Manual of American Grape-Growing Part 41

(Labrusca, Bourquiniana, Vinifera)

The notable characters of Jewel are earliness and high quality in fruit; although, as compared with Delaware, its parent, the vine is vigorous, healthy and hardy. In form and size of bunch and berry, Jewel closely resembles Delaware, but the grapes are deep black in color. The flesh characters and flavor of the fruit are much like those of Delaware, the pulp being tender yet firm, and the flavor having the same rich, sprightly, vinous taste found in the parent. The seeds are few and small. The skin is thin but tough, and the grapes s.h.i.+p well, keep long, do not sh.e.l.l, and although early, hang until frost. Jewel is a most excellent grape, worthy the place among black grapes that Delaware has among red varieties. In particular, it is recommended for earliness and for localities in the North where standard varieties do not ripen. John Burr, Leavenworth, Kansas, grew Jewel from seed of Delaware planted about 1874.

Vine vigorous, healthy, hardy, productive. Canes slender, light reddish-brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes short; tendrils continuous, bifid. Leaves scant, thick; upper surface light green, dull, rugose; lower surface tinged with bronze, heavily p.u.b.escent; lobes three when present with terminus acute; petiolar sinus narrow; basal sinus usually lacking; lateral sinus shallow, wide; teeth shallow. Flowers self-sterile, open in mid-season; stamens reflexed.

Fruit early. Cl.u.s.ters small, slender, cylindrical, single-shouldered, compact; pedicel short, slender; brush short, wine-colored. Berries medium in size, round, dark purplish-black, dull with heavy bloom, persistent, firm; skin thin, tough, adherent, wine-colored pigment; flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender, sprightly, vinous, sweet; very good.

Seeds adherent, one to four, frequently one-sided, blunt, light brown.

KENSINGTON

(Vinifera, Vulpina)

Kensington has several very meritorious fruit and vine characters. The vine resembles that of Clinton, its Vulpina parent, in vigor, hardiness, growth and productiveness, but the fruit has many of the characters of the European parent, Buckland Sweet.w.a.ter. The grapes are yellowish-green, large, oval and borne in loose cl.u.s.ters of medium size. In quality the fruit of Kensington is not equal to that of Buckland Sweet.w.a.ter but is much better than that of Clinton. The flesh is tender and juicy with a rich, sweet, vinous flavor. The hardiness of the vine and the high quality of the fruit should make Kensington a favorite green grape in northern gardens. This variety was grown by William Saunders, London, Ontario. It was sent out some time between 1870 and 1880.

Vine vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes long, slender, light brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes short; tendrils persistent, intermittent or continuous, long, bifid or trifid.

Leaves thin; upper surface light green, glossy, smooth; lower surface pale green, p.u.b.escent, hairy; lobes wanting or one to three with terminus obtuse; petiolar sinus narrow; basal sinus shallow when present; lateral sinus shallow, usually a notch; teeth deep and wide. Flowers self-fertile, open early, stamens upright.

Fruit mid-season. Cl.u.s.ters large, cylindrical, often heavily single-shouldered, loose, frequently with many undeveloped berries; pedicel long and slender with small, inconspicuous warts; brush short, pale green. Berries variable in size, oval, yellowish-green, glossy with thin bloom, persistent, firm; skin thin, tough, adherent, faintly astringent; flesh green, transparent, juicy, tender, vinous, sweet; good. Seeds free, two to four, wrinkled, large, long, broad, sharp-pointed, yellowish-brown.

KING

(Labrusca)

King is similar to Concord, compared with which the vine is more vigorous and prolific, time of ripening and length of season the same, the cl.u.s.ters are one-fourth larger, the grapes are more persistent, the pulp is more tender, the flavor nearly the same but more sprightly, the seeds fewer in number, the wood harder and of shorter joints and the pedicels larger. King was found in the Concord vineyard of W. K. Munson, Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1892. The vine was set for Concord and is supposed to be a bud-sport of that variety.

Vine very vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes large, dark reddish-brown; nodes enlarged, slightly flattened; internodes short; tendrils continuous or intermittent, trifid or bifid.

