=:41, 112. =3.= _Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1872=:94. =4.=
_Horticulturist_, =29=:328. 1874. =5.= _Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt._,
=1876-7=:32. =6.= _N. J. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1881=:11. =7.= _W. N.
Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =27=:21. 1882. =8.= _Bush. Cat._, =1883=:135.
_fig._ =9.= _Mass. Hatch Sta. Bul._, =37=:11, 16. 1896. =10.= _Tex.
Sta. Bul._, =48=:1151, 1162. 1898. =11.= _Mich. Sta. Bul._,
=169=:176. 1899. =12.= _Mo. Sta. Bul._, =46=:41. 1891.
Injured by mildew and rot which nearly every year attack leaves, fruit
and young wood, Secretary is able only in exceptional seasons and in
favored localities to produce a crop of good grapes. Nevertheless it has
many excellent qualities as an amateur grape and should not be lost to
cultivation. The fact that it is the result of the fecundation of a
Riparia by a Vinifera, both parents being excellent varieties, gives
Secretary added interest and value and makes its perpetuation still
further worth while.
There is no question as to the rank of the fruit characters of
Secretary. Taken together they make it a grape of exceptionally high
quality, the berries being meaty yet juicy, fine-grained and tender with
a sweet, spicy, vinous flavor. The bunches are large, well formed with
medium-sized, purplish-black berries covered with thick bloom, making a
very handsome cluster. While the vine and foliage somewhat resemble
those of Clinton, one of its parents, the variety is not nearly as
hardy, vigorous or productive nor as healthy, falling short in all of
these respects and making its culture in New York precarious. Moreover,
in any but favored localities in this State, its maturity is somewhat
uncertain. These defects of vine have kept Secretary from becoming of
commercial importance and make it of value only to the amateur.
Secretary is one of the first productions of Ricketts of Newburgh. He
grew the original vine from seed of Clinton fertilized by Muscat
Hamburg. Planted in 1867, it is said to have borne a little fruit when
one year old from the seed. Specimens of the variety were exhibited
before the American Pomological Society in 1871. Ricketts sold the
variety about 1875 to S. W. Underhill of Croton Point, New York, who
introduced it a few years later. On account of its many weak points it
has never been popular and it is apparently not offered for sale by any
of the nurserymen to-day.
[Illustration: SENASQUA]
Vine not uniform in vigor, doubtfully hardy, quite variable in
productiveness, inclined to be an uncertain bearer, subject to
attacks of fungi. Canes medium to below in length, numerous,
intermediate in thickness, light brown but conspicuously darker at
nodes, surface covered with thin blue bloom; tendrils intermittent,
bifid. Leaves small to medium, thin; upper surface light green,
nearly dull, smooth; lower surface pale green, almost glabrous;
veins indistinct. Flowers semi-fertile, open early; stamens
upright.
Fruit ripens soon after Concord, keeps and ships well. Clusters
medium to large, long to medium, of average width, cylindrical to
tapering, frequently with a medium to large single shoulder,
variable in compactness but often loose and with many abortive
fruits. Berries large to medium, roundish to oval, somewhat
flattened at point of attachment to pedicel, dark purplish-black,
glossy, covered with thick blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin
intermediate in thickness, tough with wine-colored pigment. Flesh
greenish, juicy, fine-grained, tender, vinous, sweet, good in
quality. Seeds separate readily from the pulp, medium to nearly
large, broad to medium, slightly notched, long to above medium,
dark brown; raphe shows as a moderately distinct cord; chalaza
small, above center, distinctly oval. Must 93°.
SENASQUA.
(Labrusca, Vinifera.)
=1.= _Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1868=:10. =2.= Downing, =1872=:120
app. =3.= _Am. Jour. Hort._, =8=:9. 1870. _fig._ =4.= _U. S. D. A.
Rpt._, =1875=:384. =5.= _Bush. Cat._, =1883=:138. _fig._ =6.= _N.
Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =9=:327. 1890. =7.= _Ib._, =11=:636. 1892. =8.=
_Ib._, =17=:535, 546, 547. 1898. =9.= _Ga. Sta. Bul._, =53=:49.
1901.
It is almost a sufficient characterization of Senasqua to say that it is
a Labrusca-Vinifera hybrid. The merits and demerits of the cross-breeds
of these two species are so similar in the varieties of them now in
cultivation that they can be placed in a group having as few variations
as can be found in the parent species. The characters of these hybrid
grapes have been well discussed in writing of the varieties sent out by
Rogers and the place of Senasqua is well designated when the statement
is made that it is very similar to Rogers' hybrids. The vine lacks
somewhat in vigor, hardiness, productiveness and health. The grapes are
of good quality and when well grown the variety is up to the average of
such hybrids in fruit characters so far as the palate is concerned.
Unfortunately the berries have a tendency to crack which is aggravated
by the fact that the bunches are so compact as to crowd the berries and
thus add to the cracking. Senasqua is one of the latest to open its buds
and is therefore seldom injured by late frosts. This variety is hardly
as well adapted for commercial viticulture as several other such hybrids
and can be recommended only for the garden for the sake of variety.
Stephen W. Underhill of Croton Point, New York, originated Senasqua from
seed of Concord pollinated by Black Prince. The seed was planted in 1863
and the resulting variety introduced about 1870. This variety, although
it attracted much attention at the time of its introduction, was never
popular. It was rather widely tested but was soon dropped and is to-day
practically obsolete. The foliage and vines of Senasqua show little
trace of Vinifera but the descent from the foreign species is plainly
marked in the fruit.
Vine variable in vigor, sometimes weak and tender, medium to
unproductive, somewhat susceptible to attacks of mildew. Canes
short, few in number, above average size, light to dark
reddish-brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes short to
medium; diaphragm thick; pith of medium size; shoots slightly
pubescent; tendrils intermittent, long to medium, trifid to bifid.
Leaf-buds below average size, short, of medium thickness, conical,
open very late, tinged on under side and slightly along margin of
upper side with light rose-carmine. Leaves intermediate in size and
thickness, light green, slightly glossy, medium to somewhat rugose;
lower surface whitish-green, pubescent; veins distinct; leaf
usually not lobed with terminus acute; petiolar sinus of average
depth, medium to narrow; basal and lateral sinuses shallow and
narrow when present; teeth intermediate in depth and width. Flowers
fertile, open late; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens a little later than Concord, keeps well. Clusters
large to medium, intermediate in length, broad to medium,
irregularly tapering, usually with a small single shoulder, very
compact with uneven surface; peduncle short to medium, thick;
pedicel intermediate in length, thick, usually smooth, enlarged at
point of attachment to fruit; brush short to medium, green with
slight red tinge. Berries above medium in size, roundish,
reddish-black to black, covered with heavy blue bloom, persistent,
firm. Skin medium to thick, tender, inclined to crack, adheres
strongly to the pulp, contains a fair amount of light wine-colored
pigment, without astringency. Flesh greenish, translucent, very
juicy, tender, meaty, vinous, somewhat spicy, sprightly, good in
quality. Seeds separate readily from the pulp, one to five, average
two, intermediate in size, rather long, narrow, usually one-sided,
light brown; raphe buried in a narrow groove; chalaza small, above
center, oval, obscure.
SHELBY.
(Labrusca, Riparia.)
=1.= _Vineyardist_, Oct. 15, 1893. =2.= _Rural N. Y._, =53=:683.
1894. =3.= _Bush. Cat._, =1894=:180. =4.= _Rural N. Y._, =55=:638,
_fig._, 642. 1896. =5.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =17=:535, 546, 547,
557. 1898. =6.= _Ga. Sta. Bul._, =53=:49. 1901.
Shelby is hardly worth cultivating in New York. It ripens at a time when
there are many other grapes which surpass it in flavor and appearance.
It has, however, been somewhat highly spoken of and grape experimenters
may want to try the variety. The name is from Shelby, Ohio, the
birthplace of the originator.
D. S. Marvin of Watertown, New York, originated the Shelby about 1880.
It was introduced in the fall of 1894. The originator writes that the
parentage of this variety is not positively known but it is supposed to
be a Labrusca-Riparia cross. The botanical characters of the fruit and
vine as it grows on the Station grounds verify this supposition.
Vine vigorous, variable in hardiness, medium to productive. Canes
long, numerous, medium to slender; tendrils intermittent, sometimes
continuous, bifid to trifid. Leaves uniform in size, green, often
thin; lower surface grayish-green with tinge of bronze, strongly
pubescent. Flowers fertile or nearly so, open in mid-season or
earlier; stamens upright. Fruit ripens early, sometimes before
Winchell, does not keep nor ship well. Clusters medium to below in
size, short, frequently with a single shoulder, shorter and more
compact than Winchell. Berries medium to small, roundish, light
green to yellowish-green, covered with thin gray bloom, somewhat
inclined to shatter. Skin thin, variable in toughness, peculiarly
astringent. Flesh tough, stringy, foxy, sweet from skin to center,
mild, fair to good in quality. Seeds do not separate readily from
the pulp, not very numerous, medium to below in size, short, broad,
plump.
STANDARD.
(Labrusca, Vinifera, Bourquiniana?)
=1.= _Kan. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1886=:187. =2.= _Mo. Hort. Soc.
Rpt._, =1892=:266. =3.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =11=:637. 1892. =4.=
_Bush. Cat._, =1894=:180. =5.= _Va. Sta. Bul._, =94=:136. 1898.
=6.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =17=:535, 548, 557. 1898. =7.= _Mo.
Sta. Bul._, =46=:41. 1899.
_Burr's No. 2_ (1).
