EARLY DAISY.(Labrusca.)

1.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1877:36.2.Gar. Mon.,22:176. 1880.3.Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1880:239.4.Downing,1881:166 app.5.Am. Pom. Soc. Cat.,1881:24.6.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1883:124.7.Ib.,1885:103, 107.8.Kan. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1891:126.9.Kan. Sta. Bul.,14:87. 1890.10.Ala. Sta. Bul.,10:9. 1890.11.Gar. and For.,5:512. 1892.12.Can. Hort.,17:253, 267. 1894.13.Bush. Cat.,1894:117, 118.fig.14.Husmann,1895:32, 95, 102.15.Tenn. Sta. Bul., Vol.9:176, 195. 1896.16.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,15:432. 1896.17.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,17:529, 538, 541, 544, 548, 549, 552. 1898.18.Miss. Sta. Bul.,56:12. 1899.19.Mo. Sta. Bul.,46:38, 43, 45, 46, 76. 1899.20.W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,44:91. 1899.21.Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1900:365.

Dutchess is a variety for the amateur, always to be sought for because of its delicious flavor, its handsome appearance, and its long-keeping qualities. It has never been largely grown in commercial vineyards because the vine is tender to cold and capricious as to soil and other conditions. Moreover the berries do not ripen quite evenly and berries and foliage are very susceptible to fungi. In soils to which it is not adapted berries and bunches are small and the latter are loose and straggling. But in spite of its defects Dutchess should not be discarded by the grape-lover for there are few grapes better for the table and that will take its place as a pure-flavored, refreshing, juicy grape. It is sweet and rich and yet does not cloy the appetite; 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 but not so much so as to be objectionable in eating. The bunches are large and compact when well grown and the berries, though but medium sized, are attractive because of their translucency, the touch of amber when fully ripe, and the distinctive dots so well shown in the color-plate. Dutchess does not want an extremely rich soil nor close pruning and the bunches should be thinned and as soon as ripe ought to be picked as there is a tendency to crack when overripe or exposed to the wet. Dutchess is self-fertile and therefore desirable where only a few vines are wanted, obviating the trouble of mixed planting for cross-pollination. The clusters are especially fine when bagged.

DUTCHESSDUTCHESS

Dutchess is another variety from A. J. Caywood[185]of Marlboro, New York, from seed of a white Concord seedling pollinated by mixed pollen of Delaware and Walter planted in 1868. The white fruited maternal vine was an offspring of Concord pollinated by Montgomery. Dutchess was introduced by its originator about 1880. The variety was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1881 where it has since been retained.

Vine vigorous to weak, depending upon amount of winter injury, often not hardy, an uncertain bearer, susceptible to mildew in some localities. Canes intermediate in length and number, medium to below in size, moderately dark brown, covered with a slight amount of bloom, surface usually somewhat roughened; nodes slightly enlarged and flattened; internodes short to very short; diaphragm unusually thick; pith below average size; shoots slightly pubescent; tendrils intermittent, short, bifid to trifid.Leaf-buds large to medium, short, thick to medium, conical to obtuse. Young leaves faintly tinged on lower side and along margin of upper side with light rose-carmine. Leaves above medium to below, irregular in outline, of average thickness; upper surface light green, slightly glossy, moderately smooth; lower surface pale green, pubescent; veins not distinct; leaf usually not lobed, with terminus slightly acute; petiolar sinus of average depth, medium to narrow; basal sinus shallow when present; lateral sinus varies from medium in depth to a mere notch; teeth intermediate in depth and width. Flowers fertile or nearly so, open somewhat late; stamens upright.Fruit ripens in mid-season, keeps and ships well. Clusters large to medium, long, rather slender, below average width, not very uniform, slightly tapering to cylindrical, with prominent single shoulder, medium to compact; peduncle short to medium, notvery thick; pedicel inferior in length, quite slender, nearly smooth, enlarged at point of attachment to fruit; brush amber-colored. Berries of medium size, roundish to oval, pale yellowish-green verging on amber, some berries showing a decided bronze tinge, covered with thin gray bloom, persistent, firm. Skin sprinkled with small dark dots, rather thin, tough, adheres to the pulp, contains no pigment, without astringency. Flesh very pale green, translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender, vinous, sweet, of pleasant flavor, quality high; on heavy clay soils the quality is not fully developed. The seeds, which are tender and easily crushed, separate readily from the pulp, one to two or occasionally three, rather small, wide, short to medium, plump, moderately sharp-pointed, brownish; raphe obscure; chalaza of average size, roundish, above center, distinct.

Leaf-buds large to medium, short, thick to medium, conical to obtuse. Young leaves faintly tinged on lower side and along margin of upper side with light rose-carmine. Leaves above medium to below, irregular in outline, of average thickness; upper surface light green, slightly glossy, moderately smooth; lower surface pale green, pubescent; veins not distinct; leaf usually not lobed, with terminus slightly acute; petiolar sinus of average depth, medium to narrow; basal sinus shallow when present; lateral sinus varies from medium in depth to a mere notch; teeth intermediate in depth and width. Flowers fertile or nearly so, open somewhat late; stamens upright.

Fruit ripens in mid-season, keeps and ships well. Clusters large to medium, long, rather slender, below average width, not very uniform, slightly tapering to cylindrical, with prominent single shoulder, medium to compact; peduncle short to medium, notvery thick; pedicel inferior in length, quite slender, nearly smooth, enlarged at point of attachment to fruit; brush amber-colored. Berries of medium size, roundish to oval, pale yellowish-green verging on amber, some berries showing a decided bronze tinge, covered with thin gray bloom, persistent, firm. Skin sprinkled with small dark dots, rather thin, tough, adheres to the pulp, contains no pigment, without astringency. Flesh very pale green, translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender, vinous, sweet, of pleasant flavor, quality high; on heavy clay soils the quality is not fully developed. The seeds, which are tender and easily crushed, separate readily from the pulp, one to two or occasionally three, rather small, wide, short to medium, plump, moderately sharp-pointed, brownish; raphe obscure; chalaza of average size, roundish, above center, distinct.