Leaves unusually large, thick; upper surface green, dull; lower surface grayish-white changing to slight bronze, p.u.b.escent; lobes three when present, terminal one acute; teeth shallow, narrow.

Flowers self-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.

Fruit mid-season, keeps well. Cl.u.s.ters large, long, broad, irregularly tapering, usually single-shouldered, compact. Berries large, round, black with thin bloom, persistent, firm; skin thick, tough, adherent, astringent; flesh pale green, very juicy, tough, stringy and with some foxiness; good. Seeds adherent, few, large, short, broad, lightly notched if at all, blunt, plump, light brown.

LADY

(Labrusca, Vinifera)

The vine of Lady is much like that of Concord, its parent, although not quite so vigorous nor productive, but ripens its fruit fully two weeks earlier. The fruit is much superior to that of Concord in quality, being richer, sweeter and less foxy. The grapes hang on the vines well but deteriorate rapidly after picking. The term, "ironclad," used by grape-growers to express hardiness and freedom from disease, is probably as applicable to Lady as to any other of the Labrusca grapes. The foliage is dense and of a deep glossy green, neither scalding under a hot sun nor freezing until heavy frosts, making it an attractive ornament in the garden. Lady is deservedly popular as a grape for the amateur and should be planted for near-by markets. It succeeds wherever Concord is grown, and because of its early ripening is especially adapted to northern lat.i.tudes where Concord does not always mature. Although the fruit ripens early, the buds start late, often escaping late spring frosts. When Lady was first heard of, it was in the hands of a Mr. Imlay, Muskingum County, Ohio. George W. Campbell, Delaware, Ohio, introduced it in 1874.

Vine vigorous, hardy, medium in productiveness, healthy. Canes short, slender, dark reddish-brown; nodes flattened; internodes short; tendrils intermittent, bifid or trifid. Leaves medium in size; upper surface light green, glossy, rugose; lower surface pale green, p.u.b.escent; lobes one to five with terminal one ac.u.minate; petiolar sinus shallow, wide; lateral sinus variable in depth and width; teeth shallow. Flowers self-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.

Fruit early, does not keep well. Cl.u.s.ters small, short, slender, cylindrical, sometimes single-shouldered, compact; pedicel thick, smooth; brush slender, long, greenish-white. Berries large, round, light green, often with a tinge of yellow, glossy with thin bloom, persistent, firm; skin covered with small, scattering, dark dots, thin, tender, adherent, astringent; flesh greenish-white, translucent, juicy, tender, aromatic; very good. Seeds free, few, broad, light brown.

LADY WAs.h.i.+NGTON

(Labrusca, Vinifera)

Lady Was.h.i.+ngton is in many respects a most excellent grape but falls short in quality and does not excel in vine characters. The grapes make a good appearance, keep and s.h.i.+p well and are tender, juicy and sweet. The vines are luxuriant, hardy, for a grape with Vinifera blood, and healthy although slightly susceptible to mildew. As an exhibition grape, few green varieties show better when grown with care than Lady Was.h.i.+ngton. In the West and Southwest, the variety is said to succeed better than any other Concord seedling. Lady Was.h.i.+ngton is another of J. H. Ricketts' fine seedlings, this variety having come from seed of Concord fertilized by Allen's Hybrid. It was introduced in 1878.

Vine vigorous, productive. Canes long, few, thick, dark brown; nodes greatly enlarged, variable in shape; internodes long; tendrils continuous, long, bifid or trifid. Leaves large, thick; upper surface dark green, older leaves strongly rugose, glossy; lower surface pale green, p.u.b.escent; leaf entire with terminal acute; petiolar sinus deep, narrow, frequently closed and overlapping; basal sinus usually wanting; lateral sinus shallow; teeth shallow, narrow. Flowers self-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.

Fruit late mid-season, keeps and s.h.i.+ps well. Cl.u.s.ters large, broad, irregularly cylindrical, single-shouldered, frequently double-shouldered, loose; pedicel short with numerous conspicuous warts; brush very short, greenish. Berries variable in size, round-oblate, yellow-amber, glossy with thin bloom, persistent; skin thin, tender, adherent; flesh pale green, transparent, juicy and tender, stringy, aromatic, sweet; very good. Seeds free, one to four, broad, brown.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE x.x.x.--Winch.e.l.l (2/3).]