Standard is said to be a full sister of Jewel, but it is not equal to
the sister nor nearly equal to the reputed parent, Delaware. The variety
seems to be thought highly of in the West and it is possible that it has
greater value there than in New York. The quality of the grape is high
and it is said to make a light-colored wine of good body, taste and
aroma, but taking it all and all it does not rise above mediocre and
cannot be recommended unless for trial.
The variety was originated by John Burr of Leavenworth, Kansas, from
seed of Delaware planted about 1874. It was introduced in 1887 by
Stayman & Black of Leavenworth, Kansas. There are few characters of
either vine or fruit that show evidence of having come from Delaware.
Vine variable in vigor, usually hardy in ordinary seasons,
productive. Canes short to medium, few in number, rather slender;
tendrils continuous to intermittent, bifid to trifid. Leaves not
very healthy, medium to small, moderately light green; lower
surface tinged with bronze, pubescent. Flowers partly fertile, open
in mid-season; stamens upright. Fruit ripens about with Concord,
usually keeps fairly well. Clusters not uniform in size, short,
frequently with a small single shoulder, compact to medium. Berries
small to above medium, roundish, very dark reddish-black covered
with a large amount of lilac bloom, sometimes shatter considerably
from pedicel. Skin thin, rather tender. Flesh unusually pale green,
somewhat stringy, vinous, tender, sweet from skin to center, good
in quality. Seeds slightly adherent, medium to small, intermediate
in width; chalaza oval, often distinctly above center.
STARK-STAR.
(Labrusca, Vinifera, Aestivalis.)
=1.= _National Nur._, =10=:128, 133. 1902. =2.= _Rural N. Y._,
=62=:788. 1903. =3.= _Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1903=:65, 208, 274,
276. =4.= _Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1904=:301.
Stark-Star is receiving careful attention in the South and Southwest but
unfortunately it does not ripen early enough to promise well for this
latitude. On the Station grounds it ripens after Catawba, which does not
always mature. If the variety fulfills the high expectations of it in
the region of its origin it is worthy a trial in the regions of this
State where the Catawba ripens.
The variety was originated by Joseph Bachman of Altus, Arkansas, from
seed of Catawba fertilized by Norton or Hermann. The seed was planted
about 1892. Stark-Star was introduced by Stark Brothers, of Louisiana,
Missouri.
Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive. Canes medium to short,
numerous, often slender, roughened; tendrils continuous to
intermittent, bifid to trifid. Leaves large to medium, dark green,
frequently thin; lower surface pale green, slightly pubescent,
cobwebby. Fruit ripens later than Catawba, appears to be an
excellent keeper. Clusters large, medium to long, inclined to
broadness, frequently with a well marked short single shoulder,
very compact. Berries medium to below in size, oval to roundish but
frequently compressed on account of compactness of cluster, black
when ripe, covered with blue bloom, persistent. Skin intermediate
in thickness, tender. Flesh pale green, not very juicy, tough and
solid, slightly aromatic and spicy, almost sweet, fair to good in
quality. Seeds adhere somewhat to the pulp, numerous, medium to
small, intermediate in length and width, plump; raphe shows as a
distinct cord; chalaza distinctly above center to nearly central.
SUPERB.
(Labrusca, Vinifera, Aestivalis.)
=1.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1891=:126. =2.= _Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt._,
=1891=:126. =3.= _Rural N. Y._, =52=:636. 1893. _fig._ =4.= _Bush.
Cat._, =1894=:180. =5.= Husmann, =1895=:38. =6.= _N. Y. Sta. An.
Rpt._, =18=:396. 1899. =7.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._, =1899=:28, =8.=
_Ga. Sta. Bul._, =53=:49. 1901.
The quality of Superb ranges from good to very good but the appearance
of the fruit is against the variety. It resembles Eumelan, the reputed
parent, in size, shape, and color but is not as attractive. The vine on
the Station grounds is not such as to recommend it highly, and since it
has been known for at least twenty years without having become at all
popular with grape-growers, it may be assumed that the grape has
weaknesses elsewhere as well as here.
A. F. Rice of Griswoldville, Georgia, originated this variety, it is
said, from seed of Eumelan. The seed was planted in 1880 near South
Weymouth, Massachusetts. Superb was placed on the grape list of the
American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1899.
Vine medium to vigorous, usually hardy, healthy, productive. Canes
short to medium, few in number, often tapering, ash-gray changing
to light or dark brown; tendrils continuous, bifid. Leaves healthy,
medium to large, moderately light green; lower surface
grayish-green, thinly pubescent, the pubescence being distributed
in flecks. Flowers strongly self-fertile, open in mid-season or
later; stamens upright. Fruit ripens before Concord, keeps and
ships well. Clusters intermediate in size and width, medium to
long, frequently with a long, loose single shoulder, compact.
Berries medium to below in size, roundish to oval, dark
purplish-black covered with thin blue bloom, persistent, not very
firm. Skin thick, tough, without astringency. Flesh juicy, tender,
aromatic, sweet from skin to center, spicy, good to very good in
quality. Seeds separate readily from the pulp, medium to small,
medium to long, sharp-pointed; raphe occasionally shows as a
partially submerged cord in a broad groove; chalaza distinctly
above center.
TAYLOR.
(Riparia, Labrusca.)
=1.= _Valley Farmer_, =1858=:122. =2.= _Horticulturist_, =14=:486.
1859. =3.= _Ib._, =15=:34. 1860. =4.= _Gar. Mon._, =2=:68, 119,
163. 1860. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1860=:78. =6.=
_Horticulturist_, =19=:156. 1864. =7.= Husmann, =1866=:104. =8.=
Fuller, =1867=:231. =9.= _Grape Cult._, =1=:44, 74, 242, 291, 296.
1869. =10.= _Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1881=:161. =11.= _Am. Pom.
Soc. Rpt._, =1883=:133. =12.= _Bush. Cat._, =1883=:20, 138. =13.=
_Tex. Sta. Bul._, =48=:1151, 1162. 1898. =14.= _Mo. Sta. Bul._,
=46=:41, 43, 45, 46, 76. 1899. =15.= _Ga. Sta. Bul._, =53=:49.
1901.
BULLITT (1, 4). _Bullitt_ (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12). TAYLOR (2, 5).
_Taylor_ (4, 11). TAYLOR BULLIT (13, 14). TAYLOR'S BULLITT (8, 11).
_Taylor's Bullitt_ (12).
Taylor is hardly known in New York nor, indeed, is it now much grown
elsewhere. It is of interest for the part it has played in the grape
culture of the past and especially for its worthy offspring. Many of
these now outrank the parent in the regions and for the purposes for
which Taylor is grown. In truth, the most valuable quality of Taylor
seems to be its capacity for transmitting its good characters to its
seedlings; some of course fall much below it, as a table or wine grape,
but a considerable number quite equal it, and a few surpass it, but all
resemble the parent vine much more than is common among grapes. While it
is from the species to which Taylor belongs that we must look for our
hardiest vines yet this grape and its offspring, though not particularly
tender to cold, do best in southern regions as they require a long, warm
summer and fall to mature properly. Taylor was long grown in both Europe
and California as a grafting stock for the Old World varieties as a
protection against phylloxera, and is still somewhat cultivated in these
regions for that purpose.
The quality of the fruit of Taylor is from fair to good, the flavor
being sweet, pure, delicate and spicy and the flesh tender and juicy,
but the bunches are small, the flowers infertile so that the berries do
not set well and give very imperfect and unsightly clusters. The skin is
such, too, that it cracks badly, a defect that is seemingly transmitted
to many of the seedlings of the variety. The vine is strong, healthy,
hardy but not very productive. Taylor is essentially a wine grape, and
it is not likely that it or many of the varieties bred from it will make
table grapes. The wine is said to be exceptionally good, of great body
and high flavor.
The original vine of Taylor was a wild seedling found in the early part
of the last century on the Cumberland Mountains near the
Kentucky-Tennessee line by a Mr. Cobb who planted the vine on his farm
in Shelby County, Kentucky. Later the farm was sold to Cuthbert Bullitt.
About 1840, the grape came to the attention of Judge John Taylor of
Jericho, Henry County, Kentucky, an enthusiastic amateur horticulturist
who secured the vine from Bullitt and sent cuttings to many
grape-growers for testing. It was early introduced into the grape region
of the middle West where it was widely tested but was never extensively
planted owing to its lack of productiveness. Its culture has been on the
wane for many years and only an occasional nurseryman in that section
handles the variety to-day. This variety has, at different times, passed
under the names Bullitt, Taylor, Taylor's Bullitt, with various
spellings of the name Bullitt.
The following description has been compiled from various sources:
Vine vigorous to rank, healthy, hardy, variable in productiveness.
Leaves small, attractive in color, smooth. Flowers bloom early;
stamens reflexed. Fruit ripens about two weeks before Isabella.
Clusters small to medium, shouldered, loose to moderately compact.
Berries small to medium, roundish, pale greenish-white, sometimes
tinged with amber. Skin very thin. Pulp sweet, spicy, fair to good
in quality.
TELEGRAPH.
(Labrusca, Aestivalis.)
=1.= _U. S. D. A. Rpt._, =1863=:549. =2.= _Gar. Mon._, =9=:51.
1867. =3.= _Ib._, =10=:19, 344. 1868. =4.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._,
=1869=:42. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1869=:56. =6.= _Grape
Cult._, =1=:44, 115, 296. 1869. =7.= _Gar. Mon._, =11=:83. 1869.
=8.= _Horticulturist_, =30=:73. 1875. =9.= _Bush. Cat._, =1883=:82,
139. =10.= _W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =36=:43. 1891. =11.= _N. Y.
Sta. An. Rpt._, =11=:637. 1892. =12.= _Tenn. Sta. Bul._, Vol.