1.Pa. Sta. Rpt.,1892:121.2.Bush. Cat.,1894:119.3.Amer. Gard.,15:392, 445. 1894.4.Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1904:228.5.Can. Cen. Exp. Farms Rpt.,1905:107, 108.

The variety has been tried thoroughly in various grape regions and though it seemingly has no serious faults, on the other hand its good qualities are not such as to make it more than commonplace. Its earliness ought to commend it somewhat as the ripening period is 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. It would seem to be as desirable, or more so, than Hartford or Champion.

Early Daisy was originated by Mr. John Kready of Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, in 1874, as a chance seedling in his garden. It is supposed by many, from its general characters, to be a seedling of Hartford.

Vine vigorous, hardy, produces fair crops. Tendrils continuous, bifid. Leaves medium to small, light green; lower surface slightly pubescent, cobwebby. Flowers nearly sterile. Fruit ripens as early or earlier than Hartford and is a good shipper and keeper for an early grape. Clusters small to medium, often blunt at ends, slightly cylindrical, sometimes single-shouldered, compact. Berries of medium size, roundish, rather dull black, covered with abundant blue bloom, persistent. Skin tough, contains a large amount of purplish-red pigment. Flesh tough, solid, slightly aromatic, rather tart at skin to acid at center, inferior in flavor and quality. Seeds numerous, of average size. Not good enough for dessert purposes.

EARLY OHIOEARLY OHIO

1.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1875:67.2.Ib.,1881:43.3.Downing,1881:166, app.4.Bush. Cat.,1883:94.5.Va. Sta. Bul.,30:108. 1893.

Early Dawn is a black Labrusca-Vinifera hybrid of fine quality and attractive appearance but so lacking in necessary vine characters in New York as to be practically worthless. Although it originated in New York it was never widely grown in this State. It is now, so far as records show, nearly obsolete.

Dr. Wm. A. M. Culbert of Newburgh, New York, is the originator of Early Dawn, the date of its origin being some time about 1870. It is reported to have come from seed of Israella fertilized by Black Hamburg.

Vine a fair to strong grower, not very hardy, medium to very productive. Canes rather long, covered with thin blue bloom; tendrils intermittent, bifid to trifid. Leaves medium to small; lower surface very pubescent and slightly hairy. Flowers sterile or nearly so, open in mid-season; stamens reflexed. Fruit ripens about two weeks earlier than Concord, keeps and ships well. Clusters medium to large, nearly cylindrical, irregular in outline, vary from not shouldered to a heavy single shoulder or sometimes with a double shoulder, medium in compactness. Berries rather small, roundish, attractive purplish-black, covered with heavy blue bloom, persistent. Flesh very juicy, tender, slightly vinous, sprightly, agreeably tart, variable in flavor and quality, ranging from fair to very good. Seeds not numerous, broad, plump.

1.An. Hort.,1892:176.2.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,12:619. 1893.3.Rural N. Y.,53:645. 1894.fig.4.Bush. Cat.,1894:119, 120.fig.5.Wis. Sta. An. Rpt.,13:226. 1896.fig.6.Rural N. Y.,56:627,fig., 630, 823. 1897.7.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,17:529, 548, 554. 1898.

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. The claims made for this variety that it is hardy, vigorous and productive, have not been borne out on the Station grounds; but on the contrary the vine is somewhat tender, is not a strong grower, and does not bear large crops. The quality is very poor. Now that the South is sending many grapes of high quality to northern markets at the time Early Ohio and other grapes of its season are ripening it is doubtful if a grape having only earliness to commend it should have a place in ourviticulture. Notwithstanding its defects Early Ohio is grown somewhat commonly in New York though its culture is on the wane.

The original seedling of Early Ohio was found in the year 1882 in the vineyard of R. A. Hunt, at Euclid, Ohio, between rows of Delaware and Concord. It was introduced in 1892 by the C. S. Curtice Company, of Portland, New York.

Vine medium to weak, often tender, usually produces medium crops. Canes short to very short, few in number, rather slender, brownish with a slight reddish tinge; nodes somewhat enlarged, flattened; internodes short; diaphragm thick; pith intermediate in size; shoots pubescent; tendrils continuous, usually short, bifid.Leaf-buds rather small and short, inclined to slender, pointed to conical, open in mid-season. Young leaves lightly tinged on under side and along margin of upper side with rose-carmine. Leaves intermediate in size, of average thickness; upper surface light green, dull, smoothish; lower surface varies from pale green to slight bronze, pubescent; veins fairly distinct; lobes vary from none to three, with terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus medium to shallow, rather wide; basal sinus usually absent; lateral sinus nearly shallow, wide to rather narrow; teeth shallow to sometimes medium, somewhat narrow. Flowers fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.Fruit ripens two or three weeks earlier than Concord, some seasons a few days earlier than Moore Early, does not keep well. Clusters medium in size, intermediate to long, below average in thickness, tapering, frequently not shouldered, moderately compact; peduncle short to medium, of fair thickness; pedicel intermediate in length, medium to rather slender, covered with few, small warts; brush above average length, slender, tinged with red. Berries not very uniform in size, averaging medium, roundish, purplish-black, slightly glossy, covered with rather heavy blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin intermediate in thickness and toughness, adheres slightly to the pulp, contains a moderate amount of reddish pigment, astringent. Flesh greenish, translucent, juicy, somewhat tough, slightly aromatic, sweet at skin but slightly acid at center, inferior in quality. Seeds do not separate easily unless fully ripe, one to four, average three, intermediate in size, length, and breadth, notched, light brown with yellowish-brown tips; raphe obscure; chalaza of fair size, slightly above center, circular to oval, rather obscure.