LENOIR

(Bourquiniana)

_Alabama, Black El Paso, Black July, Black Spanish, Blue French, Burgundy, Cigar Box Grape, Devereaux, Jack, Jacques, July Sherry, Longworth's Ohio, MacCandless, Ohio, Springstein, Warren_

Lenoir is a tender southern grape which has been used largely in France and California as a resistant stock and a direct producer. The fruit is highly valued for its dark red wine and is very good for table use. The vine is very resistant to phylloxera and withstands drouth well. The origin of Lenoir is unknown. It was in cultivation in the South as long ago as the early part of the last century. Nicholas Herbemont states in 1829 that its name was given from a man named Lenoir who cultivated it near Stateburg, South Carolina.

Vine vigorous, thrifty, semi-hardy, productive. Canes numerous, with some bloom at the nodes; tendrils intermittent. Leaves from two to seven-lobed, usually five, with characteristic bluish-green color above and pale green below.

Cl.u.s.ters variable, medium to very large, tapering, usually shouldered. Berries small, round, dark bluish-purple, nearly black with lilac bloom; skin thick, tough; flesh juicy, tender, sweet, very rich in coloring matter.

LIGNAN BLANC

(Vinifera)

_White July, Luglienga, Joannenc_

At Geneva, New York, Lignan Blanc ripens first of all grapes, native or European. It is not of highest quality but is better than any other early grape and makes a valuable addition to the home vineyard. It is a favorite grape in Europe and is rather commonly grown in California.

This variety offers excellent material for hybridization with native grapes.

Vine vigorous, medium productive; buds open early; opening leaves light green, glossy, tinged with red along the edges, thinly p.u.b.escent. Leaves medium in size, roundish, somewhat dull green, slightly rugose; lower surface glabrous; blade thick; lobes usually five though sometimes three; petiolar sinus medium in depth, wide; lower lateral sinus medium in depth, narrow; upper lateral sinus shallow, narrow; margin dentate; teeth long, narrow.

Flowers appear early for a Vinifera; stamens upright.

Fruit ripens the first of September and is a good keeper; cl.u.s.ters above medium in size, tapering, medium compact; berries medium to large, oval, yellowish-green, with thin bloom; skin thin, tender, neutral; flesh greenish-white, firm, juicy, meaty, sweet; quality good.

LINDLEY

(Labrusca, Vinifera)

By common consent, Lindley (Plate XXII) is the best of the red grapes originated by Rogers in his crosses between Labrusca and Vinifera. The bunches are of only medium size and are loose, but the berries are well-formed, of uniform size and an attractive dark red color. The flesh is firm, fine-grained, juicy, tender with a peculiarly rich aromatic flavor. The skin is thick and tough but is not objectionable in fruit fully ripe. The fruit keeps and s.h.i.+ps well, and the berries neither crack nor shatter. The vine is vigorous, hardy for a Vinifera hybrid, healthy but, as with most of its kind, susceptible to mildew.

The chief defects of Lindley are self-sterility, precariousness in bearing and lack of adaptation to many soils. Lindley is a general favorite in the garden. In 1869 Rogers gave this grape its name in honor of John Lindley, the English botanist.

Vine vigorous, usually hardy, susceptible to mildew. Canes very long, dark reddish-brown with thin bloom; nodes enlarged, usually flattened; internodes long, thick; tendrils continuous, long, bifid or trifid. Leaves large, thick; upper surface light green, dull, slightly rugose; lower surface grayish-white, p.u.b.escent; obscurely three-lobed with terminus acute; petiolar sinus deep, narrow, often closed and overlapping; teeth shallow. Flowers self-sterile, open in mid-season; stamens reflexed.

Fruit mid-season, keeps and s.h.i.+ps well. Cl.u.s.ters long, broad, cylindrical, frequently single-shouldered, the shoulder being connected to the bunch by a long stem, loose; pedicel short, slender, smooth; brush short, pale green. Berries large, round-oval, dark-red with faint bloom; skin tough, adherent, unpigmented, strongly astringent; flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender, vinous; good to best. Seeds adherent, two to five, notched, brown.

LUCILE