=9=:187. 1896. =13.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =17=:535, 546, 547,
557. 1898. =14.= _Mo. Sta. Bul._, =46=:41, 42, 44, 45. 1899. =15.=
_Kan. Sta. Bul._, =110=:237. 1902. =16.= _Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt._,
=1906=:65, 67.
CHRISTINE (2, 3, 7). _Christine_ (4, 8, 9, 10, 12). _Telegraph_ (2,
3).
The characters of Telegraph are not such as to give it high rank among
grapes and now that nearly forty years have passed since its origin, and
many better varieties have come into cultivation, the variety is worth
mentioning only as a matter of record. Its most remarkable character is
compact, well shouldered bunches, making them attractive in appearance
though somewhat small for a commercial variety. Telegraph is susceptible
to rot and the birds are particularly fond of its fruit. It ripens very
early and is of better quality than Hartford--not high praise. The
variety is peculiar in that the ripening season seems to vary from a
few days after Hartford to as late as Concord. It is earlier,
comparatively, in the South than in the North; that is, in cool summers
it matures slowly.
Telegraph, or Christine, as it appears to have first been called, is a
chance seedling which appeared about the middle of the last century in
the yard of a Mr. Christine, Hestonville, near Westchester, Chester
County, Pennsylvania. About 1860 P. R. Freas, editor of the _Germantown
Telegraph_, to whom fruit was sent, bestowed upon it the name of his
paper, which finally supplanted the original name. It was placed on the
grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1869 and
removed in 1899. Telegraph is apparently a Labrusca with a strain of
Aestivalis.
Vine vigorous, hardy, usually healthy, very productive. Canes
unusually long, medium to numerous; tendrils continuous, trifid to
bifid. Leaves healthy, medium to large, inclined to roundish, light
green; lower surface grayish-white, pubescent. Flowers fertile,
open in mid-season or earlier; stamens upright. Fruit usually
ripens soon after Hartford but sometimes later, a fair shipper and
keeper. Clusters medium to small, often short, broad, cylindrical,
blunt at ends, single-shouldered, very compact. Berries
intermediate in size, roundish to slightly oval on account of
compactness of cluster, dull black covered with a large amount of
blue bloom, persistent. Skin intermediate in thickness, tough, does
not adhere to the pulp, astringent. Flesh greenish, tough and
solid, slightly foxy, pleasant flavor, sweet at skin to tart at
center, fair to good in quality. Seeds somewhat adherent and
numerous, medium to above in size, variable in shape and size.
TO-KALON.
(Labrusca, Vinifera.)
=1.= _Mag. Hort._, =1=:459. 1835. =2.= _N. Y. Ag. Soc. Rpt._,
=1847=:353. =3.= _Mag. Hort._, =21=:42, 1855. =4.= _Ib._, =22=:507.
1856. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1856=:163. =6.= Downing,
=1857=:345. =7.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1858=:72. =8.=
_Horticulturist_, =14=:299. 1859. _fig._ =9.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._,
=1860=:81. =10.= _Ib._, =1862=:146. =11.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._,
=1862=:90. =12.= _Gar. Mon._, =5=:73, 74. 1863. =13.= Grant,
=1864=:11. =14.= _Gar. Mon._, =8=:362. 1866. =15.= _Grape Cult._,
=1=:327. 1869. =16.= Downing, =1869=:556. =17.= _Bush. Cat._,
=1883=:139.
_The Beautiful_ (16). CARTER (4). _Carter_ (7, 10, 16, 17, of
Boston 12). _Spofford Seedling_ (16, 17). WYMAN (3). _Wyman_ (10,
12, 16, 17).
The fruit characters of To-Kalon are so similar to those of Catawba that
it was hardly worthy of introduction. Beside duplicating the Catawba in
fruit the vines are not healthy, being very susceptible to mildew and
rot, the fruit drops badly, and the crop does not ripen well. The
quality of the fruit is very good, once it can be secured. A point in
its favor is that it ripens a little before Catawba. The variety long
since ceased to be of commercial importance and can now be found but
rarely in collections.
To-Kalon was originated in the early part of the last century by Dr.
Spofford of Lansingburg, New York. The originator states that it is a
seedling of a European grape, but from its resemblance to Catawba it is
supposed by many to have been a seedling of that variety. Wyman and
Carter are two varieties of later introduction which are said to be
identical with To-Kalon, but as the origin of each is apparently
authentic and distinct it appears more probable that they are merely
similar sorts. To-Kalon was placed on the list of sorts recommended by
the American Pomological Society in 1862 but was dropped from this list
in 1871.
The following description has been compiled from various sources:
Vine vigorous to rank, variable in productiveness, hardy, often
mildews badly. Foliage large, abundant. Flowers do not always set
well. Fruit ripens somewhat earlier than Catawba. Clusters large,
shouldered. Berries large, oval to oblate, darker than Catawba,
covered with heavy bloom, shells. Pulp sweet, of pure flavor,
melting, very good in quality.
TRIUMPH.
(Labrusca, Vinifera.)
=1.= _Grape Cult._, =2=:295. 1870. =2.= _Am. Jour. Hort._, =9=:84.
1871. =3.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1881=:33, 40, 162. =4.= Downing,
=1881=:169 app. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._, =1883=:26. =6.= _Bush.
Cat._, =1883=:140, _fig._, 141. =7.= _Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt._,
=1884=:217. =8.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1885=:104. =9.= _N. Y. Sta.
An. Rpt._, =11=:637. 1892. =10.= _Va. Sta. Bul._, =94=:142. 1898.
=11.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =17=:535, 548, 557. 1898. =12.= _Miss.
Sta. Bul._, =56=:17. 1899. =13.= _Mich. Sta. Bul._, =169=:176.
1899. =14.= _Ala. Sta. Bul._, =110=:89. 1900. =15.= _Ga. Sta.
Bul._, =53=:49, 52, 59. 1901. =16.= _Kan. Sta. Bul._, =110=:243.
1902. =17.= _Traité gen. de vit._, =5=:186. 1903.
_Campbell's Concord Hybrid No. 6_ (6). _Campbell's Seedling No. 6_
(17). _Hybride de Concord No. 6_ (17).
When quality, color, shape and size of bunch and berry are all
considered, Triumph is one of the finest dessert grapes of America. When
at its best it is a magnificent bunch of golden grapes of highest
quality, esteemed even in southern Europe where it must compete with the
best of the Viniferas, though unfortunately it is nearly as susceptible
in that region to phylloxera as the Old World varieties, a defect which
has caused its relegation there from commercial vineyards to the
collections of experimenters and amateurs. In America its commercial
importance is curtailed by the fact that it requires a long season for
its proper development and the variety justifies its name only in the
South and more particularly in the Southwest. In the latitude of New
York it is doubtfully hardy and the short summer season never permits it
to attain the quality and beauty which characterize it further south.
Triumph has, in general, the vine characters of the Labrusca parent
Concord, especially its habit of growth, vigor, productiveness and
foliage characters, falling short in hardiness, resistance to fungal
diseases and earliness of maturity. Even in New York the vines are as
vigorous and set nearly as much fruit as Concord; but they are injured
in cold winters unless protected, and suffer in particular from the
mildews. The fruit matures with or a little later than the Catawba. It
proves, in regions where it is largely grown, to be quite adaptable to
different soils and locations and the small amount of data at hand on
this point in New York suggests that this adaptability holds for the
grape regions of this State as well. It prefers, if anything, a deep
soil to a shallow one and alluvial or clayey soils to lighter lands.
While the vine characters of Triumph are those of Labrusca there is
scarcely a suggestion of the coarseness, or of the foxy odor and taste
of Labrusca; and the objectionable seeds, pulp, and skin of the native
grape give way to the far less objectionable structures of Vinifera.
Grapes of this variety do not have the firm and often disagreeable
pulpiness of many other similar hybrids, as for instance most of Rogers'
hybrids. The flesh is tender and melting and the flavor rich, sweet,
vinous, pure and delicate, giving the variety high rank among the best
American grapes. In the North, as would be expected from its lack of
proper maturity, the flavor is insipid as compared with the same
character in the South. The skins of the berries are faulty being more
apparent in eating than those of Vinifera and under unfavorable
conditions crack badly; because of the tenderness of the skin the
variety neither ships nor keeps remarkably well. Triumph is not only one
of the best dessert grapes but it is said to make a very good white
wine.
[Illustration: TRIUMPH]
There are numerous pure-bred and cross-bred offsprings of Triumph in
America which indicate that this variety may be very successfully used
in grape-breeding. Munson of Texas, in particular, among other
viticulturists, has used it to advantage in breeding work, his Bailey,
Big Extra, Big Hope, Carman, Early Golden, Fern Munson, Governor Ross,
Newman, Ragan, Rommel, R. W. Munson, W. B. Munson, all having been bred
with Triumph as an ancestor.
When all of its qualities and characters are considered, and for all
parts of America, it can hardly be disputed that Triumph is the best of
the hybrids of the two species from which it comes that has been
produced by artificial fertilization. That it does not succeed better in
New York is a distinct loss to the viticulture of the State.
Triumph was originated nearly a half century ago by George W. Campbell
of Delaware, Ohio, from seed of Concord fertilized by Chasselas Musque
(Joslyn's St. Albans). The originator considered it of no value in his
vineyard but sent it to Samuel Miller of Bluffton, Missouri, who gave it
the name Triumph. It was placed on the grape list of the American
Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1883.
Vine vigorous, doubtfully hardy, medium to very productive,
somewhat subject to attacks of mildew. Canes medium to long,
intermediate in number and thickness, moderately dark brown,
surface covered with a slight amount of bloom; nodes enlarged,
variable in shape; internodes medium to above in length; diaphragm
thick; pith medium in size; shoots slightly pubescent; tendrils
intermittent, medium to long, trifid, sometimes bifid.