Leaf-buds rather small and short, inclined to slender, pointed to conical, open in mid-season. Young leaves lightly tinged on under side and along margin of upper side with rose-carmine. Leaves intermediate in size, of average thickness; upper surface light green, dull, smoothish; lower surface varies from pale green to slight bronze, pubescent; veins fairly distinct; lobes vary from none to three, with terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus medium to shallow, rather wide; basal sinus usually absent; lateral sinus nearly shallow, wide to rather narrow; teeth shallow to sometimes medium, somewhat narrow. Flowers fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.

Fruit ripens two or three weeks earlier than Concord, some seasons a few days earlier than Moore Early, does not keep well. Clusters medium in size, intermediate to long, below average in thickness, tapering, frequently not shouldered, moderately compact; peduncle short to medium, of fair thickness; pedicel intermediate in length, medium to rather slender, covered with few, small warts; brush above average length, slender, tinged with red. Berries not very uniform in size, averaging medium, roundish, purplish-black, slightly glossy, covered with rather heavy blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin intermediate in thickness and toughness, adheres slightly to the pulp, contains a moderate amount of reddish pigment, astringent. Flesh greenish, translucent, juicy, somewhat tough, slightly aromatic, sweet at skin but slightly acid at center, inferior in quality. Seeds do not separate easily unless fully ripe, one to four, average three, intermediate in size, length, and breadth, notched, light brown with yellowish-brown tips; raphe obscure; chalaza of fair size, slightly above center, circular to oval, rather obscure.

1.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1877:44.2.Downing,1881:166, app.3.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1881:34.4.N. J. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1881:13.5.Bush. Cat.,1883:96.6.Am. Pom. Soc. Cat.,1883:26.7.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1885:103, 105.8.Rural N. Y.,45:622, 653. 1886.9.Kan. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1886:187.10.Can. Hort.,11:287. 1888.11.Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1889:361, 373.12.W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,36:40. 1891.13.Bush. Cat.,1894:121.14.Mich. Sta. Bul.,169:170. 1899.15.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,18:395. 1899.16.Can. Hort.,23:217. 1900.

EARLY VICTOREARLY VICTOR

Early Victor is especially worthy of notice because it is highest in quality of the very early black grapes. When one tastes this variety at the beginning of the grape season, he has no palate for Hartford, Champion, Ives, Janesville, or even Moore Early, and he will be conscious of defects in the flavor of many of the later grapes which are supposed to have high quality. Early Victor is especially pleasing to those who want a pure-flavored grape and object to the foxiness of our native varieties so marked in Hartford and Champion but almost wholly lacking in this variety. Were it but a few days earlier and bunch and berry a little larger and more attractive, Early Victor might be the grapepar excellencefor home and market to begin the grape season. The vines are hardy, healthy, vigorous, and productive, with growth and foliage greatly resembling Hartford, which is probably one of its parents, Delaware being the other. The bunches are small and compact and somewhat variable in shape; the berries are about the size and shape of those of Delaware. Its season is that of Moore Early and Hartford, or a little later, though, like many black grapes, it colors before it is ripe and is often picked much too green. Unfortunately the fruit is susceptible to black-rot and a little inclined to shrivel after ripening. Although introduced into American viticulture in 1881, Early Victor is still little known and deserves far more general recognition both by the amateur and the commercial grape-grower.

John Burr,[186]of Leavenworth, Kansas, originated Early Victor about 1871 and sent it out for testing in 1881. It was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1883 and is still retained.Early Victor is said to be a seedling of Delaware pollinated by Hartford. This, however, is mere surmise, as nothing is known positively as to its parentage, and the statement was made frequently by the Kansas Horticultural Society, of which Burr was a member, that it was a seedling of Concord. It was introduced, probably about 1887, by Stayman & Black of Leavenworth.

Vine vigorous, healthy, hardy, productive. Canes long, numerous, rather slender, dark brown to slightly reddish-brown, surface pubescent; nodes enlarged, usually not flattened; internodes long to medium; diaphragm nearly thin; pith intermediate in size; shoots pubescent; tendrils continuous, of average length, bifid to sometimes trifid.Leaf-buds of average size, short to medium, rather thick, often strongly compressed, nearly obtuse to conical, open in mid-season. Young leaves tinged lightly on upper and lower sides with rose-carmine. Leaves medium to above in size, rather thick; upper surface dark green, moderately smooth; lower surface nearly whitish, heavily pubescent; veins well defined; lobes three to five in number, terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus intermediate in depth and width; basal sinus shallow and moderately wide when present; lateral sinus medium to above in depth, narrow to medium in width; teeth of average depth and width. Flowers nearly fertile to somewhat sterile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.Fruit ripens with Moore Early or a little later, does not keep well. Clusters medium to small, below average length, variable in shape, cylindrical to tapering, frequently single-shouldered, compact; peduncle intermediate in length and thickness; pedicel medium to short, covered with numerous small warts; brush wine-colored or pinkish-red. Berries small to medium, roundish to slightly oblate, dark purplish-black, rather dull, covered with heavy blue bloom, persistent, not very firm. Skin rather thin, medium to tough, adheres but slightly to the pulp, contains much red pigment, astringent. Flesh greenish-white, nearly opaque, fine-grained, of medium toughness, aromatic, slightly vinous, not foxy, sweet at skin but slightly acid at center, good in quality. Seeds do not separate easily from the pulp unless the fruit is thoroughly ripe, one to four, average three, of medium size, broad, notched, below mean length, usually somewhat blunt, dark brown; raphe obscure; chalaza of fair size, slightly above center, circular, somewhat obscure.

