Lucile
(Labrusca)
In vigor, health, hardiness and productiveness, Lucile ([Plate XXII]) is not surpassed by any native grape. Unfortunately, the fruit characters are not so desirable. The size, form and color of bunches and berries are good, making a very attractive fruit, but the grapes have an obnoxious, foxy taste and odor and are pulpy and seedy. Lucile is earlier than Concord, the crop ripening with that of Worden or preceding it a few days. For an early variety, the fruit keeps well and in spite of thin skin ships well. The vine thrives in all grape soils. Lucile may be recommended where a hardy grape is desired and for localities in which the season is short. J. A. Putnam, Fredonia, New York, grew Lucile. The vine fruited first in 1890. It is a seedling of Wyoming, which it resembles in fruit and vine and surpasses in both.
Vine vigorous, hardy, very productive. Canes long, light brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes short; tendrils continuous, bifid or trifid. Leaves large, firm; upper surface light green, glossy, smooth; lower surface pale green, pubescent; leaf with terminus acute; petiolar sinus shallow, narrow, sometimes closed and overlapping; basal sinus usually absent; lateral sinus a notch when present; teeth shallow. Flowers self-fertile, open early; stamens upright.
Fruit early, keeps well. Clusters large, long, slender, cylindrical, usually single-shouldered, very compact; pedicel short, thick with few, small, inconspicuous warts; brush light brown. Berries large, round, dark red with thin bloom, persistent, firm; skin thin, tender, astringent; flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, tough, stringy, foxy; fair in quality. Seeds adherent, one to four, small, broad, short, blunt, dark brown.
Lutie
(Labrusca)
Lutie ([Plate XXIII]) is chiefly valuable for its vine characters. The vines are vigorous, hardy, healthy and fruitful, although scarcely equaling Lucile in any of these characters. Pomologists differ widely as to the merits of the fruit, some claiming high quality for it and others declaring that it is no better than a wild Labrusca. The difference of opinion is due to a peculiarity of the fruit; if eaten fresh, the quality, while far from being of the best, is not bad, but after being picked for several days it develops so much foxiness of flavor and aroma that it is scarcely edible. Lutie is a seedling found by L. C. Chisholm, Spring Hill, Tennessee. It was introduced in 1885.
Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive. Canes short, slender, dark reddish-brown; nodes enlarged; internodes short; tendrils continuous, short, bifid. Leaves medium in size; upper surface dark green, rugose; lower surface bronze or whitish-green, pubescent; leaf usually not lobed with terminus acute; petiolar sinus deep, wide; basal sinus lacking; lateral sinus shallow and narrow when present; teeth shallow, narrow. Flowers self-fertile, early; stamens upright.
Fruit early, does not keep well. Clusters medium in size, short, broad, blunt, cylindrical, usually not shouldered, compact; pedicel short with small, scattering warts; brush slender, pale green. Berries large, round, dark red, dull with thin bloom, drop badly from pedicel, firm; skin tender, adherent, astringent; flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, tough, foxy; fair in quality. Seeds adherent, one to four, large, broad, short and blunt, dark brown.