Leaf-buds large to medium, long and thick, obtuse to conical, open
late. Young leaves tinged on under side and along margin of upper
side with brownish-carmine. Leaves large, of average thickness;
upper surface light green, dull, medium to slightly rugose; lower
surface grayish-white, pubescent; veins distinct; leaf usually not
lobed with terminus obtuse to acute; petiolar sinus medium to deep,
narrow, often closed and overlapping; basal sinus absent; lateral
sinus shallow and narrow when present; teeth deep, wide to medium.
Flowers fertile, open late; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens with Catawba or later, does not rank among the best
keepers. Clusters very large to medium, long, broad, tapering to
cylindrical, sometimes single-shouldered, compact; peduncle short
to medium, above average thickness; pedicel medium to short,
slender, smooth, considerably enlarged at point of attachment to
fruit; brush short, pale yellowish-green. Berries medium to above
in size, oval, pale green or golden yellow, glossy, covered with
heavy gray bloom, persistent, firm. Skin thin, variable in
toughness, sometimes inclined to crack, adheres considerably to the
pulp, contains no pigment, slightly astringent. Flesh light green,
translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender, somewhat vinous, good to
very good. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, one to five,
average three, below medium to small, intermediate in width, long,
brownish; raphe sometimes visible being partly submerged in the
short shallow groove; chalaza of average size, above center, oval
to circular, distinct.
ULSTER.
(Labrusca, Vinifera.)
=1.= _Bush. Cat._, =1883=:141. =2.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._,
=1885=:104. =3.= _Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1885-6=:224. =4.= _Am.
Pom. Soc. Cat._, =1889=:24. =5.= _Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1891=:128.
=6.= _Rural N. Y._, =50=:691. 1891. =7.= _Ib._, =51=:170, 681.
1892. =8.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =11=:637. 1892. =9.= _Ill. Sta.
Bul._, =28=:262. 1893. =10.= _Bush. Cat._, =1894=:183. =11.= _W. N.
Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =39=:26. 1894. =12.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._,
=17=:536, 548, 553, 557. 1898. =13.= _Kan. Sta. Bul._, =110=:240.
1902. =14.= _Mich. Sta. Bul._, =205=:41. 1903.
ULSTER PROLIFIC (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13). _Ulster Prolific_ (8, 10).
The accompanying color-plate does not do justice to Ulster as to size
and beauty of the fruit but it well illustrates one of the chief faults
of the variety. The vines usually set too much fruit in spite of efforts
to control the crop by pruning, and two undesirable results follow: The
bunches are small and the vines, lacking vigor at best, fail to fully
recover from the over-fruitfulness. Over-productiveness and lack of
vigor are the two defects in Ulster that have kept it from becoming of
more importance commercially and a greater favorite as a garden grape.
The quality of the fruit is very good, being much like that of Catawba
both in flesh characters and in flavor. The color of the berries seems
to vary greatly, sometimes being nearly as red as Catawba and under
other conditions an unattractive green with a reddish tinge. As a rule
the fruit keeps well but there are exceptions especially when the
variety is not grown under the conditions best suited to it. Ulster has
many good qualities but its deficiency in vigor and capriciousness in
both vine and fruit characters prevent its becoming a grape of value for
either vineyard or garden.
Ulster was originated by A. J. Caywood of Marlboro, New York, and was
introduced by the originator about 1885. It was included in the list of
sorts recommended by the American Pomological Society in 1899. Its
parents are said to be Catawba pollinated by a wild Aestivalis. Both
vine and fruit show unmistakable traces of Labrusca and Vinifera, but
the Aestivalis characters, if present, are not apparent.
[Illustration: ULSTER]
Vine medium to weak, usually hardy, productive, often overbears,
sometimes susceptible to attacks of mildew. Canes medium to short,
not numerous, slender, moderately dark brown, surface roughened
and covered with faint pubescence; nodes enlarged and flattened;
internodes short; diaphragm of average thickness; pith intermediate
in size; shoots pubescent; tendrils usually intermittent, of medium
length, bifid, dehisce early.
Leaf-buds intermediate in size, short to medium, thick, plump,
conical to pointed, open rather late. Young leaves faintly tinged
on under side and along margin of upper side, which is rather
glossy, prevailing color pale green with considerable rose-carmine
tinge. Leaves small to medium, thick; upper surface light green,
glossy, somewhat smooth; lower surface grayish-white, pubescent;
veins distinct; leaf usually not lobed with terminus acute to
acuminate; petiolar sinus of average depth, medium to wide; basal
sinus absent; lateral sinus a mere notch when present; teeth
shallow to medium, above medium width. Flowers fertile or nearly
so, open rather early; stamens upright.
Fruit usually ripens with Concord or a little later, keeps and
ships well. Clusters intermediate in size, above average length,
intermediate in breadth, cylindrical to slightly tapering, often
single-shouldered, compact; peduncle short, slender; pedicel
intermediate in length, slender to medium, covered with numerous
warts; brush short, yellowish-green. Berries above medium to medium
in size, roundish to roundish-oval, rather dark dull red but do not
always color well, covered with thin light to dark lilac bloom,
persistent, of average firmness. Skin thick, tough, adheres
slightly to the pulp, contains no pigment, somewhat astringent.
Flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, tender, fine-grained, faintly
aromatic, slightly foxy, sweet next the skin to tart at center,
good to very good in quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp,
one to six, average three, medium to above in size, variable in
length and breadth, somewhat plump, brownish; raphe obscure;
chalaza intermediate in size, above center, oval to circular, not
distinct; surface of seeds slightly roughened.
UNION VILLAGE.
(Labrusca, Vinifera?)
=1.= Elliott, =1854=:247. =2.= _U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt._, =1856=:433.
=3.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1856=:39, 165. =4.= Downing,
=1857=:346. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1858=:69. =6.= _Am. Pom.
Soc. Cat._, =1858=:235. =7.= _Mag. Hort._, =24=:92, 94. 1858. =8.=
_Horticulturist_, =14=:74. 1859. _fig._ =9.= _Mass. Hort. Soc.
Rpt._, =1860=:49. =10.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1860=:89. =11.=
_Mag. Hort._, =27=:533. 1861. =12.= _Horticulturist_, =16=:234.
1861. _fig._ =13.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1862=:146. =14.= _Mag.
Hort._, =29=:422. 1863. =15.= _Ib._, =31=:103. 1865. =16.= Mead,
=1867=:198. =17.= _Grape Cult._, =1=:43, 44, 151, 239, 262, 327.
1869. =18.= _Bush. Cat._, =1883=:142. =19.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._,
=1883=:59.
IMITATION HAMBURG (1). ONTARIO (8, 9, 10, 14). _Ontario_ (13, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19). SHAKER (2). _Shaker_ (4, 17, 18).
Rampant in vine, with thick wood, large coarse leaves, bunches and
berries, Union Village is marked by grossness in all of its characters.
Its vigor of vine and showiness of fruit attracted the attention of the
viticulturists of a half century ago and it was then quite commonly
grown but has now been almost wholly discarded because of poor quality,
susceptibility to disease, and lack of hardiness. It ripens somewhat
late and quite unevenly. It might prove of some value in breeding for
the characters for which, even among the largest and most vigorous
grapes of to-day, it is distinguished.
This variety was originated by the Shakers at Union Village, Warren
County, Ohio. It was introduced by Nicholas Longworth of Cincinnati
about the middle of the last century. In 1858 it was placed on the
American Pomological Society's list of grapes that promise well and in
1862 was placed on the regular list of recommended sorts. Here it
remained until 1883, when it was dropped. Ontario, another grape of this
type, which was originated by W. H. Read of Port Dalhousie, Ontario, was
considered by many synonymous with Union Village but the evidence seems
to show that, though very similar, it had a distinct origin. Union
Village is said to be a seedling of Isabella. The characters generally
indicate Labrusca although the lobing of the leaves and the
susceptibility to fungi may indicate a strain of Vinifera.
The following description has been compiled from various sources:
Vine vigorous to rank, usually productive, somewhat tender, subject
to attacks of fungi. Canes large, long; internodes short. Leaves
coarse and large. Fruit ripens about one week before Isabella,
matures unevenly. Clusters large to very large, often shouldered,
compact. Berries large to very large, roundish, dark purplish-black
covered with heavy bloom, shell badly. Skin moderately thin. Flesh
tart, resembling Isabella somewhat in flavor, quality fair to good.
VERGENNES.
(Labrusca.)
=1.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1881=:34, 117. =2.= Barry, =1883=:450.
=3.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._, =1883=:26. =4.= _W. N. Y. Hort. Soc.
Rpt._, =29=:19, 112. 1884. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1885=:103,
105. =6.= _Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1886-7=:172. =7.= _N. Y. Sta.
An. Rpt._, =9=:330. 1890. =8.= _Ill. Sta. Bul._, =28=:262. 1893.
=9.= _Bush. Cat._, =1894=:184. _fig._ =10.= _Gar. and For._,
=8=:487. 1895. =11.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =17=:536, 542, 543,
544, 548, 553. 1898. =12.= _Ib._, =18=:383, 389, 396. 1899. =13.=
_Mo. Sta. Bul._, =46=:41, 43, 44, 45, 53, 76. 1899. =14.= _Mich.
Sta. Bul._, =169=:176. 1899. =15.= _Kan. Sta. Bul._, =110=:237.
1902. =16.= _Ont. Fr. Gr. Assoc. Rpt._, =34=:99. 1902.