Leaf-buds of average size, short to medium, rather thick, often strongly compressed, nearly obtuse to conical, open in mid-season. Young leaves tinged lightly on upper and lower sides with rose-carmine. Leaves medium to above in size, rather thick; upper surface dark green, moderately smooth; lower surface nearly whitish, heavily pubescent; veins well defined; lobes three to five in number, terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus intermediate in depth and width; basal sinus shallow and moderately wide when present; lateral sinus medium to above in depth, narrow to medium in width; teeth of average depth and width. Flowers nearly fertile to somewhat sterile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.

Fruit ripens with Moore Early or a little later, does not keep well. Clusters medium to small, below average length, variable in shape, cylindrical to tapering, frequently single-shouldered, compact; peduncle intermediate in length and thickness; pedicel medium to short, covered with numerous small warts; brush wine-colored or pinkish-red. Berries small to medium, roundish to slightly oblate, dark purplish-black, rather dull, covered with heavy blue bloom, persistent, not very firm. Skin rather thin, medium to tough, adheres but slightly to the pulp, contains much red pigment, astringent. Flesh greenish-white, nearly opaque, fine-grained, of medium toughness, aromatic, slightly vinous, not foxy, sweet at skin but slightly acid at center, good in quality. Seeds do not separate easily from the pulp unless the fruit is thoroughly ripe, one to four, average three, of medium size, broad, notched, below mean length, usually somewhat blunt, dark brown; raphe obscure; chalaza of fair size, slightly above center, circular, somewhat obscure.

1.Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1879:161.2.Ib.,1880:231.3.Gar. Mon.,27:335. 1885.4.U. S. D. A. Rpt.,1887:633.5.Rural N. Y.,48:639, 641. 1889.fig.6.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,9:326. 1890.7.W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,36:42. 1891.8.Ill. Sta. Bul.,28:254. 1893.9.Bush. Cat.,1894:123.10.Mass. Hatch Sta. Bul.,37:11, 14. 1896.11.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,17:529, 548, 552, 559. 1898.12.Mo. Sta. Bul.,46:39, 42, 44, 45, 50, 54, 76. 1899.Eaton’s Seedling(1, 2).

Eaton’s Seedling(1, 2).

EATONEATON

Eaton is a pure-bred seedling of Concord which it surpasses in appearance but does not equal in flavor. In appearance of bunch it is one of the handsomest of our native grapes but as a table grape it ranks low. Its flesh is tough and stringy and, though sweet at the skin, is acid at the seeds. It has the same foxiness that characterizes Concord but with more juice and less richness than its parent so that it is well described as a “diluted Concord”. The skin is very similar to that of Concord, neither thicker nor thinner, and the fruit packs, ships and keeps about the same, though if any thing less well because of the greater amount of juice. The season is a few days earlier than Concord. The vine is healthy, vigorous, hardy and productive and very similar in all botanical characters to its parent. The grapes ripen unevenly, the flowers are self-sterile and in some locations it is a shy bearer. Eaton has been grown for nearly forty years and has not found favor with either the grower or the consumer and is being less and less grown, remaining in our viticulture only as a handsome exhibition grape and an interesting seedling of Concord.

This mammoth Concord, the Eaton, originated with Calvin Eaton of Concord, New Hampshire, about 1868 from seed of Concord. Mr. Eaton states that this was the best vine out of a lot of two thousand seedlings. The new variety was purchased by John B. Moore & Son of Concord, Massachusetts, in 1882, and was introduced by them in 1885. Owing to Mr. Moore’s death it soon passed into the hands of the T. S. Hubbard Company, of Fredonia, New York. It at once attracted much attention on account of its fine appearance and for a time was very popular, its popularity declining chiefly because of the poor quality of the fruit.

Vine vigorous, healthy, hardy, usually productive. Canes intermediate in length and number, thick to medium, light brown changing to darker brown at the nodes, covered with a small amount of blue bloom; nodes enlarged, slightly flattened; internodes short to medium; diaphragm of average thickness; pith large to medium; shoots pubescent; tendrils continuous, rather long, bifid to trifid.Leaf-buds medium to below in size, short, of nearly mean thickness, conical to pointed, open in mid-season. Young leaves lightly tinged on under side and along margin of upper side with carmine. Leaves healthy, large, often roundish, thick; upper surface dark green, of average smoothness; lower surface tinged with bronze, heavily pubescent; veins distinct; lobes three when present, with terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus medium to shallow, rather wide; basal sinus usually lacking; lateral sinus shallow, narrow, oftennotched; teeth shallow to medium, not very wide. Flowers partly fertile to somewhat sterile, open early; stamens upright.Fruit ripens slightly before Concord, keeps and ships only fairly well. Clusters large to medium, short to above medium, often very broad, blunt, slightly tapering, usually single-shouldered but sometimes double-shouldered, compact to medium; peduncle short to medium, thick; pedicel medium to rather long, thick, nearly smooth, wide at point of attachment to berry; brush slender, pale green. Berries rather uniform in size, averaging large, roundish, black, not glossy, covered with heavy blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin intermediate in thickness, rather tough, adheres considerably to the pulp, contains much purplish-red pigment, slightly astringent. Flesh greenish, translucent, juicy, rather tough, slightly stringy and foxy, nearly sweet at skin but quite acid at center, fair in quality, ranking below Concord. Seeds rather adherent, one to four in number, average two or three, above mean size, inclined to broad, notched, intermediate in length, plump, somewhat blunt, light brown; raphe buried in a rather wide, shallow groove; chalaza nearly large, slightly above center, irregularly circular to oval, obscure.

