Asa Clement of Dracut, Massachusetts, originated Dracut Amber from seed of a native reddish Labrusca that grew near a Catawba vine. The seed was planted about 1855 and Mr. Clement called the resulting vine the Amber grape. Later the new variety was introduced by Jacob W. Manning under the name Dracut Amber. Catawba is supposed by Clement to have been the male parent, but this is wholly conjectural and doubtful as the botanical and horticultural characters are those of a northern Labrusca. It was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1883 and was dropped, probably inadvertently, in 1897, as it was replaced in 1899 and has since remained.
Vine vigorous, hardy, productive, somewhat susceptible to attacks of leaf-hoppers. Canes long, rather numerous, medium to below in size, darkish-brown; nodes slightly enlarged, usually flattened; internodes medium to below in length; diaphragm of average thickness; pith above medium size; shoots pubescent; tendrils continuous, long, bifid to sometimes trifid.
Leaf-buds decidedly variable in size, length, and thickness, prominent, obtuse to conical. Young leaves tinged on lower side with bright carmine and very strongly colored along margin of upper side with carmine. Leaves large to medium, rather thick; upper surface dark green, dull, smoothish; lower surface pale green or grayish, faintly cobwebby; veins indistinct; lobes three or sometimes five in number with terminal lobe obtuse to acute; petiolar sinus moderately deep, rather narrow to medium; basal sinus shallow to narrow; lateral sinus usually shallow, medium to rather wide; teeth shallow, of average width. Flowers sometimes on plan of six, slightly sterile to fertile, open in mid-season; stamens variable in length.
Fruit ripens earlier than Concord, does not keep well, as the berries soon shrivel. Clusters not especially satisfactory in general appearance, variable in size, short to medium, rather broad, somewhat cylindrical, irregular, rarely shouldered, compact to medium; peduncle short, slender; pedicel nearly short, of average thickness, covered with numerous warts, enlarged at point of attachment to berry; brush rather long, light yellowish-green. Berries medium to large, variable in shape ranging from oval to roundish, dull pale red or dark amber, covered with thin lilac or faint blue bloom, often inclined to drop when overripe, soft. Skin unusually thick, somewhat tender, adheres slightly to pulp, contains no pigment, slightly astringent. Flesh greenish, translucent, juicy, rather fine-grained and tough, very foxy, moderately sweet to decidedly acid at center, inferior in quality. Seeds adherent, two to five in number averaging three, large to below medium, broad to medium, light brown; raphe shows only as a groove; chalaza intermediate in size, oval, above center, rather distinct and in a depression.
DUTCHESS.[184]
(Vinifera, Labrusca, Bourquiniana? Aestivalis?)
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.