[Illustration: VERGENNES]
While not one of the leading commercial varieties in New York, Vergennes
has steadily increased in popularity during the thirty years since its
introduction. One of the most valuable attributes of Vergennes is that
it seldom fails to bear a crop though it has a tendency to overbear
which causes it to be variable in size of fruits and in time of
ripening; with a moderate crop it ripens with Concord but with a heavy
load of grapes the crop matures from one to two weeks later. Vergennes
is somewhat unpopular with vineyardists because of the sprawling habit
of the vine making a vineyard of this grape untractable for vineyard
operations. This fault is obviated somewhat by grafting it on other
vines. In some of the grape regions of New York the vines are
precariously hardy though tenderness to cold can hardly be said to be a
serious fault of the variety.
The appearance of the fruit is attractive and while the quality is not
high, yet it is good; the flavor is agreeable, the flesh is tender and
seeds and skin are not objectionable. Considering all of its fruit
characters, Vergennes may be said to be more than an ordinary
grape--much better than several better known commercial varieties. The
variety is somewhat remarkable in being probably the best shipper and
the best keeper among the pure Labrusca varieties. Nearly all of the
grapes which ship and keep well have more or less Vinifera blood, but if
Vergennes has any foreign blood it shows it only in its keeping and
shipping qualities. At present Vergennes is the standard late-keeping
grape for this region being very commonly found in the markets as late
as January and sometimes February. A number of seedlings of Vergennes,
pure-bred and cross-bred, growing on the Station grounds, show that this
variety transmits its characters well to its offspring indicating that
it has value for grape-breeding. Vergennes may be recommended for its
intrinsic value for the vineyard and the garden and to the experimenter
as one of the best pure Labruscas for the production of new and improved
varieties.
The original vine of this variety was a chance seedling found in the
garden of William E. Greene, Vergennes, Vermont. It fruited for the
first time in 1874. It was placed on the list of sorts recommended by
the American Pomological Society in 1883 and is still retained.
Vine variable in vigor, not always hardy, medium to very productive
depending upon amount of winter injury, usually healthy. Canes long
to medium, intermediate in number and size, dark dull brown; nodes
enlarged, strongly flattened; internodes of average length;
diaphragm thick; pith medium in thickness; shoots pubescent;
tendrils continuous, long to medium, bifid or sometimes trifid.
Leaf-buds large to medium, long, thick; open very late. Young
leaves tinged on under side and along margin of upper side with
rose-carmine. Leaves large to medium, thin; upper surface light
green, glossy, somewhat rugose; lower surface pale green, very
pubescent; veins indistinct; leaf usually not lobed with terminus
broadly acute; petiolar sinus of average depth, medium to wide;
teeth shallow, often wide. Flowers nearly sterile, open in
mid-season; stamens upright.
Fruit variable in season but usually ripens one to two weeks later
than Concord, keeps and ships well. Clusters intermediate in size
and length, broad, cylindrical to tapering, sometimes
single-shouldered, variable in compactness but inclined to be
loose; peduncle short to medium, thick; pedicel intermediate in
length and thickness, covered with numerous small warts, enlarged
at point of attachment to fruit; brush slender, short, pale green.
Berries large to below medium, oval to roundish, light and dark
red, covered with lilac bloom, persistent, medium in firmness. Skin
does not crack, thick, tough, adheres considerably to the pulp,
contains no pigment, astringent. Flesh pale green, juicy,
fine-grained, somewhat stringy, tender, vinous, sweet next the
skin, agreeably tart at center, good to very good in quality. Seeds
separate easily from the pulp, one to five, average three, variable
in size, length and breadth, not notched, usually blunt, brownish;
raphe distinct; chalaza small, plainly above center, usually
roundish, often with shallow radiating furrows, distinct.
VICTORIA.
(Labrusca, Vinifera.)
=1.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1883=:92. =2.= _Ib._, =1885=:104. =3.=
_Mo. Hort Soc. Rpt._, =1891=:129. =4.= _Rural N. Y._, =50=:691,
847. 1891. =5.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =11=:637. 1892. =6.= _Del.
Sta. An. Rpt._, =7=:135, 139. 1895. =7.= _Rural N. Y._, =56=:822.
1897. =8.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =17=:536, 548, 557. 1898. =9.=
_Mich. Sta. Bul._, =169=:176. 1899. =10.= _Ga. Sta. Bul._, =53=:49.
1901.
As a green seedling of Concord, Victoria has much in common with others
of its kind that have come from this parent. In particular it resembles
Hayes but does not equal it, being of poorer quality and having smaller
and less attractive fruits; neither does it equal Martha. Victoria is
marked by having more foxiness in flavor than do most of the white
seedlings of Concord. In view of the many good green grapes, there is
little about Victoria to recommend it,--there are many commonplace
grapes of its color and season quite its equal.
This variety was originated by T. B. Miner of Linden, Union County, New
Jersey, about 1871.
Vine of medium vigor, usually hardy, productive, subject to attacks
of mildew in unfavorable locations. Canes medium to short, not
numerous, slender; tendrils continuous, trifid to bifid. Leaves
medium in size, dark green; lower surface pale green with tinge of
bronze, covered with short down. Flowers nearly fertile, open in
mid-season; stamens upright. Fruit ripens about with Concord, does
not keep well. Clusters average in size, long, inclined to slender,
often single-shouldered, compact. Berries intermediate in size,
roundish, light green with pale yellow tinge, covered with thin
gray bloom, persistent. Skin thin, tender. Flesh pale green,
slightly tough, foxy, sweet at skin to acid at center, good in
quality. Seeds do not separate readily from the pulp, medium to
below in size, of average width and length.
WALTER.
(Vinifera, Labrusca, Bourquiniana.)
=1.= _Mag. Hort._, =31=:120. 1865. =2.= _Ib._, =33=:7, 54. 1867.
=3.= _Horticulturist_, =23=:359, 360. 1868. _fig._ =4.= _Grape
Cult._, =1=:307, 327, 329. 1869. =5.= _Am. Jour. Hort._, =6=:342.
1869. _fig._ =6.= _Ib._, =8=:144, 299. 1870. =7.= _Am. Pom. Soc.
Cat._, =1871=:16. =8.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1875=:39. =9.= _Ib._,
=1883=:59, 154. =10.= _Bush. Cat._, =1894=:185. _fig._ =11.= _Tex.
Sta. Bul._, =48=:1151, 1163. 1898. =12.= _Ga. Sta. Bul._, =53=:49.
1901. =13.= _Kan. Sta. Bul._, =110=:243. 1902.
Were it not almost impossible to grow healthy vines of Walter it would
take rank among the best of our American grapes. But stunted by fungi
which nearly every year attack leaves, young wood and fruit, it is only
possible in exceptionally favorable seasons to produce a crop of grapes
with this variety. Not infrequently the attacks of mildew are so severe
that the vines are defoliated before mid-season. Besides its
susceptibility to cryptogamic diseases the variety is fastidious as to
soils and even in localities to which it seems adapted it is variable in
growth. While not to be classed among the tender grapes yet it is
injured in severe winters, and is almost certain to suffer some injury
after defoliation by fungi. There are several reports at hand which seem
to show that it is hardier and more vigorous on the roots of hardy,
strong-growing varieties.
As if to atone for the faults of the vine the fruit of Walter is almost
perfect, lacking only in the size of bunch and berry. The bunch and
berry resemble Delaware, one of its parents, while it has the peculiar
flavor of Diana, the other parent. Well grown, the fruit is more
attractive than that of Delaware but it cannot be said that the quality
is quite the equal of that of either of its parents. It does not have
the fault of ripening its berries unevenly, one of the defects which
debars Diana from profitable cultivation. Though more fastidious, Walter
is usually adapted to conditions under which Delaware thrives. The
variety has been cultivated for nearly half a century but is seemingly
less and less grown, a fact to be regretted; for there are few American
grapes of more exquisite flavor and aroma and more dainty appearance. It
is said that when protected from dew by walls or other shelter the vines
are not so badly attacked by fungi, if at all, and that Walter may thus
be grown to perfection. If this be true grape-lovers should see that the
variety is long retained in collections and for the garden.
A. J. Caywood originated this variety about 1850 from seed of Delaware
pollinated by Diana. It was placed on the grape list of the American
Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1871. Walter is still to be found
in an occasional varietal vineyard but it is seldom offered for sale by
nurserymen.
Vine moderately vigorous, not hardy in exposed locations, variable
in productiveness, subject to attacks of fungi. Canes medium to
above in length and size, dark reddish-brown, surface covered with
thin blue bloom; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes medium to
above in length; diaphragm thick; pith of fair size; shoots
pubescent; tendrils intermittent, medium to above in length, bifid.
Leaf-buds small, intermediate in length and thickness, pointed to
conical. Foliage of average size, thick; upper surface dark green,
glossy, smooth; lower surface tinged with bronze, heavily
pubescent; lobes none to three with terminus acute; petiolar sinus
of average depth, narrow to medium; basal sinus lacking; lateral
sinus usually a notch if present; teeth intermediate in depth and
width. Flowers open in mid-season; stamens upright.
Fruit somewhat variable in season of ripening, averaging about with
Delaware, keeps and ships well. Clusters medium in size and length,
broad, cylindrical to tapering, usually single-shouldered, compact;
peduncle short to medium, of average thickness; pedicel medium in
length, slender, covered with small scattering warts; brush short,
slender, green with brownish tinge. Berries small to medium, often
strongly ovate, red, much like Delaware, glossy, covered with a
moderate amount of lilac bloom, persistent, firm. Skin intermediate
in thickness, very tough, adheres but slightly to the pulp,
contains no pigment, without astringency. Flesh pale green,
translucent, juicy, tough, somewhat foxy, vinous, quite strongly
aromatic, sweet next the skin to tart at center, good to very good
in quality. Seeds do not separate easily from the pulp, one to
four, average three, below medium in size and length, intermediate
in width, medium to sharp-pointed, light brown; raphe obscure;
chalaza large, above center, irregularly circular, distinct. Must
100°.