Leaf-buds medium to below in size, short, of nearly mean thickness, conical to pointed, open in mid-season. Young leaves lightly tinged on under side and along margin of upper side with carmine. Leaves healthy, large, often roundish, thick; upper surface dark green, of average smoothness; lower surface tinged with bronze, heavily pubescent; veins distinct; lobes three when present, with terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus medium to shallow, rather wide; basal sinus usually lacking; lateral sinus shallow, narrow, oftennotched; teeth shallow to medium, not very wide. Flowers partly fertile to somewhat sterile, open early; stamens upright.

Fruit ripens slightly before Concord, keeps and ships only fairly well. Clusters large to medium, short to above medium, often very broad, blunt, slightly tapering, usually single-shouldered but sometimes double-shouldered, compact to medium; peduncle short to medium, thick; pedicel medium to rather long, thick, nearly smooth, wide at point of attachment to berry; brush slender, pale green. Berries rather uniform in size, averaging large, roundish, black, not glossy, covered with heavy blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin intermediate in thickness, rather tough, adheres considerably to the pulp, contains much purplish-red pigment, slightly astringent. Flesh greenish, translucent, juicy, rather tough, slightly stringy and foxy, nearly sweet at skin but quite acid at center, fair in quality, ranking below Concord. Seeds rather adherent, one to four in number, average two or three, above mean size, inclined to broad, notched, intermediate in length, plump, somewhat blunt, light brown; raphe buried in a rather wide, shallow groove; chalaza nearly large, slightly above center, irregularly circular to oval, obscure.

1.Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1899:216.2.Ib.,1904:228.3.Rural N. Y.,65:852. 1906.4.Ib.,66:24, 344, 412. 1907.Riehl’s New Early Grape(3).Riehl’s No. 10(1, 2).Riehl’s No. 10(4).

1.Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1899:216.2.Ib.,1904:228.3.Rural N. Y.,65:852. 1906.4.Ib.,66:24, 344, 412. 1907.

Riehl’s New Early Grape(3).Riehl’s No. 10(1, 2).Riehl’s No. 10(4).

There are two grapes bearing the name Eclipse, the origin and history of both of which are briefly set forth below. Of the two, Riehl’s Eclipse alone is deemed worthy of general discussion, the other, a green variety of this name, having passed out of cultivation if it were ever grown in New York.

ECLIPSEECLIPSE

The grape under consideration, known for some years asRiehl’s No. 10, is a comparatively new candidate for pomological honors, not having been named and introduced as Eclipse until 1906. It has not been grown largely in New York and the East and we can therefore say but little of it other than to describe it as it grows on the Station grounds and to state that in the West, Illinois in particular, it is most highly recommended. At Geneva the Eclipse is very like the Concord, one of its grandparents, it being a seedling of Niagara, differing chiefly in being earlier and of better quality. Bunches and berries are a little smaller than Concord. The vines are hardy, healthy and productive, promising well for commercial plantations. In Illinois it is said to hang on the vines long after it is ripewithout deterioration and not to crack in wet weather. The color-plate and the description given below show the Eclipse as it grows at this Station and if the grape-grower wishes a variety answering to the general characters so depicted, the Eclipse is certainly worthy a trial in New York.

E. A. Riehl of Alton, Illinois, is the originator of Eclipse, the date of its origin being about 1890. He states that this is one of the seedlings from a lot of Niagara seed which was probably cross-pollinated by other varieties. The variety was introduced in 1906 by the Stark Brothers Nurseries and Orchards Company, Louisiana, Missouri.

Vine vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes medium to above in length and number, intermediate in size, rather dark reddish-brown; nodes slightly enlarged; internodes of average length; diaphragm thick; pith large to medium; shoots pubescent; tendrils continuous, somewhat long, bifid.Leaf-buds medium to nearly small, short, inclined to slender, pointed to conical, open in mid-season. Young leaves colored on lower side only, prevailing color pale green with slight rose-carmine tinge. Leaves medium to large, of average thickness; upper surface dark green, intermediate in smoothness; lower surface whitish with slight bronze tinge, heavily pubescent, veins well defined; lobes none to three with terminal lobe acute to acuminate; petiolar sinus deep, medium to narrow; basal sinus usually lacking; lateral sinus of average depth, rather narrow, often notched; teeth medium to shallow, nearly narrow. Flowers sterile, open in mid-season; stamens reflexed.Fruit ripens slightly earlier than Concord, keeps fairly well. Clusters intermediate in size, below average length, medium to rather broad, tapering to cylindrical, frequently single-shouldered, moderately compact; peduncle nearly short, thick to medium; pedicel short, somewhat thick, covered with numerous small warts; brush long, pale green. Berries large to medium, slightly oval, rather dull black, covered with abundant blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin intermediate in thickness, tender, adheres but slightly to the pulp, contains a small amount of wine-colored pigment, somewhat astringent. Flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, tender, rather fine-grained, foxy, sweet next the skin to agreeably tart at center, resembles Concord very closely in flavor, good in quality. Seeds separate very easily from the pulp, one to four, average two or three, of mean size, somewhat short, broad to medium, distinctly notched, rather blunt, brownish; raphe buried in a deep groove; chalaza of average size, slightly above center to nearly central, circular to nearly pear-shaped, distinct.

Leaf-buds medium to nearly small, short, inclined to slender, pointed to conical, open in mid-season. Young leaves colored on lower side only, prevailing color pale green with slight rose-carmine tinge. Leaves medium to large, of average thickness; upper surface dark green, intermediate in smoothness; lower surface whitish with slight bronze tinge, heavily pubescent, veins well defined; lobes none to three with terminal lobe acute to acuminate; petiolar sinus deep, medium to narrow; basal sinus usually lacking; lateral sinus of average depth, rather narrow, often notched; teeth medium to shallow, nearly narrow. Flowers sterile, open in mid-season; stamens reflexed.

