Fruit late, keeps well. Cl.u.s.ters large, broad, tapering, occasionally shouldered, compact; pedicel covered with small warts; brush slender, pale green. Berries medium in size, slightly ovate, light red covered with thin bloom, persistent, firm; skin thick, tough, slightly adherent; flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, tough, fine-grained, vinous, good. Seeds adherent, one to three, light brown.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE XXVI.--Niagara (2/3).]

DOWNING

(Vinifera, aestivalis, Labrusca)

Downing is well worthy a place in the garden because of the high quality, handsome appearance and good keeping qualities of the grapes.

Added to these qualities of the fruits are fair vigor and health of vine. When grown as far north as New York, the vine should be laid down in the winter or receive other protection. In most seasons, unremitting warfare must be kept up to check mildew. In appearance of bunch and berry, Downing is distinct, the cl.u.s.ters being large and well-formed and the berries having the oval shape of a Malaga. The flesh, also, shows _Vitis vinifera_ in texture and quality, while neither seeds nor skins are as objectionable as in pure-bred American varieties. J. H. Ricketts, Newburgh, New York, first grew Downing about 1865.

Vine tender to cold, unproductive. Canes short, few, slender, dark green with an ash-gray tinge, surface covered with thin bloom, often roughened with a few small warts; nodes much enlarged, strongly flattened; internodes short; tendrils intermittent, bifid or trifid. Leaves small, round, thick; upper surface dark green, glossy, rugose; lower surface dark green, glabrous; lobes one to five, terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus narrow, closed and overlapping; basal sinus shallow and narrow when present; lateral sinus shallow, narrow; teeth wide, deep. Flowers open late; stamens upright.

Fruit late, keeps until spring. Cl.u.s.ters large, long, slender, cylindrical, sometimes loosely shouldered; pedicel slender, covered with numerous warts; brush long, slender, green. Berries large, markedly oval, dark purplish-black, glossy, covered with light bloom, strongly persistent, firm; skin thick, tender, adherent; flesh green with a yellow tinge, translucent, very juicy, tender, fine-grained, vinous, mild; very good in quality.

Seeds free, one to three, notched, long, brown.

DRACUT AMBER

(Labrusca)

Dracut Amber is representative of the red type of Labrusca. The fruit has no particular merit, its thick skin, coa.r.s.e pulp, seeds and foxy taste all being objectionable. However, the vine is very hardy, productive, and ripens its fruit early so that this variety becomes valuable in locations where a vigorous, hardy, early grape is wanted.

Asa Clement, Dracut, Ma.s.sachusetts grew Dracut Amber from seed planted about 1855.

Vine vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes long, numerous, dark brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; tendrils continuous, long, bifid or trifid. Leaves large, thick; upper surface dark green, dull, smooth; lower surface pale green, cobwebby; lobes three to five with terminal one obtuse; petiolar sinus deep, narrow; basal sinus shallow, wide; teeth shallow. Flowers on plan of six, semi-fertile, mid-season.

Fruit early, season short. Cl.u.s.ters short, broad, cylindrical, irregular, rarely shouldered, compact; pedicel short, covered with warts; brush long, light yellowish-green. Berries medium to large, oval, dull pale red or dark amber, covered with thin bloom, soft; skin very thick, tender, adherent, astringent; flesh green, translucent, juicy, tough, very foxy; inferior in quality. Seeds adherent, two to five, large, broad, light brown.

DUTCHESS

(Vinifera, Labrusca, Bourquiniana? aestivalis?)

Dutchess (Plate XIII) is not grown largely in commercial vineyards because of several faults, as: the vine is tender to cold; the berries do not ripen evenly; berries and foliage are susceptible to fungi; and in soils to which it is not adapted, berries and bunches are small. In spite of these defects, Dutchess should not be discarded by the grape-lover, for there are few grapes of higher quality. The grapes are sweet and rich, yet do not cloy the appet.i.te; although of but medium size, they are attractive, being a beautiful amber color with distinctive dots; the flesh is translucent, sparkling, fine-grained and tender; the seeds are small, few and part readily from the pulp; the skin is thin, yet tough enough for good keeping; and the bunches are large and compact when well grown. The variety is self-fertile and, therefore, desirable when only a few vines are wanted. The cl.u.s.ters are especially fine when bagged. A. J. Caywood, Marlboro, New York, grew Dutchess from seed of a white Concord seedling pollinated by mixed pollen of Delaware and Walter. The seed was planted in 1868.