[Illustration: WALTER]
WAPANUKA.
(Labrusca, Riparia, Vinifera, Bourquiniana.)
=1.= _Tex. Sta. Bul._, =56=:280. 1900. =2.= _Rural N. Y._,
=60=:637. 1901. =3.= _Ib._, =62=:790. 1903. =4.= _Iowa Hort. Soc.
Rpt._, =1904=:228. =5.= _Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1904=:305. =6.=
_Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1905=:302.
Though there are many qualities to commend Wapanuka, yet it is not as
popular in the North as was expected it would become at the time of its
introduction. The chief reason for its failure is that it does not ship
well, seemingly a prime requisite for a commercial grape in New York,
though the markets are seldom far distant. It is probable, too, that the
flavor is not quite as high in this latitude as in the South, or it may
be that the grapes with which we compare it here are better flavored
than in the South. At any rate it does not have the comparatively high
quality in New York that it is reported to have elsewhere, being too
insipid. There is a tendency, too, for the grapes to shatter. The fruits
when well grown are attractive and the quality is from fair to good.
Wapanuka is worthy a trial in commercial vineyards; and because of the
handsome appearance and distinct flavor of the fruit it deserves a place
in the garden.
Munson of Texas, originated Wapanuka from seed of Rommel fertilized by
Brilliant. It was introduced by the originator in the fall of 1898.
Vine vigorous, usually hardy, productive. Canes medium to short,
intermediate in number and size, dark reddish-brown, often with
ash-gray tinge; tendrils continuous, bifid to trifid. Leaves large,
moderately light green, somewhat rugose on older leaves; lower
surface dull green tinged with bronze, pubescent. Flowers fertile
or nearly so, open before mid-season; stamens upright. Fruit ripens
about with Concord, does not keep well. Clusters intermediate in
size, long to medium, frequently with a long-peduncled single
shoulder, compact. Berries large, roundish, very pale
yellowish-green, covered with thin gray bloom, with a tendency to
shatter, soft. Skin covered with few, small, dark dots, very thin
and tender. Flesh unusually pale green, tender, somewhat foxy,
sweet and mild, good in quality. Seeds separate easily from the
pulp, intermediate in size, broad, distinctly notched, short.
WHITE IMPERIAL.
(Vinifera, Labrusca, Bourquiniana.)
=1.= _Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1883=:78. =2.= _Ib._, =1892=:270. =3.=
_Bush. Cat._, =1894=:186. =4.= _Va. Sta. Bul._, =94=:142. 1898.
=5.= _Mich. Sta. Bul._, =169=:177. 1899. =6.= _Ga. Sta. Bul._,
=53=:50. 1901.
White Imperial is one of Stayman's[213] numerous productions. The
originator thought it one of the most valuable, if not the most
valuable, of his white grapes. As the variety grows in the Station
vineyard the fruit is neither especially attractive in appearance nor of
very high quality though better in the latter respect than the average.
White Imperial is one of a somewhat large number of offspring of
Dutchess now known to viticulture in which the good qualities of the
parent have been transmitted in a large measure to the progeny. White
Beauty, described in the next chapter, is of the same parentage and is
similar in general characters of vine and fruit, though berries and
bunches are a little larger and the vines a little more vigorous. White
Imperial was introduced with great expectations in the West, but,
especially in the vineyards of Missouri, while still grown somewhat is
not holding its own with better known grapes of its class.
White Imperial was produced by Dr. J. Stayman of Leavenworth, Kansas,
from seed of Dutchess. The variety was introduced about twenty-five
years ago by Stayman & Black.
Vine medium to very vigorous, hardy, variable in productiveness,
susceptible to attacks of fungi under unfavorable conditions. Canes
intermediate in length, rather numerous, inclined to slender;
tendrils continuous to intermittent, bifid to trifid. Leaves above
average size, intermediate in color and thickness; lower surface
pale green, often with considerable pubescence, slightly cobwebby.
Flowers partly sterile, open early; stamens upright. Fruit ripens
about a week before Delaware, keeps well. Clusters variable in
size, intermediate in length, slender, frequently
single-shouldered, variable in compactness. Berries medium to
small, oval to roundish, light green, sometimes with a yellow
tinge, covered with thin gray bloom, persistent. Skin sprinkled
with reddish-brown dots, thin, tender, without astringency. Flesh
pale green, fine-grained, tough, sweet at skin to agreeably tart at
center, somewhat sprightly, good to best in quality. Seeds not
numerous, medium to small, sharp-pointed.
WILDER.
(Labrusca, Vinifera.)
=1.= _Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1861=:68. =2.= _Horticulturist_,
=18=:98. 1863. =3.= _Ib._, =21=:325. 1866. _fig._ =4.= Mead,
=1867=:205, 207. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._, =1867=:44. =6.=
_Horticulturist_, =24=:126. 1869. =7.= _Grape Cult._, =1=:181.
1869. =8.= _Ib._, =2=:29, _fig._, 30. 1870. =9.= _Am. Pom. Soc.
Rpt._, =1881=:40, 42, 123, 138, 153, 162, 168. =10.= _Ill. Hort.
Soc. Rpt._, =1883=:81. =11.= _Bush. Cat._, =1894=:187, _fig._, 188.
=12.= _Va. Sta. Bul._, =94=:136. 1898. =13.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._,
=17=:537, 548, 553. 1898. =14.= _Mo. Sta. Bul._, =46=:41, 43, 44,
46, 64, _fig._ 1899. =15.= _Ala. Sta. Bul._, =110=:70, 89. 1900.
=16.= _Kan. Sta. Bul._, =110=:243. 1902.
ROGERS' NO. 4 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). _Rogers' No. 4_ (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
15).
The accompanying color-plate scarcely does Wilder justice as to size of
bunch and berry but were the illustration somewhat enlarged it would be
very typical of the variety. The berries when fully ripe are quite
similar in size and color to Black Hamburg but the bunches have fewer
berries than the European parent and the quality, as would be expected,
is not so good, falling short chiefly in flesh characters. While Wilder
is surpassed in quality, and, as usually grown, in appearance by other
of Rogers' hybrids, it is one of the most reliable of all of them for
vineyard culture, the vines being vigorous, hardy, fairly productive,
and, though somewhat susceptible to mildew, as healthy as any of the
hybrids of Labrusca and Vinifera. Wilder is not as well known in the
markets as it should be, and now that fungal diseases can be controlled
by spraying, this, with other such hybrids, should be more generally
planted in commercial vineyards and especially for local and special
markets. The wine from this, and for that matter from any of Rogers'
grapes, is not of quality such as recommends it and neither are the
grapes suitable for grape juice. Surplus fruit would often, therefore,
be a loss in large plantations.
Wilder is one of the forty-five Labrusca-Vinifera hybrids raised by E.
S. Rogers of Salem, Massachusetts. For an account of its origin and
parentage, see Rogers' Hybrids. The first notes as to the qualities of
this variety were published in 1858. The variety was placed on the
American Pomological Society list of recommended sorts in 1867 and has
never been removed. In 1869, Rogers expressing a desire to name one of
his seedlings after Marshall P. Wilder, Mr. Wilder selected this one as
in his estimation the best of all Rogers' hybrids and it was given his
name.
Vine medium to very vigorous, hardy, productive, somewhat
susceptible to attacks of mildew. Canes long, moderately numerous,
often below average thickness, ash-gray to dark reddish-brown with
darker tinge at the nodes which are usually not flattened;
internodes long; diaphragm of average thickness; pith intermediate
in size; shoots thinly pubescent; tendrils intermittent, medium in
length, bifid to trifid.
Leaf-buds of average size, short, thick, roundly obtuse to conical,
open early. Young leaves tinged on lower side and along margin of
upper side with rose-carmine. Leaves large, often irregularly
roundish, of average thickness; upper surface dark green, glossy,
smooth; lower surface pale green, pubescent; veins distinct;
usually not lobed with terminus acute to obtuse; petiolar sinus
deep, narrow, often closed and overlapping; basal sinus lacking;
lateral sinus shallow, narrow, or a mere notch when present.
Flowers sterile, open mid-season or earlier; stamens reflexed.
Fruit ripens with Concord or earlier, keeps and ships fairly well.
Clusters variable in size but are not large, short and broad,
irregularly tapering, heavily single-shouldered, sometimes
double-shouldered, loose; peduncle of average length, thick;
pedicel long, thick, covered with numerous, prominent warts; brush
of fair length, thick, green with tinge of light red. Berries
large, slightly oval, purplish-black to black, not glossy, covered
with heavy blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin thick, variable in
toughness, adheres somewhat to the pulp, with bright red pigment,
astringent. Flesh greenish, translucent, juicy, tender, has some
Vinifera sprightliness, sweet at skin to tart at the seeds, good
in quality. Seeds adherent to the pulp, one to five, average three,
above medium in size, often long, intermediate in breadth, light
brown; raphe sometimes shows as a partially submerged cord; chalaza
small, above center, oval, distinct.
[Illustration: WILDER]
WINCHELL.
(Labrusca, Vinifera, Aestivalis.)
=1.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =4=:224. 1885. =2.= _Am. Pom. Soc.
Rpt._, =1887=:91. =3.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =7=:105, 108. 1888.
=4.= _Rural N. Y._, =47=:675. 1888. _fig._ =5.= _Gar. and For._,
=2=:24, 432. 1889. =6.= _Ohio Hort. Soc. Adv. Rpt._, =1890=:21.
=7.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =9=:331. 1890. =8.= _Am. Pom. Soc.