Fruit ripens slightly earlier than Concord, keeps fairly well. Clusters intermediate in size, below average length, medium to rather broad, tapering to cylindrical, frequently single-shouldered, moderately compact; peduncle nearly short, thick to medium; pedicel short, somewhat thick, covered with numerous small warts; brush long, pale green. Berries large to medium, slightly oval, rather dull black, covered with abundant blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin intermediate in thickness, tender, adheres but slightly to the pulp, contains a small amount of wine-colored pigment, somewhat astringent. Flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, tender, rather fine-grained, foxy, sweet next the skin to agreeably tart at center, resembles Concord very closely in flavor, good in quality. Seeds separate very easily from the pulp, one to four, average two or three, of mean size, somewhat short, broad to medium, distinctly notched, rather blunt, brownish; raphe buried in a deep groove; chalaza of average size, slightly above center to nearly central, circular to nearly pear-shaped, distinct.

1.Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1889:372.2.Ib.,1892:269.3.Bush. Cat.,1894:123.4.Va. Sta. Bul.,94:139. 1898.5.Mo. Sta. Bul.,46:39. 1899.

This Eclipse was produced by John Burr of Leavenworth, Kansas, about 1880, from mixed seed. It attracted some attention in the Middle West, where the fruit was exhibited at various meetings but failed to attain favor in the vineyard. It is now practically obsolete.

Vine vigorous, injured in severe winters, variable in productiveness, somewhat susceptible to mildew. Canes long to medium, of average number, thick; internodes long; tendrils continuous to intermittent, bifid to sometimes trifid. Leaves not healthy, large to medium, of average greenness; lower surface grayish-white. Flowers partly sterile; stamens upright. Fruit ripens a little later than Diamond, keeps well. Clusters medium to small, of average length, frequently single-shouldered, medium to broad, compact to medium. Berries large to medium, roundish to oblate, light green often with tinge of yellow, covered with thin gray bloom, persistent. Skin thin, of average toughness, covered with scattering, small, reddish-brown dots. Flesh tender, vinous, sprightly, less sweet than Niagara, good to very good in quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, one to four, average three, above medium in size, intermediate in length and width; raphe obscure.

1.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1881:33.2.Rural N. Y.,45:622. 1886.3.Ib.,51:681, 726. 1892.4.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,11:621. 1892.5.Bush. Cat.,1894:123.6.Col Sta. Bul.,29:22. 1894.7.Rural N. Y.,56:822. 1897.8.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,17:530, 541, 544, 548, 554. 1898.9.Ib.,18:375, 387, 396. 1899.10.Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1902:224.

Eldorado is one of the best flavored of all early green grapes but unfortunately it has defects which have kept it from becoming popular and it is now rapidly passing from cultivation. It is delicately flavored, with a very distinct aroma and taste; the flesh is tender, melting and sweet from skin to seeds, all qualities rarely found in an early grape. The season is about that of Moore Early, a time when there are few other really good white grapes. Eldorado is a full sister of Lady Washington and is if anything better flavored than that most excellent variety. These two grapes are secondary hybrids of Labrusca and Vinifera, Concord being the native parent. The vines inherit most of the good qualities of Concord butEldorado does not inherit Concord’s ability to set fruit well; even with cross-pollination it sometimes fails to bear and is not worth growing unless planted in a mixed vineyard. The clusters are so often small and straggling under the best possible conditions that the variety cannot be highly recommended to the amateur yet its delightful flavor and its earliness may commend it to some.

J. H. Ricketts of Newburgh, New York, produced Eldorado some time about 1870 from seed of Concord fertilized by Allen’s Hybrid. It was introduced by the originator about 1881 and is still offered for sale by a few nurserymen. Eldorado has been somewhat commonly grown in gardens and collections in the East but does not succeed in the West.

Vine usually a strong grower, hardy except in severe winters, an uncertain bearer. Canes long, not very numerous; tendrils intermittent to rarely continuous, bifid to trifid. Leaves below medium to large, irregularly roundish, dark green, rugose on older leaves; lower surface tinged with bronze, pubescent. Flowers sterile, open medium late; stamens reflexed. Fruit ripens earlier than Concord, keeps well. Clusters do not always set perfectly and are quite variable in size, frequently single-shouldered, not uniform in compactness. Berries large to medium, roundish, yellowish-green changing to a golden yellow, covered with thin gray bloom. Flesh tender, slightly foxy, sweet from skin to center, mild, high flavored, good to very good in quality. Seeds intermediate in size and length, blunt.

1.Amer. Farmer,9:221. 1827.2.Prince,1830:176.3.Downing,1845:255.4.Elliott,1854:245.5.Horticulturist,12:458. 1857.6.Phin,1862:254.7.Am. Pom. Soc. Cat.,1862:90.8.Husmann,1866:120.9.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1881:38.10.Bush. Cat.,1883:94.11.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,13:603. 1894.12.Ib.,17:530, 548, 554. 1898.Blue Elsingburg(2).Elsenburgh(2).Elsinboro(4, 10, 11).Elsingburg(7).Elsinburg(6).Elsinborough(6).Elsinborough(2, 3, 4).Missouri Bird’s Eye(8).Smart’s Elsinburgh(3, 4).Smart’s Elsingborough(2, 10, 11).

Blue Elsingburg(2).Elsenburgh(2).Elsinboro(4, 10, 11).Elsingburg(7).Elsinburg(6).Elsinborough(6).Elsinborough(2, 3, 4).Missouri Bird’s Eye(8).Smart’s Elsinburgh(3, 4).Smart’s Elsingborough(2, 10, 11).

Elsinburgh dates back nearly a century and is now rarely cultivated, having long since been replaced by better varieties. It is certainly not known in New York now and it is doubtful if it was ever much grown as it fruits very sparingly in the North and is but half hardy in the latitude of this State. In quality it is one of the best of the Aestivalis grapes, having a pure, rich, vinous, spicy flavor without a trace of foxiness. It wouldundoubtedly add variety to any amateur’s vineyard and might prove of value in grape-breeding, otherwise it is not worth growing; it undoubtedly makes a very good red wine.