Vine vigorous, an uncertain bearer. Canes dark brown with light bloom, surface roughened; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes short; tendrils intermittent, short, bifid or trifid. Leaves irregular in outline; upper surface pale green, p.u.b.escent; leaf entire with terminus acute; petiolar sinus narrow; basal sinus shallow when present; lateral sinus medium in depth or a mere notch. Flowers self-fertile, open late; stamens upright.

Fruit mid-season, keeps and ships well. Cl.u.s.ters large, long, slender, tapering with a prominent single shoulder; pedicel slender, smooth; brush amber-colored. Berries of medium size, round, pale yellow-green verging on amber, some showing bronze tinge with thin bloom, persistent, firm; skin sprinkled with small dark dots, thin, tough, adherent; flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender, vinous, sweet, of pleasant flavor; quality high. Seeds free, one, two or occasionally three, small, short, sharp-pointed, brown.

EARLY DAISY

(Labrusca)

The qualities of Early Daisy render the variety more than commonplace.

Its earliness commends it, the ripening period being eight or ten days earlier than Champion or Moore Early, making it one of the very earliest varieties. For a grape maturing at its season, it both keeps and ships well. Early Daisy would seem to be as desirable as Hartford or Champion. The variety originated with John Kready, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, in 1874, as a seedling of Hartford.

Vine vigorous, hardy, produces fair crops. Canes of medium length, numerous, slender, reddish-brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; tendrils continuous, bifid. Leaves small, light green; upper surface rugose; lower surface slightly p.u.b.escent, cobwebby; lobes wanting or faintly three; petiolar sinus deep, narrow; teeth shallow, narrow. Flowers nearly self-sterile.

Fruit early. Cl.u.s.ters small to medium, often blunt at ends, cylindrical, sometimes single-shouldered, compact; pedicel short, slender, smooth; brush reddish, slender. Berries of medium size, round, dull black, covered with heavy bloom, persistent; skin tough, purplish-red pigment; flesh tough, solid, aromatic, tart at the skin, acid at center; inferior in flavor and quality. Seeds numerous, adherent, of average size, dark brown.

EARLY OHIO

(Labrusca)

Early Ohio is remarkable, chiefly, in being one of the earliest commercial grapes. The fruit resembles that of Concord, of which it is probably a seedling. Notwithstanding many defects, Early Ohio is grown somewhat commonly, although its culture is on the wane. The variety was found in 1882 by R. A. Hunt, Euclid, Ohio, between rows of Delaware and Concord.

Vine weak, tender, usually unproductive. Canes short, slender, brown with a red tinge; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes short; tendrils continuous, short, bifid. Leaves intermediate in size; upper surface light green, dull, smooth; lower surface pale green tinged with bronze, p.u.b.escent; lobes wanting or one to three, terminal one acute; petiolar sinus shallow, wide; basal sinus usually absent; lateral sinus shallow, narrow; teeth shallow. Flowers self-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.

Fruit very early, does not keep well. Cl.u.s.ters medium in size, tapering; pedicel slender with a few small warts; brush slender, tinged with red. Berries variable in size, round, purplish-black, glossy with heavy bloom, persistent, firm; skin adherent, astringent; flesh green, translucent, juicy, tough, aromatic; poor in quality. Seeds adherent, one to four, notched, brown with yellowish-brown tips.

EARLY VICTOR

(Labrusca, Bourquiniana?)

Early Victor is highest in quality of early black grapes. It is especially pleasing to those who object to the foxiness so marked in Hartford and Champion. Were the season but a few days earlier and bunch and berry a little larger, Early Victor would be the best grape to start the grape season. The vines are hardy, healthy, vigorous and productive, with growth and foliage resembling Hartford, which is probably one of its parents, Delaware being the other. The bunches are small, compact, variable in shape and the berries are about the size and shape of those of Delaware. Its season is that of Moore Early or a little later, although, like many black grapes, the fruit colors before it is ripe and is often picked too green. Unfortunately the fruit is susceptible to black-rot and shrivels after ripening. John Burr, Leavenworth, Kansas, first grew Early Victor about 1871.

Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive. Canes long, numerous, slender, dark brown, surface p.u.b.escent; nodes enlarged; internodes long; tendrils continuous, bifid, sometimes trifid. Leaves thick; upper surface dark green, smooth; lower surface white, heavily p.u.b.escent; lobes three to five, terminal one acute; petiolar sinus intermediate in depth and width; basal sinus shallow and wide when present; lateral sinus narrow. Flowers semi-sterile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.

Fruit very early, does not keep well. Cl.u.s.ters small, variable in shape, cylindrical, frequently single-shouldered, compact; pedicel short, covered with numerous small warts; brush wine-colored or pinkish-red. Berries small, round, dark purplish-black, dull with heavy bloom, persistent; skin thin, tough, adherent, contains much red pigment, astringent; flesh greenish-white, opaque, fine-grained, aromatic, vinous; good. Seeds adherent, one to four, broad, notched, blunt, dark brown.

EATON

(Labrusca)

Eaton (Plate XIV) is a pure-bred seedling of Concord which it surpa.s.ses in appearance but does not equal in quality of fruit. The flesh is tough and stringy, and though sweet at the skin, is acid at the seeds and has the same foxiness that characterizes Concord, but with more juice and less richness, so that it is well described as a "diluted" Concord. The grape-skin is very similar to that of Concord, and the fruit packs, ships and keeps about the same, perhaps not quite as well because of the greater amount of juice. The season is a few days earlier than Concord. The vine is similar in all characters to that of its parent. The grapes ripen unevenly, the flowers are self-sterile, and in some locations the vine is a shy bearer. The variety has not found favor with either grower or consumer. Eaton originated with Calvin Eaton, Concord, New Hampshire, about 1868.

Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive. Canes thick, light brown with blue bloom; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes short; tendrils continuous, long, bifid or trifid. Leaves large, round, thick; upper surface dark green; lower surface tinged with bronze, heavily p.u.b.escent; lobes three, terminal one acute; petiolar sinus shallow, wide; basal sinus usually lacking; lateral sinus shallow, narrow, often notched; teeth shallow. Flowers semi-sterile, early; stamens upright.

Fruit mid-season. Cl.u.s.ters large, short, broad, blunt, sometimes double-shouldered, compact; pedicel long, thick, smooth; brush slender, pale green. Berries large, round, black with heavy bloom, persistent, firm; skin tough, adherent, purplish-red pigment, astringent; flesh green, translucent, juicy, tough, stringy, foxy; fair in quality. Seeds adherent, one to four, broad, notched, plump, blunt.

ECLIPSE

(Labrusca)

Eclipse (Plate XV) is a seedling of Niagara and, therefore, a descendant of Concord which it resembles, differing chiefly in earlier fruit which is of better quality. Unfortunately, the bunches and berries are small. The vines are hardly surpa.s.sed by those of any other variety, being hardy, healthy and productive, qualities that should commend it for commercial vineyards. The ripe fruit hangs on the vines for some time without deterioration, and the grapes do not crack in wet weather. The crop ripens several days earlier than that of Concord. Eclipse originated with E. A. Riehl, Alton, Illinois, from seed planted about 1890.

Vine vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes medium in length, dark reddish-brown; nodes enlarged; tendrils continuous, long, bifid.

Leaves large; upper surface dark green; lower surface white with a bronze tinge, heavily p.u.b.escent; lobes wanting or three with terminal one acute; petiolar sinus deep, narrow; basal sinus usually lacking; lateral sinus narrow, often notched; teeth shallow, narrow. Flowers self-sterile, open in mid-season; stamens reflexed.

Fruit early, keeps well. Cl.u.s.ters of medium size, broad, tapering, frequently single-shouldered, compact; pedicel short, thick, covered with small warts; brush long, pale green. Berries, large, oval, dull black with abundant bloom, persistent, firm; skin tender, slightly adherent, astringent; flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, tender, fine-grained, foxy, sweet; good. Seeds free, one to four, short, broad, distinctly notched, blunt, brown.

EDEN