Rpt._, =1891=:151. =9.= _Rural N. Y._, =50=:691, 705. 1891. =10.=
_Ib._, =51=:19, 63, 633, 681. _fig._ 1892. =11.= _Bush. Cat._,
=1894=:130, 131, _fig._, 188. =12.= _Wis. Sta. An. Rpt._, =13=:223.
1896. =13.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._, =1897=:19. =14.= _Mo. Sta. Bul._,
=46=:39, 42, 45, 46, 50, 54, 76. 1899. =15.= _Rural N. Y._,
=58=:23. 1899. =16.= _Mich. Sta. Bul._, =169=:177. 1889. =17.=
_Ala. Sta. Bul._, =110=:82. 1900. =18.= _Kan. Sta. Bul._,
=110=:236, 238. 1902.
GREEN MOUNTAIN (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18).
_Green Mountain_ (10, 11, 12, 13, 16). _Winchell_ (6, 9, 14, 17,
18).
Winchell is at once very early and of very good quality, characters
seldom found combined in grapes. But this is not all that can be said;
the vines are vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive, and the fruit keeps
and ships well, altogether making a most admirable early grape.
Unfortunately the berries, and under some conditions the bunches, are
small, and this, combined with the fact that green grapes are not as
popular as black and red ones, has kept Winchell from being as largely
planted as it otherwise would have been. Then, too, as has been noted
before, the competition from the South, in which larger, cheaper and as
good grapes compete with early northern crops of this fruit, is limiting
the production of early varieties of grapes in the North.
There are some minor faults, too, which under some conditions become
drawbacks to the culture of Winchell. At best the bunch of this variety
is loose and characterized by a large shoulder. Sometimes this looseness
becomes so pronounced as to give a straggling, poorly-formed cluster;
so, too, the shoulder when as large as the cluster itself, which often
happens, makes the cluster unsightly. There is a tendency, under some
conditions, for the grapes to shell when fully ripe and this is often a
serious fault. Again, while the crop usually ripens evenly yet there are
seasons when two pickings are needed because of unevenness in ripening.
Lastly the skin is thin and there is danger in unfavorable seasons, or
in shipping, of the berries cracking though this is seldom a serious
fault. These defects do not begin to offset the several good characters
of Winchell and it is, for New York at least, the standard early green
grape and deserving to rank with the best early grapes of any color.
The original vine of this variety was raised by James Milton Clough of
Stamford, Bennington County, Vermont, about the middle of the last
century from seed of an unknown purple grape. For some years it had a
local reputation and was propagated by some of Clough's neighbors. By
what name it was then known does not appear. In December, 1885,
according to their statements, Ellwanger & Barry of Rochester, New York,
received this variety from C. E. Winchell, then of Stamford. In 1888,
this firm introduced the variety to the trade. The same year there was
introduced by Stephen Hoyt's Sons of New Canaan, Connecticut, a variety
under the name Green Mountain. This firm states that they bought the
variety from James M. Paul, of North Adams, Massachusetts, in December,
1885. Previous to his sale Paul had sent a vine of the grape to this
Station; he exhibited fruit of Green Mountain before the American
Pomological Society in 1887, but without any name.
Later grape-growers found that Winchell and Green Mountain were very
similar or identical. Unfortunately, in the meantime, Paul had died and
no one knows positively where he secured his vines although there is
every reason to believe they were from Mr. Clough. Those who consider
the Winchell and Green Mountain separate varieties say the Winchell has
larger berries and is somewhat later in ripening than the Green
Mountain. Though unable to make a close comparison of vines and fruits
of the two supposed varieties, the authors of _The Grapes of New York_
choose to consider them so nearly identical, if not identical, as to
pass under one name which should be the one first published, Winchell.
Although the botanical characters of this variety are chiefly Labrusca,
the thin bloom which sometimes shows on the canes, the occasional
intermittent tendrils, and the lobing of the leaf, indicate slight
admixtures of Vinifera and Aestivalis.
[Illustration: WINCHELL]
Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, very productive. Canes long to
medium, numerous, slender, medium dark brown, surface covered with
very thin bloom; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes above medium
to short; diaphragm thick; pith medium to below in size; shoots
pubescent; tendrils continuous, sometimes intermittent, of average
length, bifid.
Leaf-buds medium to below in size, short to medium, thick, open
early. Young leaves faintly tinged on under side only with faint
rose-carmine. Leaves large to medium, of average thickness; upper
surface light green, glossy, smooth to medium; lower surface dull
green, tinged with bronze, faintly pubescent; lobes three to five
with terminal lobe acute to acuminate; petiolar sinus deep, of
medium width; basal sinus shallow, intermediate in width; lateral
sinus variable in depth and width; teeth shallow, moderately wide.
Flowers fertile, open about mid-season or somewhat earlier; stamens
upright.
Fruit ripens very early, sometimes before Moore Early, keeps and
ships well for an early grape. Clusters large to below medium,
long, slender, cylindrical to slightly tapering, often with a long
single shoulder, loose to moderately compact; peduncle long,
moderately slender; pedicel short, slender, covered with few,
small, inconspicuous warts; brush greenish-white. Berries above
medium to small, roundish, light green, covered with thin white
bloom, usually persistent, soft. Skin often marked with small
reddish-brown spots, thin, tender, adheres very slightly to the
pulp, contains no pigment, slightly astringent. Flesh greenish,
translucent, juicy, tender, fine-grained, sweet; very good to best
in quality. Seeds separate fairly well from the pulp, one to four,
average two, small, plump, moderately wide and long, blunt,
brownish; raphe obscure, chalaza small, slightly above center,
circular, not distinct.
WOODRUFF.
(Labrusca, Vinifera?)
=1.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1881=:44, 65. =2.= _Ib._, =1885=:107,
108. =3.= _Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1887-8=:87, 209. =4.= _Ib._,
=1888-9=:16. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._, =1889=:24. =6.= _Gar. and
For._, =3=:490, 599. 1890. =7.= _W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt._,
=1890=:179. =8.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =11=:638. 1892. =9.= _Ill.
Sta. Bul._, =28=:262. 1893. =10.= _Bush. Cat._, =1894=:188. _fig._
=11.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =17=:537, 545, 546, 548, 553. 1898.
=12.= _Mich. Sta. Bul._, =169=:177. 1899. =13.= _Ib._, =194=:59.
1901. =14.= _Kan. Sta. Bul._, =110=:238. 1902. =15.= _Kan. Hort.
Soc. Rpt._, =1904-05=:228.
WOODRUFF RED (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14). _Woodruff Red_ (10).
Woodruff is a handsome, showy, brick-red grape with large clusters and
berries. While very attractive in appearance its taste belies its looks,
for the flesh is coarse and the flavor foxy. In spite of its attractive
appearance, Woodruff would scarcely be worth attention were it not for
its excellent vine characters. The vines are hardy, vigorous, productive
and fairly healthy. In appearance it is a typical strong-growing
Labrusca with the varied adaptabilities of that species for soils and
ability to withstand adverse conditions. It ripens a little before or
with Concord and comes on the market at a good time, especially for a
red grape. When introduced Woodruff promised to be a valuable commercial
grape but its poor quality, the fact that it does not keep well, and a
pronounced tendency to crack and shatter, have kept the variety from
becoming prominent for either vineyard or garden. While it is worthy of
attention under some conditions because of hardiness and possibly other
vine characters, yet it is hardly worth growing where other varieties of
its color and season can be had.
Woodruff, or as it was first known, Woodruff Red, came from C. H.
Woodruff of Ann Arbor, Michigan. He reported it as a chance seedling
which came up in 1874 and fruited for the first time in 1877. It was
supposed to be a cross of Catawba and Concord. It was introduced in 1885
and placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit
catalog in 1889.
Vine very vigorous, hardy, produces as heavy or heavier crops than
Concord, inclined to mildew in unfavorable locations. Canes
intermediate in length, number and thickness, dark brown; nodes
slightly enlarged, flattened; internodes medium to short; diaphragm
medium to above in thickness; pith below average size; shoots
pubescent; tendrils continuous, of mean length, bifid to trifid.
Leaf-buds small, short to medium, slender, pointed to conical.
Leaves intermediate in size, of average thickness, somewhat
roundish; upper surface light green, dull, rugose; lower surface
greenish-white to bronze, pubescent; veins indistinct; leaf usually
not lobed with terminus acute to obtuse; petiolar sinus
intermediate in depth, medium to wide; basal sinus lacking; lateral
sinus shallow and narrow when present; teeth very shallow and
narrow. Flowers semi-fertile, open moderately early; stamens
upright.
Fruit variable in season of ripening, usually shortly before
Concord but sometimes slightly later, does not always keep well.
Clusters variable in size, of fair length, broad, often widely
tapering, usually single-shouldered or with largest clusters
sometimes double-shouldered, compact; peduncle medium to long,
variable in thickness; pedicel medium to short, thick, smooth, with
scarcely any enlargement at point of attachment to fruit; brush
long, pale green. Berries large to below medium, roundish to oval,
dark red, dull, covered with thin lilac to faint blue bloom,
sometimes drop badly from pedicel, firm. Skin thin, medium to
tender, adheres strongly to the pulp, contains no pigment, slightly
astringent. Flesh very pale green to nearly white, translucent,
juicy, tough, coarse, very foxy, sweet at skin but quite tart at
center, fair in quality. Seeds do not separate easily from the
pulp, one to five, average, three or four, intermediate in size,
medium to broad, short, rather plump, blunt, brownish; raphe
obscure; chalaza small, slightly above center, oval, not distinct.
[Illustration: WOODRUFF]
WORDEN.
(Labrusca.)