The origin of Elsinburgh is very uncertain. It was named after the township, Elsinborough, Salem County, New Jersey. In this neighborhood it was much raised at an early day. From here it was sent to various parts of the country. Whether it originated in this section or whether it was introduced at a still earlier date from elsewhere is unknown. It was brought into notice by a Dr. Hulings. Although Elsinburgh has long since ceased to be of importance, it is still offered for sale by an occasional nurseryman. It was placed on the grape list in the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1862 and removed in 1891. Elsinburgh is of especial interest as being the probable parent of Delaware. The variety shows Bourquiniana or Aestivalis in flavor and texture of fruit, in texture and pubescence of leaf, and the bloom on young canes; its tenderness and susceptibility to mildew suggest Vinifera.

Vine weak to moderately vigorous, not very hardy, produces light crops. Canes short to medium, slender, covered with thin blue bloom; tendrils intermittent, bifid to trifid. Leaves small to medium, variable in color; lower surface hairy and slightly pubescent. Flowers nearly fertile, open very late; stamens upright. Fruit ripens early in October. Clusters medium to large, usually single-shouldered, loose to medium. Berries small, roundish, black, covered with blue bloom, contain but little pulp. Flesh vinous, sweet, quality good. Seeds few, small.

1.An. Hort.,1892:176.2.Bush. Cat.,1894:123.3.Am. Pom. Soc. Cat.,1897:19.4.Tex. Sta. Bul.,48:1149, 1156. 1898.5.Ib.,56:276. 1900.

Introduced some twenty years ago, Elvicand has not found a place in the viticulture of the North. It is interesting because of its parentage, having in it the blood of three species: Riparia, Labrusca and Candicans, and might prove valuable in breeding work, as starting a new and somewhat distinct group of grapes. There has been much complaint of this variety being unproductive but Munson states that this is due to short pruning and that it will bear heavily with very long pruning. It is too late in season for New York.

The variety was originated by T. V. Munson of Denison, Texas, from seed of Elvira accidentally fertilized by pollen ofVitis candicans. It was introduced by the originator in 1893, and was placed on the grape list in the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1897, where it has since been retained. It was dropped from the originator’s catalog eight years ago.

Vine vigorous and hardy. Shoots and under side of leaves showing much white cottony pubescence. Leaves large to medium, shallowly three-lobed. Flowers self-fertile. Clusters small, rather open. Berries of medium size, round, dark purple, somewhat sweet to subacid with slight Candicans flavor. Seeds large. Season late. Not a table grape.

1.Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1873:53.2.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1875:40, 67.3.Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1880:237.4.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1881:38.5.Am. Pom. Soc. Cat.,1881:24.6.Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1883:75.7.Bush. Cat.,1883:97.col. pl. and fig.8.Husmann,1895:83, 93, 175.9.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,17:530, 548, 555, 559. 1898.10.Tex. Sta. Bul.,56:270. 1900.11.Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1902:82.12.Ib.,1906:65, 66, 67.

Though it has never attained great popularity in New York or in the North, Elvira, soon after its introduction in Missouri about thirty-five years ago, was carried to the very pinnacle of popularity as a wine grape. The qualities which commended it were its great productiveness, in which character it is hardly surpassed in favorable locations by any other of our native grapes; its earliness, ripening in the North with Concord; its exceedingly good health, being almost free from cryptogamic diseases and having almost no touch of black-rot in the average season even in the Southwest; its great vigor as shown by a strong stocky growth and ample foliage; and, lastly, almost perfect hardiness even as far north as Canada. Its good qualities are offset by one or two defects which have caused it to lose in popularity as time has gone by until now it is not as widely grown as some of its seedlings. The most noticeable of its defects is its thin skin which bursts easily, thus wholly debarring it from distant markets. Beside this, its flavor and appearance, as it grows here, are not sufficiently good to make it a table grape and it can be used only for wine for which purpose it is much valued, though its habit of cracking in the bunch is sometimes much against it as a wine grape. The wine made from Elvira is light, containing comparatively little alcohol, and by those wine-makers who do not dislike aslight foxiness in flavor, it is considered very good, improving with age and being well adapted for blending with more highly flavored wines.

At the beginning of the reconstruction period in France, Elvira was used more or less as a resistant stock and somewhat as a direct producer but within a few years it was condemned and abandoned for either purpose and is now known in France[187]only in varietal vineyards.

Elvira is a seedling of Taylor, a Riparia-Labrusca hybrid, and shows well the peculiarities and general characters of the group of which Taylor is supposed to be the parent. Of the numerous hybrid Riparia grapes, Elvira seems to have given the best coign of vantage for breeding work and is the parent of a number of worthy pure-bred and cross-bred varieties. While it is to the species to which Elvira belongs that we must look for our hardiest grapes, this variety and most of its progeny are not suited to northern conditions, not because of tenderness to cold, but because they must have a long season for maturity and to attain their best quality. Riparia is largely used as a resistant stock in combating phylloxera, and Elvira and other similar hybrid offspring are almost proof against this pest.

Elvira was originated by Jacob Rommel of Morrison, Missouri, from seed of Taylor which some say was pollinated by Martha. It was planted in 1863 and fruited for the first time in 1869. Bush & Son & Meissner introduced the variety in 1874. It was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1881 where it is still retained. Its great popularity in Missouri was largely due to the energy with which it was advertised by certain prominent viticulturists, they having been most favorably impressed with it because of its withstanding the severe cold of the winter of 1873 without protection. Husmann, in particular, spoke of Elvira in the highest terms and recommended its cultivation. Its popularity spread from Missouri to the islands and the Ohio shore of Lake Erie but scarcely reached New York. In all of these regions its culture is now on the wane.

ELVIRAELVIRA

Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, produces very heavy crops, more productive than Concord. Canes of average length, numerous, medium to below in thickness, rather dark brown, deepening in color at the enlarged and flattened nodes; internodes shortto medium; diaphragm rather thin; pith intermediate in thickness; shoots slightly pubescent; tendrils continuous, of average length, trifid to bifid.Leaf-buds nearly medium in size, short to medium in length, thick, conical to nearly obtuse, open in mid-season. Young leaves tinged faintly with carmine on the lower side only. Leaves rather large, medium to somewhat thin; upper surface light green, older leaves dull but younger leaves glossy, smooth to medium; lower surface pale green, slightly pubescent, hairy. Veins rather distinct; lobes none to three with terminus acute to acuminate; petiolar sinus deep to medium, inclined to narrow, sometimes closed and overlapping; basal sinus usually lacking; lateral sinus shallow, often notched; teeth medium to rather deep, somewhat wide. Flowers fertile or nearly so, open moderately early; stamens upright.Fruit ripens about with Concord, does not keep well. Clusters intermediate in size, above medium to short, of average breadth, cylindrical, usually single-shouldered, compact; peduncle short to medium, rather thick; pedicel not long, of average thickness, nearly smooth; brush short, greenish-yellow with brownish tinge. Berries average medium in size, roundish to slightly oblate, often misshapen on account of compactness, greenish with yellow tinge, rather dull, covered with a fair amount of gray bloom, not always persistent, rather firm. Skin very thin, tender, adheres slightly to the pulp, contains no pigment, somewhat astringent. Flesh greenish, juicy, fine-grained, tender, slightly foxy, sweet, not acid at the center, somewhat flat in flavor, of fair quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, one to four, average three, medium to nearly large, medium to broad, intermediate in length, blunt, often plump, medium to dark brown; raphe obscure or nearly so; chalaza of average size, slightly above center, pear-shaped, rather distinct. Must 88°.

Leaf-buds nearly medium in size, short to medium in length, thick, conical to nearly obtuse, open in mid-season. Young leaves tinged faintly with carmine on the lower side only. Leaves rather large, medium to somewhat thin; upper surface light green, older leaves dull but younger leaves glossy, smooth to medium; lower surface pale green, slightly pubescent, hairy. Veins rather distinct; lobes none to three with terminus acute to acuminate; petiolar sinus deep to medium, inclined to narrow, sometimes closed and overlapping; basal sinus usually lacking; lateral sinus shallow, often notched; teeth medium to rather deep, somewhat wide. Flowers fertile or nearly so, open moderately early; stamens upright.

Fruit ripens about with Concord, does not keep well. Clusters intermediate in size, above medium to short, of average breadth, cylindrical, usually single-shouldered, compact; peduncle short to medium, rather thick; pedicel not long, of average thickness, nearly smooth; brush short, greenish-yellow with brownish tinge. Berries average medium in size, roundish to slightly oblate, often misshapen on account of compactness, greenish with yellow tinge, rather dull, covered with a fair amount of gray bloom, not always persistent, rather firm. Skin very thin, tender, adheres slightly to the pulp, contains no pigment, somewhat astringent. Flesh greenish, juicy, fine-grained, tender, slightly foxy, sweet, not acid at the center, somewhat flat in flavor, of fair quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, one to four, average three, medium to nearly large, medium to broad, intermediate in length, blunt, often plump, medium to dark brown; raphe obscure or nearly so; chalaza of average size, slightly above center, pear-shaped, rather distinct. Must 88°.

1.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1881:66.2.Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1882:227.3.Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1882:46.4.Bush. Cat.,1883:99.5.Gar. Mon.,26:272, 364. 1884.6.W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,31:110. 1886.7.Rural N. Y.,46:20, 495. 1887.8.Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt.,1887:97, 125.9.Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1887-8:85, 169.10.Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1889:370.11.Am. Pom. Soc. Cat.,1889:24.12.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,13:603. 1894.13.Bush. Cat.,1894:125.14.Col. Sta. Bul.,29:22. 1894.15.Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt.,1894-5:11.16.Tenn. Sta. Bul., Vol.9:180. 1896.17.N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt.,17:530, 541, 544, 548, 552. 1898.

Empire State competes with Niagara, Diamond and Pocklington for supremacy among green grapes in commercial vineyards, probably taking fourth place the country over. The variety is equally vigorous in growth, just as free from predaceous parasites, whether fungi or insects, and upon vines of the same age it is as productive but is a little less hardy and the grapes are not as attractive in appearance as the other varieties named.In particular the clusters are small in some localities, a defect which can be overcome only by severe pruning or by thinning. The quality is very good, much better than Niagara, somewhat better than Pocklington and nearly as good as Diamond. It approaches the flavor of the Old World grapes, its slight wild taste suggesting one of the Muscats rather than the foxiness of the Niagara. Empire State is esteemed for the table wherever known and is in demand for wine-making, the wine from it being most excellent for champagne according to reports from the Keuka champagne-makers. Empire State ripens a little earlier than Niagara, hangs long upon the vine and keeps well after picking and without losing flavor. The variety is quite distinct in its horticultural as well as its botanical characters.

This somewhat remarkable white grape was originated by James H. Ricketts of Newburgh, New York. The variety was fruited for the first time in 1879. The originator says that it came from seed of Hartford pollinated by Clinton but this parentage has been questioned by many viticulturists as it does not show characters of either of the reputed parents. A very general supposition is that the variety is a hybrid between Clinton and some variety of Vinifera, the characters of the fruit in particular indicating such breeding. Empire State was bought from the originator by George A. Stone of Rochester for $4,000, a record price for an American grape. It was introduced about 1884 and was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1889, where it still remains.

Back to Index Next