=1.= _Am. Hort. An._, =1870=:95. =2.= _Wis. Hort. Soc. Rpt._,
=1873=:71. =3.= _Mich. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1874=:258. =4.= _Am. Pom.
Soc. Cat._, =1881=:24. =5.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1881=:42, 115,
121, 123, 136, 144, 168. =6.= _W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =27=:30,
97. 1882. =7.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._, =1885=:103, 106. =8.= _Wis.
Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1885=:176. =9.= _Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt._,
=1886-7=:171. =10.= _Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1887=:91. =11.= _Wis.
Sta. An. Rpt._, =5=:162. 1888. =12.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._,
=9=:328. 1890. =13.= _Miss. Sta. Bul._, =22=:12, 13. 1892. =14.=
_Bush. Cat._, =1894=:190. =15.= _Col. Sta. Bul._, =29=:20. 1894.
=16.= _Tenn. Sta. Bul._, Vol. =9=:189. 1896. =17.= _Gar. and For._,
=9=:300. 1896. =18.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =17=:537, 542, 543,
544, 545, 547, 553, 557. 1898. =19.= _Ev. Nat. Fruits_, =1898=:75.
=20.= _Ont. Fr. Exp. Stas. Rpt._, =8=:11, _fig._, 49. 1901. =21.=
_Mich. Sta. Sp. Bul._, =27=:10. 1904.
WORDEN'S SEEDLING (1, 6). _Worden's Seedling_ (12, 14).
Worden possesses most of the good qualities of Concord and lacks some of
its bad ones. Of all the offspring of Concord, this variety is best
known and is most meritorious. It is of the type into which nearly all
of the black seedlings of Concord fall and surpasses all of these in
quality though it does not equal the best of the green seedlings of the
parent in fruit characters, especially in flavor. It differs chiefly
from Concord in having larger berries and bunches, in having better
quality and in being from a week to ten days earlier. It is equally
hardy, healthy, vigorous and productive. It is more fastidious in its
adaptations to soil and other conditions than its parents but now and
then it is found to do even better under some conditions.
Worden is not as good a grape in many minor characters as the Concord
and this is the chief reason why it is not grown as much as its
distinguished parent. Its chief fault is that the fruit cracks badly,
often preventing the profitable marketing of a crop. The Concord cracks
also in unfavorable weather but the cracked berries often, or nearly
always, partly or wholly recover from the injury through the growing
over of the wounds. The Worden lacks the power of overcoming the
cracking. Beside this tenderness of skin, the pulp of Worden is softer
than that of Concord, there is more juice and the keeping qualities are
not as good, so that the variety hardly ships as well as the more
commonly grown grape. In some seasons there is a decided tendency to
shell or shatter if the fruit is overripe. Worden is very popular in New
York and the North both for commercial plantations and the garden. It is
a more desirable inhabitant of the garden and for nearby markets,
because of higher quality, than Concord, and under conditions well
suited to it, is better as a commercial variety, as it is handsomer as
well as of better quality. In the markets it ought to sell for a higher
price than Concord if desired for immediate consumption and if it can be
promptly harvested, as it does not hang well on the vines. In many
markets Worden is sold as Concord and has the effect of extending the
Concord season. Its earlier season is against it for a commercial
variety in the great Chautauqua Grape Belt of New York and with the
defects mentioned will prevent its taking the place of Concord to a
great degree.
The Worden was originated by Schuyler Worden of Minetto, Oswego County,
New York, from seed of Concord planted about 1863. It bore its first
fruit when four years old. Its history is peculiar in that it was for
many years unappreciated, being confused with Concord, which was
frequently sent out as Worden. It was placed on the grape list of the
American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1881, where it still
remains. The variety was given its name by J. A. Place of Oswego, New
York, a local horticulturist of some note and a friend of Worden.
Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive, yielding as heavy crops
as Concord. Canes above medium in size and number, thick, dark
brown with reddish tinge; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes
intermediate in length; diaphragm thick; pith of fair size; shoots
pubescent; tendrils continuous, somewhat slender, bifid, sometimes
trifid.
Leaf-buds small, short, slender, pointed, open in mid-season. Young
leaves tinged on under side and along extreme margin of upper side
with light rose-carmine. Leaves healthy, large, thick; upper
surface dark green, glossy, smooth; lower surface light bronze,
pubescent; leaf usually not lobed; petiolar sinus of average depth,
medium to wide, often urn-shaped; teeth shallow, medium in width.
Flowers fertile, open in mid-season or earlier; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens one or two weeks earlier than Concord, does not keep
long. Clusters large, medium to long, broad, tapering to
cylindrical, usually single-shouldered, somewhat compact; peduncle
short, thick; pedicel of medium length, slender, covered with few
small warts; brush long, light green. Berries large, roundish to
oval, dark purplish-black to black, glossy, covered with heavy blue
bloom, not always persistent, moderately firm. Skin of average
thickness, somewhat tender, cracks badly, adheres slightly to the
pulp, contains considerable dark red pigment, astringent. Flesh
greenish, translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tough, slightly foxy,
sweet at skin to tart at center, mild, good to very good in
quality. Seeds adherent, one to five, average three, large, broad,
medium to short, blunt, brownish; raphe buried in a shallow groove;
chalaza of average size, slightly above center, oval, somewhat
obscure.
[Illustration: WORDEN]
WYOMING.
(Labrusca.)
=1.= _N. Y. Ag. Soc. Rpt._, =1868=:230. =2.= Downing, =1869=:558.
=3.= _Am. Hort. An._, =1871=:83. =4.= _Horticulturist_, =29=:339.
=5.= _Bush. Cat._, =1883=:145. =6.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt._,
=1885=:103. =7.= _W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =30=:89. 1885. =8.=
_Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._, =1889=:24. =9.= _Am. Gard._, =12=:48. 1891.
=10.= _Ill. Sta. Bul._, =28=:262. 1893. =11.= _Va. Sta. Bul._,
=94=:139. 1898. =12.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =17=:537, 548, 557.
1898. =13.= _Mo. Sta. Bul._, =46=:41, 42, 44, 46, 54. 1899. =14.=
_Mich. Sta. Bul._, =169=:178. 1899. =15.= _Kan. Sta. Bul._,
=110=:238. 1902.
_Hopkins Early Red_ (2). WILMINGTON RED (3, 5). WYOMING RED (1, 2,
4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15). _Wyoming Red_ (5).
Such value as Wyoming has lies in its hardiness, productiveness,
healthiness and earliness. The general appearance of the fruit of the
variety is very good; the bunches are well-formed and composed of rich
amber-colored berries of medium size. But the quality is poor, being
that of the wild Labrusca in foxiness of flavor and in the flesh
characters. It is not nearly as valuable as some other of the red
Labruscas hitherto described and can hardly be recommended for either
the garden or the vineyard. It may be of value in breeding work and
possibly for localities in which grapes are precariously hardy or in
which more fastidious varieties cannot be grown. Wyoming is illustrated
in _The Grapes of New York_ chiefly because it is a typical red Labrusca
though in times past it has been of commercial importance and hence has
some historical interest.
Wyoming was introduced to public notice by Dr. S. J. Parker of Ithaca,
New York, who states that it came from northern Pennsylvania in 1861.
About 1870 it was fruited in central New York where it immediately
attracted attention and was exhibited at various fairs and horticultural
society meetings. It was named after the Wyoming Valley, beyond which
place it could not be traced, and where it presumably originated. The
variety was first known as Wyoming Red but later the Red was dropped.
Another variety under the name Wyoming preceded this. It was a
black-fruited sort of apparently no value and seems now to be obsolete.
The name Wilmington Red has been used to designate this variety, by what
authority does not appear, as it was apparently first described under
the name Wyoming Red. The Wyoming was placed on the grape list of the
American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1889 and removed in 1899.
In spite of the fact that this variety has been discarded by the
American Pomological Society, it is still offered for sale by many grape
nurserymen.
Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive to very productive. Canes
medium to below in length, numerous, slender, dark reddish-brown,
surface covered with a slight amount of blue bloom; nodes enlarged,
frequently flattened; internodes short to medium; diaphragm medium
to below in thickness; pith medium in size; shoots thinly
pubescent; tendrils continuous, rather short, bifid.
Leaf-buds small, short, slender, pointed to conical, open late.
Young leaves slightly tinged on under side only with faint
rose-carmine. Leaves medium in size, of average thickness; upper
surface light green, dull, smooth; lower surface dull green with
tinge of bronze, slightly pubescent; lobes none to three with
terminus acute to acuminate; petiolar sinus medium to shallow, wide
to medium; basal sinus usually none; lateral sinus shallow and wide
when present; teeth shallow, of average width. Flowers sterile,
open in mid-season; stamens reflexed.
Fruit usually ripens from a week to ten days earlier than Concord,
keeps and ships well for a grape of its species. Clusters medium to
small, frequently below average length, medium to rather slender,
slightly cylindrical to tapering, usually not shouldered but
sometimes with a small single shoulder, compact to medium. Peduncle
short to medium, slender; pedicel short, slender, covered with few
small warts; brush slender, medium in length, pale green with
brownish tinge. Berries above medium to small, roundish, dark dull
red to rich amber red, covered with thin lilac bloom, persistent,
firm. Skin medium in thickness, tender, adheres slightly to the
pulp, contains no pigment, astringent. Flesh pale green,
translucent, juicy, tough and solid, strongly foxy, vinous, sweet
at skin to tart at center, poor in quality. Seeds do not separate
easily from the pulp, one to three, average two and three,
intermediate in size, breadth and length, slightly notched, usually
rather blunt, light brown; raphe buried in a narrow, shallow
groove; chalaza of average size, slightly above center, irregularly
circular to oval, obscure.
[Illustration: WYOMING]